CCAR Condemns Rising Antisemitism, Reaffirms Commitment to Pursuit of Justice in Turbulent Times

CCAR Condemns Rising Antisemitism, Reaffirms Commitment to Pursuit of Justice in Turbulent Times

Sunday, March 19, 2017

As the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the rabbinic leadership organization of Reform Judaism in North America and worldwide, gathers for its Annual Convention, it reaffirms its historic commitment to the pursuit of justice for all Americans, including those populations who have been—both historically and recently— marginalized and attacked.

While gathered together in Atlanta, GA, for the annual CCAR Convention, more than 500 reform rabbis will join together to celebrate the opportunity to teach and learn from each other how to be effective faith leaders in turbulent times. Our Convention is a time for our members to study crucial topics such as racial justice, the global refugee and immigration crisis, reproductive rights, hate crimes, and voter suppression, and discuss how to create and sustain change at local, state and national levels.

In a turbulent political climate, as anti-Semitic attacks and hate crimes have swelled in number, and as we install new CCAR leadership, this moment represents an opportunity to assess the role rabbis can play in the pursuit of tikkun olam, to building a better world. Our brothers and sisters—of all faiths, of all races—face unprecedented challenges. Even though the Reform Movement has long been a leader on racial, gender, and economic justice, on civil and human rights, on confronting bigotry, the work is not finished. Now, more than ever, we must come together to support each other and our congregations and communities.

That includes supporting Israel. CCAR has a well-established track record of supporting a democratic Jewish state with full civil rights for all its citizens, and favors a two-state solution with a secure Israel alongside a Palestinian state. Our Convention features sessions on strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, engaging with teens on Israel, and Israeli-Palestinian mutual understanding and respect.

CCAR is proud of Reform rabbis across the country for their efforts to create a positive, lasting impact from the ground up, and calls on its members to continue that work as we move forward into the future.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger             Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                            Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis