Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

VIETNAM WAR, RESISTANCE TO

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. We hereby call upon the members of the Central Conference of American

Rabbis to

consider their moral responsibility to express resistance to the devastation

of Vietnam

by withholding payment of the telephone excise tax.

We call upon the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the

Union of

American Hebrew Congregations to express their resistance to the war by

withholding

payment of this tax.

We hereby direct the Executive Vice President of the Central Conference of

American

Rabbis to withhold payment of this tax as soon as proper legal arrangements

can be

made, and to communicate to the Federal Government our reasons for taking this

action.

( 1967, p. 104)

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

WAR

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. We believe that war is morally indefensible; we, therefore, recommend the

adoption

of the Levinson-Borah plan for the outlawry of war. We favor the institution

of popular

referendum as an indispensable preliminary to any declaration of war by

Congress.

We urge an international Conference to prevent the manufacture of arms by

private

citizens and of poison gas for use in warfare. (1924, p. 91)

2. We deplore the policy of the State Department in supporting the claims of

investors

in foreign countries by force of arms. Theme of 1924 declaration reiterated.

(1928,

p. 89)

3. We reaffirm the importance of the Kellogg-Briand peace pact for the

outlawry of

war. (1931, p. 72)

4. We approve the Joint Resolution forbidding shipment of arms to warring

nations.

We support the prohibition of the making of loans to a state violating the

general

pact for the renunciation of war, as well as a Presidential embargo on arms to

such

country. (1933, p. 55)

5. We approve Congressman Ludlow’s proposed constitutional amendment

requiring, except

in the case of invasion, a national referendum before a declaration of war can

become

effective. (1935, p. 60)

6. We are opposed to all moving pictures which make war attractive and ask our

members

to protest their showing in their respective communities. (1935, p. 63)

7. We stand in unqualified opposition to the Sheppard-Hill Bill which grants

the President

dictatorial powers over labor, manufactures and prices in the event of war.

(1937,

pp. 79 and 155)

8. We urge the withdrawal of American armed forces from the Far Eastern zones

as well

as American citizens and business interests. (1938, p. 139)

9. We deplore the vast and ill-advised expenditures for armaments and insist

upon

a national defense policy limited to the defense of our shore from invasion.

(1938,

p. 140)

10. We express our opposition to the May bill and all similar legislation

which would

impose a military dictatorship on the country in time of war. (1938, p.

141)

11. We express our abhorrence of the Japanese invasion of China, the German

annexation

of Austria and the continued armed aggression of foreign powers in Spain.

(1939,

p. 135)

12. We affirm that it may become the inescapable duty of our American nation

to become

an active and aggressive champion of the principles of freedom and of

democratic

rights against the encroachment of those ruthless powers which seek to

conquer, enslave

and crush the rest of mankind, at least upon our own western continent. (1940,

p.

132)

13. We believe that essential services to educate the young, relieve

suffering, build

character and maintain faith and morale, must go on despite the war. (1942, p.

109)

14. We commend the War Department and our military leaders for having treated

prisoners

of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention. (1945, p. 116)

15. The Conference urges that the armed forces be democratized, that social

distinction

between officers and enlisted personnel be abolished, that equal facilities be

made

available to all in uniform irrespective of their rank. (1946, p. 102)

16. The aggressive designs of Soviet Russia and some of its satellites have

poised

our civilization on the brink of military disaster if not of total

destruction. In

the face of the gravest threat to confront the free world since the end of

World

War II, we applaud and approve the announced intention of the President and

the State Department

to resist military aggression with all the strength at our command, while at

the

same time making every effort to prevent the spread of Hostilities into

another World

War. This is consistent with the position our conference has already adopted

in opposition

"to Communism and to all other forms of totalitarianism, domestic and

foreign." We

believe, however, that military resistance alone must not be the sum total of

our

foreign policy. We recommend, therefore, that while mobilizing our full

strength to

prevent further aggression, we must also examine conscientiously our own past

mistakes

and must seriously explore every possible avenue of peace. To that end we

favor every

action, consistent with our national welfare and defense, to reach a peaceful

settlement

of the Korean War and a general settlement between East and West. (1951, p.

100)

17. See Disarmament, Profiteering and Peace.

18. We reiterate most emphatically our previous resolutions calling for:

Resisting

"military aggression with all the strength at our command, while at the

same time

making every effort to prevent the spread of hostilities into another World

War";

also, "every action, consistent with our national welfare and defense, to

reach a general settlement

between East and West." (1952, p. 177)

19. We refuse to accept the inevitability of war. We urge the government of

the United

States to give permanent peace its very highest priority, and without relaxing

our

military vigilance or strength, to consider every proposal for peace in good

faith

and explore its possibilities most earnestly. (1952, p. 179)

20. We refuse to accept the inevitability of war. We commend the

Government of the United States for its patient and forbearing efforts in

behalf of

a cessation of hostilities in Korea and urge its continued efforts in the

diligent

search for the means by which the crisis between East and West may be

alleviated

and permanent peace achieved. (1953, p. 120)

21. See Vietnam War.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

VOTING RIGHTS

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. The Central Conference of American Rabbis, by common recognition the

largest and

most representative organization of Progressive Judaism today in the entire

world,

places itself on record as a body in sympathy with and in support of the

latest appeal

for the extension of liberty in civilization and recommends that its members

individually

in their pulpits, and through their ministry, advocate and advance the cause

of woman’s

equal political suffrage with man’s. (1913, p. 120)

2. Reaffirmed, 1915, p. 133.

3. See Civil Rights.

4. See Women’s Suffrage.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

VIGILANTES

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. See Civil Liberties, Sec. 2 (1935).

2. See Race Relations. Sec. 4 (1949).

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

WATERGATE

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. Watergate is shocking evidence of the pervasive moral corruption in

American political

life. Therefore, the Central Conference of American Rabbis resolves to:

Reassert the traditional commitment of the Jew to social justice through

renewed

action programs at the congregational, regional, and national levels;

Express our gratitude to Senator Sam Ervin for his tenacity and integrity

in asserting

the responsibility of the Congress of the United States and in continuing the

Watergate

hearings, that the democratic process might be preserved;

Commend the appointment of Archibald Cox as special prosecutor, as an

individual

of proven integrity who will respond solely to his obligations to all the

American

people;

Commend those news media and their personnel who, despite overt threats

by the government

to silence them, persisted in their efforts to discover and report the truth

to the

public;

Call upon the Congress of the United States to adopt and to police

stringent legislative

curbs on current methods of collecting, reporting, and distributing campaign

funds,

and to consider legislation prohibiting private donations for any elected

office, substituting instead a fair and practical method of public financing

of all elections;

Urge the leaders of the Central Conference of American Rabbis in

conjunction with

the Union of American Hebrew Congregations to join with other distinguished

religious

and civic leaders, social scientists, and philosophers, to organize a

high-level

and searching inquiry into the underlying moral condition of American life

that goes

far beyond the immediate political and legal issues of Watergate. (1973, p.

45)

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. During the past year widespread and vigorous efforts have been made for the

suppression

of the "White Slave" Traffic. This evil is not local but

international and not limited

to any particular creed or race. We therefore note with great gratification

the assembly of an international conference at Madrid; the activities of the

various

governments abroad, of our own federal government; the enactments of more

rigorous

legislation by 29 states in the Union and the general cooperation of press,

pulpit

and other public agencies resulting in the diffusion of information and the

exercise of powerful

moral influence to overcome this evil. We, the Central Conference of American

Rabbis

in annual convention assembled heartily endorse these and all other efforts of

the kind and urge our members to give their best efforts to guard the Jewish

home and

the purity of the Jewish character. (1911, p. 118)

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

WHITE PAPER (BRITISH)

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. See Palestine, Sec. 4 ( 1944).

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

WOMEN IN JUDAISM

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. Whereas,

We have progressed beyond the idea of the secondary position of women in

Jewish congregations,

we recognize the importance of their hearty cooperation and active

participation

in congregational affairs; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Executive Committee have prepared for the next Annual

Conference

a paper tracing the development of the recognition of women in Jewish

congregations,

and expounding a conclusion that women be eligible to full membership, with

all privileges of voting and holding office in our congregations. (1893, p.

40)

2. The ordination of a woman as rabbi is a modern issue, due to the evolution

in her

status in our day. The Central Conference of American Rabbis has repeatedly

made

pronouncement urging the fullest measure of self expression for women as well

as

the fullest utilization of her gifts in the service of the Most High and

gratefully acknowledges

the enrichment and enlargement of congregational life which has resulted

therefrom.

Whatever may have been the specific legal status of the Jewish woman regarding

certain

religious functions, her general position in Jewish religious life has ever

been

an exalted one. She has been the priestess in the home, and our sages have

always

recognized her as the preserver of Israel. In view of these Jewish teachings

and in keeping

with the spirit of our age, and the traditions of our Conference, we declare

that

women cannot justly be denied the privilege of ordination. (1922, p. 51)

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE

Digests of resolutions adopted by the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

between 1889 and 1974

1. Be it resolved,

That the Conference place itself on record as favoring the enfranchisement of

women.

[Your Committee recommends that we reaffirm the statement of the Conference

made at

the 1912 Convention, to the effect that this is a matter for the individual

rabbi,

and we deem it inadvisable for the Conference, as a body, to take action

thereon.]

(1915, p. 133)

2. We feel it is our solemn duty as ethical leaders and as preachers of a

religion

which has stood throughout the centuries for justice and righteousness to

assert

our belief in the justice and righteousness of the enfranchisement of the

women of

our country. (1917, p. 175)

3. See Voting Rights.