Resolution on Persecuted Christians

Whereas The Rabbinical Assembly has consistently stood for the Jewish ideals of love of Mankind (Hoshea 6:6- hesed hafatsti v'lo zevah), Brotherhood (V'ahavta l'reaha Kamokha: Lev, 19:18 ), and hatred of persecution and ethnicide (lo tonu et ha-ger ki gerim heyitem b'erets mitsrayim v'atem yod'im et lev ha-ger: Exodus 23:9);

Whereas the Jewish people has suffered terribly in the 20th century Holocaust where 6,000,000 of our people, men, women, children, were murdered; and

Whereas there were thousands of "Righteous Gentiles" who courageously risked their lives and the lives of their families to help Jews (hasidei umot ha-olam );

Whereas the United Nations has passed a resolution against ethnicide and proclaimed a day to remember the Holocaust (January 27) and the Jewish calendar recognizes 27 Nisan as Yom HaShoah; and

Whereas rabbis are especially sensitive to the ethical imperative to be an or lagoyim, “a light unto the nations” (based on Isaiah 49:6); and

Whereas the Jewish people remember the silence of the world to our persecution, we insist “never again” for all peoples;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly condemn the persecution of Christians at the hands of ISIS and others that has included such atrocities as beheadings and rape of Christian men, women and children; and

Be it further resolved that rabbis contact Christian clergy neighbors to express our sadness and empathy; and

Be it further resolved that we contact our political leaders at the state and national, and the United Nations levels to protest and do whatever possible to help; and

Be it further resolved we contact our news media as Jews protesting Christian and Yazidi persecution; and

Be it further resolved that we rabbis and teachers preach and teach this message from our pulpits and classes.