Farm Crisis


Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Farm Crisis

Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1987

BACKGROUND: The Central Conference of American Rabbis has a long history of showing

concern for the plight of farmers, including the 1938 resolution on behalf of tenant

farmers and sharecroppers; the 1942 resolution that supported the Farm Security Administration in its work to help the less privileged farmers through education and rehabilitation;

and the 1953 resolution that expressed concern for the serious drop in farm income,

among many other ways we have shown concern for the farmers.

WHEREAS the CCAR recognizes the severe agricultural crisis that is currently facing

many rural families and communities, and

WHEREAS the CCAR is increasingly concerned with the violent, anti Semitic and racist

rhetoric and activities and extremist groups that prey upon the plight of farmers

who are in financial difficulty due to the rapid decline of the price of agricultural

commodities and that attempt to rally farmers throughout our countries to their heinous

activities.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCAR recommends the following steps to help alleviate

the plight of the American farmer:

  • Call upon the leadership of our congregations to educate our constituencies about

    the seriousness of this crisis;

  • Call upon rabbis to join together with clergy of other faiths to offer spiritual,

    emotional, and economic support to farm families suffering hardship as a result of

    this crisis;

  • Call upon our congressional leadership to develop a farm policy that will both alleviate

    the present crisis and preserve our rural communities;

  • Call upon all government, educational, and social service agencies to join with the

    religious community to develop a comprehensive response to this grave crisis.

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CCAR repudiates the approach of extremist groups,

    deplores and rejects the extremist philosophies and actions of those organizations

    that promote violence, anti-Semitic or racist responses to the farm crisis, and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CCAR commends efforts to reinforce a constructive,

    progressive, non-violent farm movement that is committed to justice for all people

    of this nation and the world and affirms an approach in keeping with our religious

    heritage.

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