Resolutions

“In a free society where terrible wrongs exist, some are guilty, all are responsible.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel WHEREAS the decades-long civil war in the Sudan has already taken 2,000,000 lives and there is an ongoing campaign of...

Whereas the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing flood that breached the floodwalls and the levee system of New Orleans has become one of the United States’ worst disasters ever; Whereas Jews have lived in and participated in...

Whereas the most treasured values of Americans as enshrined in the laws and Constitution of the United States are under attack; Whereas among the most revered of these is America’s regard for civil rights and civil liberties; Whereas Jewish...

Rabbi Yose HaGalili says, “How meritorious is peace? Even in time of war Jewish law requires that one initiate discussions of peace.” (Leviticus Rabbah, Tzav 9); Whereas the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries remain...

Background: For many years Interfaith Caregivers provided a loose national network of local groups that trained volunteers to provide support services for seniors to enable them to remain in their homes as long as possible. This network...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly, an association of religious leaders with deep faith, believing in the truth of our Torah and the teachings of traditional rabbinic Judaism, also believes that a literal reading of Genesis otherwise known...

Background: In an official Knesset committee report published just a month before Pesach 2005, it was estimated that 3000 women are illegally smuggled into Israel through the Egyptian border. They are enticed to come, mostly from the Former Soviet...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly is comprised of colleagues who care deeply about the state of the world, tikkun olam and mishpetei tzedek, the laws of justice and righteousness as prescribed by the Torah and Prophets of Israel; Whereas members of...

Whereas Jewish tradition commands us to “open your hand [to the poor person] and provide sufficient for the need” (Deut. 15:8), and reminds us that “just as God clothed the naked- so too must you supply clothes for the naked [poor]” (Talmud B.

Whereas the Torah teaches us, “ve-shinantam l'vanekha – and you shall teach your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7) and this call to literacy has been a hallmark of Jewish civilization for over 3,000 years and has ensured Jewish survival; Whereas the...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly is greatly concerned by the resurgence of anti-Semitism around the globe; Whereas the President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad publicly and unabashedly proclaimed his goals of "wiping Israel off the map" and creating...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly is holding its first international convention in Latin America and it is an historic occasion; Whereas the Conservative/Masorti Rabbis in Latin America often work under difficult conditions in order to spread the...

Whereas Rabbi Ismar Schorsch has served The Jewish Theological Seminary as Chancellor for the past twenty years with distinction; Whereas Rabbi Schorsch articulated his vision to the community with the publication of Sacred Cluster: The Core...

Rabbi Jay M. Kornsgold, chair; Rabbi Paul S. Drazen, parliamentarian; Rabbi Rachel Ain, Rabbi Paul D. Kerbel, Rabbi Michael Mishkin, Rabbi Lee S. Paskind, Rabbi H. David Rose, Rabbi Barry Schlesinger, Rabbi David C. Seed, Rabbi Melvin N.

Whereas recognizing and supporting the ongoing efforts of the government of the United States and the Security Council of the United Nations together with many countries around the world that are concerned by Iran’s goal of achieving complete...

Whereas God’s promise to multiply the Nation of Israel “as the dust of the earth” and “the stars in the sky” has yet to be fulfilled, as the past several decades has seen the Jewish population decline; Whereas the Jewish People, relative to its...

“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger” (Ex. 23:9) Whereas the Jewish people have been immigrants and wanderers for most of our history; Whereas the United States, which has long been a home and...

Background: While over the past 30 years the Rabbinical Assembly has come out in favor of Reproductive Freedom and Choice in a number of areas, such as abortion (1975 and subsequently); violence and pro-choice (1993); the 2005 resolution...

God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to till it and tend it. (Gen. 2:15) Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has passed 13 resolutions since 1991 on protecting and enhancing the environment and the quality of life for all God’s...

You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger…You must pay him his wages on the same day…for he is needy and sets his life on it; else he will cry to God against you and you will incur guilt. ...