November 22, 2023

Every day since October 7, 2023, we have prayed for the release of the 240 hostages kidnapped into Gaza from Israel. We are grateful and relieved that a deal to release some of the hostages has been agreed to, along with increased humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, and we pray the first 50 hostages will be released imminently. We will continue praying and working for the return of all those still held captive.

We extend our sincerest thanks to all those who played a role in bringing about this agreement, including President Biden and Secretary Blinken, the mediators in Qatar, and PM Netanyahu and the members of his Cabinet who voted to approve the deal.

While we celebrate today’s news, the continued holding of innocent civilians – Israelis and other nationalities alike – is an active, insidious war crime. We strongly urge those who secured this initial agreement to continue to advocate for the swift release of all those who remain in captivity.

As Americans prepare to gather for Thanksgiving tomorrow, we give thanks that some former hostages might be able to spend the coming Shabbat with their loved ones. May that reality soon come true for the remaining hostages. Ken yehi ratzon – let it be so.

Union for Reform Judaism
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman (she/her), Chair
Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him), President

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Erica Asch (she/her), President
Rabbi Hara E. Person (she/her), Chief Executive

American Conference of Cantors
Cantor Seth Warner (he/him), President
Rachel Roth (she/her), Chief Operating Officer

Women of Reform Judaism
Sara Charney (she/her), President
Rabbi Liz P. G. Hirsch (she/her), Executive Director

Men of Reform Judaism
Rob Himmelstein (he/him), President
Steven Portnoy (he/him), Executive Director

October 30, 2023

The Central Conference of American Rabbis is profoundly concerned about the welfare of Jewish students on North American college and university campuses. Even in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’s brutal October 7 attack on Israeli civilians living near Gaza, anti-Israel demonstrations erupted on many campuses. Protests have increased as Israel has taken obligatory military action to assure that Hamas can never brutalize Israelis again. Too often, demonstrations have threatened the safety of Jewish students and have exposed protestors’ antisemitism.

Reform rabbis recognize that not all campuses or Jewish students are in crisis. The CCAR lauds those college and university leaders who have forthrightly condemned Hamas terror and any expression of antisemitism. We are appreciative of those who have taken concrete actions to support Jewish students in the last few weeks. Other officials have been deaf to the pleas of their Jewish students, faculty, staff members, and alumni, leaving the impression of indifference to terror and antisemitism.

The CCAR applauds its members who serve on college campuses and all who work to enhance Jewish life on campus. That work is always sacred and vital, but it is too often overlooked and devalued. Now, more than ever, our young adults on college campuses need the leadership, teaching, counseling, and support that campus rabbis are uniquely positioned to provide.

Reform rabbis, however and wherever we serve, are actively engaged in reaching out to college students in our orbits, checking in on their well-being and seeking to provide support, even from a distance. We pledge to continue to do so, and to continue to support our colleagues serving on campus. This crisis will be long and will only become more intense. Our college students and campus rabbis need our support now and in the coming weeks and years.

The CCAR calls on college and university leaders to declare unequivocally: Terrorism is never justified. Antisemitism will not be tolerated.

Rabbi Erica Asch, President
Rabbi Hara E. Person, Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis

October 27, 2023

As we approach Shabbat and mark three weeks since Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel, our hearts are heavy and our souls pained as Israel continues the excruciating task of burying the over 1400 people murdered by Hamas. With each day, more details emerge about the unspeakable violence perpetrated on October 7 against Israelis.  

We are particularly distraught that more than 220 people, including babies, women, and the elderly, continue to be held as hostages by Hamas. The international community, including nation states and the UN, NGOs, faith leaders, and all people of goodwill, must universally and unequivocally call and work for the immediate release of all the hostages. Their kidnapping and ongoing detention is a heinous war crime. The families of the hostages feel keenly that the window to secure the safe release of their loved ones is closing, especially for the hostages who are severely wounded. 

Even as we support Israel’s moral right to wage war against Hamas, we are a people who know that we must never be inured to the suffering of the innocent. We hold fast to the ideal that each of us is created b’tselem Elohim, in the image of God, so we cannot ignore the tremendous toll this is taking on innocent civilians in Gaza. We mourn the deaths of innocent Palestinian civilians caught in the nightmare of Gaza. They too are victims of the brutal Hamas regime and the rising death toll pains us deeply.  

We join in the call from President Biden and Secretary Blinken for Israel to implement a humanitarian pause to ensure that food, water, medicine, and other humanitarian aid can flow more quickly into Gaza. Likewise, the Reform movement joins them in a belief that a ceasefire at this moment would be a tragic mistake and a strategic advantage to Hamas in its quest to eliminate the Jewish state. We call on leaders in the region to act to ensure that Hamas will not siphon off the aid provided. Hospitals must be able to function. Families must not starve. And no innocent Palestinian child should suffer.

In this week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, Abraham assembles a small fighting force to rescue his nephew Lot, who has been taken hostage in the midst of a regional war.  Right after the successful hostage rescue in Genesis 14 we read, “Al tira, Avram. Don’t be afraid Avram.” It is not clear what Abraham is afraid of; perhaps another attack on his family.  But Genesis Rabbah, an ancient commentary, suggests his fear is that he might have killed an innocent person as he fought for Lot’s release. The lesson could not be clearer: Even in war, our Jewish tradition demands that we must never lose our moral bearings.  

We are humbled by the extraordinarily complex life and death decisions that must be made each day by the Israeli government and military, sometimes having to choose only the least terrible option. We take heart in Ruach Tzahal, the IDF Code of Ethics, that informs how every IDF soldier seeks to wage war, including limiting civilian casualties as much as possible. 

As we enter into Shabbat, we pray first and foremost for the safety and swift return of the hostages.  And we pray that in the difficult days and weeks to come, and with the support of the U.S. and broader international community, Israel’s diplomatic, military, and political leaders will be guided by the finest ideals of our tradition and by the values laid out in Israel’s own Declaration of Independence. 

Union for Reform Judaism
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman (she/her)
Chair

Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him)
President

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Erica Asch (she/her)
President

Rabbi Hara E. Person (she/her)
Chief Executive

American Conference of Cantors
Cantor Seth Warner (he/him)
President

Rachel Roth (she/her)
Chief Operating Officer

October 20, 2023

Two weeks after Hamas’s horrific attack on Israel, our shared pain over the lives so violently taken grows deeper each hour. The agony of bereaved families, the torment of those awaiting news of kidnapped loved ones, and the anguish of the survivors know no bounds. As we have always done in difficult times, we find solace in the words of our holy texts and in the embrace of those who open their arms and hearts to offer comfort and love.

Among those whose embraces we have felt so powerfully, few equal those of President Joe Biden, who, in this darkest hour, in word and deed has proven himself a true friend to Israel and the Jewish people. The President’s unequivocal expressions of support, his commitment of military aid, and his very presence in Israel this week have strengthened Israel emotionally and practically. We express our deepest gratitude for President Biden’s steadfast allyship.

We also appreciate the leadership President Biden has shown in working with Israel to address the humanitarian challenges in Gaza wrought by Hamas’s depraved leadership. We pray that the effort to bring in humanitarian aid to Gaza will reach those in need, ease the suffering of innocent Palestinians, and not be stolen by Hamas.

We call upon our allies in the public interest world, in the faith community, and all those in positions of influence to speak out more forcefully for the release of the nearly 200 Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas. Our responsibility to rescue hostages (Pidyon Shevuyim) is reflected in the words of our daily prayers that, rather than beseeching God to free the captive, asks for God to help us in doing so. Those with diplomatic, humanitarian, and interfaith connections around the globe must do the holy work of helping ensure the safe release of the babies, children, elderly, women, and all who have been forcibly taken from their homes and loved ones. In so doing, they can help bring a swifter end to the bloodshed of this war.

As we begin Shabbat, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Union for Reform Judaism
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman (she/her)
Chair

Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him)
President

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Erica Asch (she/her)
President

Rabbi Hara E. Person (she/her)
Chief Executive

American Conference of Cantors
Cantor Seth Warner (he/him)
President

Rachel Roth (she/her)
Chief Operating Officer

August 15, 2023

The Central Conference of American Rabbis calls for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been wrongly incarcerated in Russia, facing false charges of espionage, since March 2023. Gershkovich is a Jewish U.S. citizen, whose parents found refuge in this country in 1979 after fleeing oppression in the Soviet Union.

The CCAR commends actions taken by the Biden Administration, beginning only days after Gershkovich’s detention by designating Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained,” a classification created by Congress in the 2020 Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. The act empowers the United States to work diligently to secure Gershkovich’s release, even by employing a prisoner exchange.ⁱ Most recently, Gershkovich’s parents have said that President Biden had vowed do “whatever it takes” to liberate their son from Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo prison and bring him home to the United States.ⁱⁱ

Pidyon sh’vuyim, freeing captives, is a central mitzvah (commandment) of Judaism.ⁱⁱⁱ CCAR rabbis were among those who led the North American Jewish community as it engaged fervently and consistently in the effort to free Jewish people from Soviet persecution over a period of decades. We are similarly committed to freedom for American Jewish journalist Evan Gershkovich.

The CCAR pledges its support to the Biden Administration as it intensifies its already-extensive efforts to secure Evan Gershkovich’s freedom, so that he may return to his critical journalistic work of shedding light on the world’s injustices.

Reform rabbis join Evan Gershkovich’s parents, and all who love him, in prayer for his safety and for his speedy release.

Rabbi Erica Asch
President

Rabbi Hara E. Person
Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis

ⁱ Michael Crowley, “The State Department declares Evan Gershkovich ‘wrongfully detained’ by Russia,” The New York Times, April 10, 2023.

ⁱⁱ Victoria Kim, “Biden Vowed to Bring Gershkovich Home, His Parents Say,” The New York Times, July 12, 2023.

ⁱⁱⁱ Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Dei-ah 252:1.

July 24, 2023

Today is a sad day for Israel’s democracy. The passage of the amendment removing the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to overrule decisions and appointments of Israel’s Government using the legal standard of “reasonableness” will reduce the checks and balances placed on the government. This is the first significant step of the ruling coalition to move forward with their judicial overhaul and pass their radical legislative agenda.

The Reform Movement in North America vehemently condemns the strongarm tactics of the current coalition as they push through this divisive legislation which imperils Israel’s already-fragile democracy. This could have been a moment for Netanyahu to unite the nation and secure Israel’s standing in the world as a strong and leading democracy. Instead, the concerns of the majority of Israelis and Jews across the world, including the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have taken to the streets in recent days and the thousands who marched from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, have been ignored.

The upcoming holiday of Tishah B’Av, when the Jewish people mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples, is widely recognized in our tradition as punishment for our ancestors’ internal intolerance and hatred. Seventy-five years after its creation, the modern Jewish state of Israel is being threatened by extremists, which we know from history can only bring calamity upon our people.

As the largest Movement in Jewish life outside of Israel, we remain committed to the State of Israel, its people, and the values outlined in its Declaration of Independence. We are deeply committed to strengthening the institutions of Israeli civil society, specifically the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), which is leading the fight to keep Israel a Jewish and democratic state. As MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv stated, “We lost this battle, but we will win in the end.” We call on the members and institutions of our Movement to lean in and support our partners in Israel, strengthening their resolve to preserve Israel’s democracy.

Union for Reform Judaism
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman (she/her)
Chair

Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him)
President

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Erica Asch (she/her)
President

Rabbi Hara E. Person (she/her)
Chief Executive

American Conference of Cantors
Cantor Seth Warner (he/him)
President

Rachel Roth (she/her)
Chief Operating Officer

Women of Reform Judaism
Sara Charney (she/her)
President

Rabbi Liz P. G. Hirsch (she/her)
Executive Director

Men of Reform Judaism
Rob Himmelstein (he/him)
President

Steven Portnoy (he/him)
Executive Director

Association of Reform Zionists of America
Daryl Messinger (she/her)
Chair

Rabbi Josh Weinberg (he/him)
Director

Reform Jewish Community of Canada
Len Bates (he/him)
President

Reform Rabbis of Canada
Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg (he/him)
Chair

ARZA Canada
Lee Weisser (she/her)
President

June 30, 2023

In response to the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement institutions:

“We condemn the Supreme Court’s decision allowing business owners to use personal beliefs as a justification for discriminating against LGBTQ+ people when selling custom goods or services. Although this ruling does not authorize discrimination in all public accommodations, the creation of a broad new free speech exemption for such businesses opens the door to further discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, as well as religious minorities and other marginalized groups. As Reform Jews, we know that deep faith and a commitment to LGBTQ+ equality are not mutually exclusive – and, as we argued in an amicus brief alongside 30+ religious, civil rights, and grassroots organizations, nondiscrimination laws must carefully balance civil rights and religious freedom. Today’s ruling undermines this critical balance.

The Reform Jewish Movement has long supported LGBTQ+ equality, beginning in 1965 when the Women of Reform Judaism called for the decriminalization of homosexuality. We have been proud to support major advancements in LGBTQ+ rights including the Supreme Court decisions in Obergefell v. Hodges and Bostock v. Clayton County and passage of the Respect for Marriage Act last year. In recent years, the Union for Reform Judaism and Central Conference of American Rabbis passed historic resolutions affirming the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people. Our support for LGBTQ+ equality is guided by values embedded in our Jewish text and tradition, including the belief that all people are created b’tzelem Elohim – in the Divine image (Genesis 1:27). The Mishnah builds on this core teaching: ‘when humans stamp coins with one seal they are all identical but the Holy One stamps every human being uniquely so that none is like another’ (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). From this, we learn that all people, even in their diversity, deserve dignity and respect.

Our Reform Jewish Movement includes many beloved LGBTQ+ people: they are our clergy, congregants, children and young people, staff members and neighbors. Yet far too many in our community will be terrified and heartbroken by this decision, which comes as LGBTQ+ people are under unprecedented attack across the United States. At this critical moment, we reaffirm our support for all those who seek to live without fear of harassment or discrimination, and our clergy and institutions are committed to caring for and supporting all those affected by this decision. We will continue to fight for full LGBTQ+ equality.”

 

June 29, 2023

 In response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College ending race-based affirmative action, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and wider Reform Movement:

“We are dismayed by the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action. By striking down Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill’s affirmative action policies, the Court has overturned years of precedent affirming that race may be considered as one of many factors in college admissions. This decision will have real and devastating impacts on racial diversity in higher education.

Due to the enduring legacy of institutionalized slavery and ongoing systemic racial injustice, the United States’ K-12 education system remains largely segregated and inequitable for Students of Color. As we work to promote a thriving, multiracial democracy, it is essential that all students have equal opportunity to pursue their dreams. For decades, affirmative action policies have helped give Students of Color a fair shot at higher education and infuse campuses with a range of perspectives and lived experiences. Efforts to increase racial diversity in higher education also promote socioeconomic mobility and foster a diverse workforce. In an increasingly pluralistic and interconnected world, it is essential that we identify and celebrate the gifts and talents of all individuals. Indeed, racial diversity in education is a national imperative, and the Supreme Court’s decision will make it harder to achieve this goal.

As Reform Jews committed to racial justice, we are compelled to advance racial equity in all aspects of society, including in education, and to support programs that seek to mitigate past and ongoing injustices. Our support for affirmative action is also guided by Jewish text and tradition, which are clear about our obligation to pursue racial justice. A Jewish tradition suggests that God created the first human from dust from the four corners and colors of the earth – red, white, black, and green (see Pirkei De Rabbi Eliezer 11:5-6 and Yalkut Shimoni 13:2). While the original texts understood the reasons for these colors differently, the texts link these colors to the four corners of the earth and to the idea that every human being is equally at home anywhere in the world. In today’s context, we read these texts as inspiration for our affirmation of the diversity of humankind. As a multiracial Jewish community, we know diversity is our strength and recognize that ignoring race will only perpetuate racial injustice.

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, we remain committed to advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education and beyond. We will continue to work with our multiracial and multifaith partners to promote educational equity, and we encourage colleges and universities to use every available pathway to advance racial diversity on campus. Working together, we can still achieve the true promise of our multiracial democracy.”