Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Equal Rights Amendment

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS our tradition has ever been one of social concern and moral imperative, and

WHEREAS we believe ourselves to be partners with God in completing that which God

has initiated, and

WHEREAS we are meeting on the eve of July 4, 1976 when America will celebrate its

200th anniversary,and

WHEREAS we are firmly committed to the principles of equality and freedom upon which

our nation was founded, and

WHEREAS we have previously expressed our support of the Equal Rights Amendment,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we deplore the slowness with which our country has moved

in approving the amendment and we again urge its speedy ratification by the States.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Employnent Legislation

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS we believe that freedom demands equal opportunity, and

WHEREAS we believe that a democracy should guarantee every person willing and able

to work the right of employment at a fair rate of compensation,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we call upon Congress to pass full employment legislation

which would not only provide jobs but would also make provision for the elimination

of poverty, the establishment of adequate health care, and the institution of programs for mass transit, housing and conservation of resources.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Programs for Youth

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS throughout the United States there has emerged with increasing fervor many

separate and yet some united young adult movements designed to mesmerize, unknowingly

, the religious instincts of people, and

WHEREAS our teenage and college people and young married respond to the influence

of such pressure groups as the Unification Church, the Hebrew-Christian Missionaries,

the Divine Light Mission, the Hari Krishna, the Children of God movement, Jews for

Jesus, both locally and nationally, and other charismatic cults of the divine religious

person, and

WHEREAS these unorthodox cults prey upon the unsuspecting, unknowingly

, as valid extensions of recognized church movements, and

WHEREAS these groups use mind-altering techniques, cause family breakdown, and demand

the blind adherence of their followers to the orders of a central leader as they

develop the cult of his person, unknowingly, in those recruited,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the national community relations organizations strengthen

themselves nationally, regionally and locally to meet this new challenge by identifying

these groups, developing resource materials on these movements and by advising their people of these groups, the dangers inherent in such groups and, therefore, renew

themselves to provide the services required by such young groups of people who are

attracted to these sub-cultural movements, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Central Conference of American Rabbis appoint a committee,

or refer to an appropriate standing committee, to develop program materials which

will refocus for our young people their quest for Jewish identity based upon a more basic religious content which is philosophically and theologically embedded within

the Jewish community as a response to yet another challenge to our existence.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Criminal Justice Reform Act

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS secrecy in government is threatening to our civil liberties, and

WHEREAS dissent is healthy and necessary in a democracy, and

WHEREAS freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are integral

parts of the American way of life, and

WHEREAS we are opposed to the death penalty as cruel and unusual punishment,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we express strong opposition to the Criminal Justice

Reform Act of 1976 (S. 1) which would endanger the above principles, and therefore

urge Congress to defeat it.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Cities

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS the City of New York has ever welcomed the poor and the homeless, the unemployed

and the immigrant, and

WHEREAS the City of New York now finds itself in financial crisis partially due to

its willingness to provide for those in need,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we commend the City of New York for its long-standing

commitment to communal responsibility, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the Federal Government to recognize the needs

of our cities and to lend financial assistance in the development of meaningful welfare

programs. We oppose budgetary cuts which affect such programs as food stamps, medicare, hot lunch programs and day care centers.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Cantorate

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS we applaud the efforts at enhanced cantorial education taking place at the

various recognized cantorial schools, and

WHEREAS we note with concern the proliferation in the Reform Jewish movement of the

use of the title “Cantor” for those who serve as leaders of congregational singing

or serve as soloists but who lack formal cantorial training.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Central Conference of American Rabbis calls upon

its members to restrict the use of the title “Cantor” to those who were properly

trained for such profession, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congregations be urged to apply some other appropriate

designation than “Cantor” to those who are serving in that capacity and are not properly

trained.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Cambodia

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

RESOLVED that the CCAR expresses its humanitarian concern for the people of Cambodia

who have suffered so terribly this past year under the brutal and heartless action

of the Cambodian government. This only compounds the terrible suffering of the Cambodian people during the five years of the Lon Nol regime which preceded the present Khmer

Rouge regime. The forced evacuation of millions of Cambodian men, women and children

by the Cambodian government, with the resulting suffering and death of many thousands, is a policy which is abhorrent to us as religious and moral-minded Jews. We who condemned

the brutal policies of our own government in Southeast Asia condemn the cruel actions

of the present Cambodian regime and call for the cessation of said actions.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

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Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Busing

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS we are committed to the establishment of an integrated society which encourages

unity and neither recognizes nor practices racial, religious or ethnic barriers among

its people, and

WHEREAS the Supreme Court has ruled that busing may be, in some cases, the only means

by which effective desegregation can occur,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we express our continued support of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964. We deplore the racial violence occurring in various parts of our country

and we oppose all efforts to amend the constitution to prohibit busing. We reaffirm

our support of a public-school system and call for continued effective financial support

of public-schools, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we deplore imputations against the Federal judiciary in

its efforts to uphold the constitutional guarantees of the 14th Amendment affording

equal protection to children and young people seeking equal educational opportunity.

We view as a subversion of the judiciary legislative initiatives to restrict the authority

of Federal court to order corrective constitutionally required remedy, including

pupil transportation in school districts where children and young people are being

deprived of their constitutional rights under the 14th Amendment

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Jews in Arab Lands

Adopted by the CCAR at the 87th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1976

WHEREAS the plight of Jews of Syria is still difficult, some journalistic reports

not withstanding, and though our petition drive and other efforts have, seemingly,

improved their outward conditions and Syria’s sensitivity to world opinion, nevertheless,

Syrian Jews endure a very vulnerable existence. Their very lives are subject to the

capricious whims of those who hold them hostage. No one disputes that they are not

free to leave.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Central Conference of American Rabbis

(1) continue to work for the unimpeded release of the Jews of Syria

(2) continue to work for the relief of those Jews while they are yet held there against

their will;

(3) continue to take note of their plight at all appropriate times, especially on

(a) Shabbat Zachor,

the Yahrzeit

of the murder in 1974 of the “Four Daughters of Damascus”,

(b) Pesach

, when we think of freedom from captivity,

(c) Tisha B’av,

the season of mourning for the destruction of the Temple and exile to foreign lands,

and

(d) Chanukah

, recalling freedom from Syrian domination, and

(4) continue to urge U.S. government intervention with the Syrian government on behalf

of our people there.