Resolution Adopted by the CCAR
COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING
Digests of resolutions adopted by the
Central Conference of American Rabbis
between 1889 and 1974
1. May our country foster the spirit of peace by setting itself against the
compulsory
military training of the young in schools and colleges. (1926, p. 55)
2. Repeated in 1927 (p. 21); 1928 (p. 86).
3. We protest against a bill introduced in Congress which provides for
registration
of all male citizens between 18-45 for military duty and for their call to
arms whenever
Congress or the President of the United States deems it necessary. (1929, p.
117)
4. We disapprove all proposals for universal conscription even when such
proposals
are represented as being intended to produce conditions which will be
deterrent to
war. We must beware of bills purported to draft capital as well as labor and
to take
the profit out of war. Conscription bills tend to bring war, not peace. (1930,
p. 63)
5. Reiterated in 1939 ( p. 72) .
6. We express regret at the action of colleges suspending or expelling
students who
refuse to take military training because of dictates of religious beliefs or
conscience.
We ask for abolishment of citizens military training camps and national rifle
schools and elimination of compulsory aspect to student military training.
(1932, pp. 283-43)
7. We disapprove of the forced conscription of all men between 21 and 31 as
being
excessively militaristic. Reiterate opposition to compulsory military training
in
colleges and universities and to all military training in high schools. (1935,
p.
63)
8. We reaffirm our opposition to military training in the educational
institutions
of this country and express our endorsement of the Nye-Kvale Amendment to
withhold
government funds from those civil educational institutions which make military
training
compulsory. (1936, p. 66)
9. This Conference goes on record in opposition to compulsory military
training in
time of peace. (1946, p. 102) Reaffirmed in 1947 (p. 69) and in 1948 (p.
127).