Resolution Adopted by the CCAR
Resurgence of Anti-Semitism
Adopted by the 101st Annual
Convention of
the Central
Conference of American Rabbis
Seattle, Washington, June 1990
Even as
we rejoice in the prospect of new freedoms and democratic principles
evolving
out of recent events in
Eastern Europe,
And even as we uphold and support
the right of all peoples to self-determination and
the expression of their unhappiness with the public
policies of their governments
and
their actions for redress of their just grievances long suppressed and
denied,
Nonetheless, we are alarmed and dismayed,
especially in the aftermath of the attempt
to exterminate the Jewish people in this century, by growing
evidence of a resurgence
of anti-
Semitism among vocal and aggressive segments of the population in the
Soviet Union, and throughout Eastern
Europe.
We are shocked and appalled at the recent
outbreak of anti-Semitic incidents in France
and especially the hideous desecration of Jewish
cemeteries.
At the same time, we applaud the
resounding denunciation and condemnation of these
despicable acts at the highest echelons of the
French government as well as major
demonstrations of protest by thousands of French
citizens.
We are also disturbed by the recent
increase in the incidence of anti-Semitic outbursts
in the United
States.
We therefore call upon elected and appointed
officials of government in this country
and abroad to proclaim categorically their opposition to all
expressions of anti-Semitism
and
Judeophobia and to emphasize clearly and firmly their determination to
ensure the rights and freedoms of all people under their jurisdiction
and to punish appropriately
all
those who actively promote hatred and
bigotry.
We also call upon all religious bodies in
America and around the world to state unequivocally
their abhorrence and renunciation of anti-Semitic
statements and actions from whatever
source, and to respond promptly and decisively to threats
against the Jewish community.
We commend this resolution for their endorsement to
the President of the United States
and to the heads of appropriate foreign governments, as well as
to the adjudicatory
officials of
every major religious denomination in the United States and their
constituencies abroad.
WHEREAS
the membership of the CCAR is a partner with the Union of American
Hebrew
Congregations in the
development of Reform Judaism, and
WHEREAS the national and regional UAHC Biennial conventions are
the forums where policy
and
programs are established in Reform Judaism, and
WHEREAS the Southeast Association of the CCAR
(SEACCAR) promotes the work of the UAHC
and the maintenance of Union membership (MUM) process and
encourages our individual
congregations to be in full compliance at either 12 percent or
CAP,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Executive Board of the CCAR approves the request
of the SEACCAR which seeks the opportunity
for official observer status for all members
who are not serving as delegates at regional and
national UAHC Biennial conventions.