Former Soviet Union

Adpoted by the 103rd Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
San Antonio, Texas, April, 1992

WHEREAS, the passing of the former Soviet Union creates an unstable time, and

WHEREAS, the Central Conference of American Rabbis is concerned about grave shortages of food, medicine, and other essentials and the potential for political dissolution and economic dislocation which imperil all the citizens of Eastern Europe, and

WHEREAS, the CCAR prides itself in the absorption in Israel and America of the Jews from the former Soviet Union, and hopes for the betterment of the absorption process. and

WHEREAS, the actions of the world Jewish community affirm that "whosoever saves a single life. it is as though he had saved an entire world" (Talmud Sanhedrin), and

WHEREAS, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the Jews of the former Soviet Union to the right to the full and free practice of Judaism, or to emigrate to freedom, and

WHEREAS, the tensions in Eastern Europe have heightened fears of nationalism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis shall utilize all its members' talents and its good offices to assist the Jews of the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European places of actual and potential danger, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we commend the World Union of Progressive Judaism for the establishment of the Hinneni Congregation, now utilizing its own building in the municipality of Moscow, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we commend Martin Horowitz, Director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism office in Moscow in his task to speed the growth of Reform Judaism and Reform congregations within the former Soviet Union, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge rabbis to advocate strongly on behalf of those who wish to emigrate and seek to rescue those who are still trapped there, while affirming the continued growth and development of the native Jewish communities within the former Soviet Union, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we appreciate the enormous strain and the gigantic nature of the absorption to this point imposed upon the State of Israel, and seek ways to improve the process of Klitah in the future, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call on our colleagues neither to be lulled into complacency with the growth of Jewish immigration nor to forget that we indeed are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that members of the CCAR are urged to visit the former Soviet Union to bring the religious mission of Reform Judaism to Jews who have chosen to remain, who are rebuilding the world's third largest Jewish community.