Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

The Observance of Yom Ha-Shoah and Yom Ha-atzma-ut

Adopted by the CCAR at the 99th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel, March, 1988

WHEREAS the destruction of European Jewry in the Holocaust demands commemoration and

the rebirth of the State of Israel requires celebration, and

WHEREAS in 1951 the Knesset set aside the 27th day of Nisan as Yom Hashoah,

a day of mourning for the victims of the Holocaust, and

WHEREAS in June 1977 the Central Conference of American Rabbis called for the annual

commemoration on this date, and

WHEREAS, in 1970 at its convention on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem, the CCAR proclaimed

Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha-atzma-ut)

“a permanent annual festival in the religious calendar of Reform Judaism.” and

WHEREAS Yom Ha-atzma-ut

is a day of celebration which recognizes that a new era has dawned in the life of

the Jewish people, attests to the essential unity of the whole household of Israel

and marks the cultural and spiritual renaissance which draws strength from symbiotic

relationship between Israel and world Jewry, and

WHEREAS the rebirth of Israel from the ashes of the Shoah

is a symbol of hope against despair, of redemption against devastation,

THEREFORE, at this convention of the CCAR meeting in Jerusalem, which coincides with

the 40th anniversary,

BE IT RESOLVED that the CCAR reaffirm that Yom Hashoah

(27th of Nisan

) and Yom Ha-atzma-ut

(the fifth of Iyar

) are sacred days and their observance is a mitzvah incumbent upon all Jews, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, since Yom Hashoah

is a day of mourning, it is a mitzvah

to remember the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis in the Shoah

by attending special memorial services and lighting six Yahrzeit

lights in their memory on the specific day of the commemoration, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, along with the memory of the six million Jews, the memory

of Chasidei Umot Ha-olam

–the righteous Gentiles–should be remembered on Yom Hashoah

, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in keeping with the spirit of Yom Hashoah

as a day of mourning, weddings and celebrations should not be scheduled, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one possible observance be either to fast during the day

or eat a very simple meal on the eve of Yom Hashoah

as an act of identification and solidarity with those who were in concentration camps

and slowly starved to death, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each synagogue and organization should consider the following

possible observances: provide for a permanent memorial to the martyrs; participate

in mitzvot

on Yom Hashoah

to give tzedaka

directed to institutions which preserve their memory; participate in the mitzvah

on Yom Ha-atzma-ut

of a festive meal which should include foods from Israel, the singing of Israeli

songs and the participation in public worship services which affirm the bond between

the Jews living in the Land of Israel and living outside; participate in the mitzvah

of becoming involved in acts of tzedaka

with organizations or institutions which help strengthen the State of Israel and

affirm the Unity of the Jewish people, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CCAR call upon its membership to establish the observance

of these sacred days on the exact Hebrew dates on which they occur as part of the

life of our people.

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AT ITS MEETING OF JUNE

15-16, 1988, HAVING BEEN REFERRED BY THE 1988 CONVENTION

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

On Religious Pluralism

Adopted by the CCAR at the 99th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel, March, 1988

WHEREAS the Central Conference of American Rabbis, representing more than 1500 Reform/Progressive

rabbis, has convened its 99th annual convention in Jerusalem, the fourth such gathering

in Israel’s history, and

WHEREAS the World Union for Progressive Judaism, representing Reform/Progressive congregations

in more than 18 countries, has convened its annual conference in Jerusalem as part

of our movement’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of Israel’s founding, commemorating as well the dedication of the World Union’s outstanding Youth Hostel and

educational facility, and WHEREAS the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

is this year celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of its campus

in Jerusalem, a campus on which are located facilities for the training of professional

Jewish educators, cantors, and Jewish communal service workers, and a magnificent

scholarly library and archaeological institute and museum as well, and

WHEREAS the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism now includes more than 23 congregations

and institutions, served by 32 Progressive rabbis, and has most recently dedicated

its Israel Religious Action Center and its Institute for Democratic Values as a means of furthering its struggle to shape Israel into a democratic, pluralistic Jewish

State, and

WHEREAS Reform/Progressive Judaism, under the leadership of ARZA (Association for

Reform Zionists of America, United States), Kadima (Canada), and ARZENU (world-wide),

in close cooperation with the World Union for Progressive Judaism, recently emerged

as one of the strongest Zionist structures in the World Zionist Organization. having translated

the support it received in free and democratic elections into a mandate to help reform

the WZO and to shape it into a dynamic instrument for the building of a free, democratic, pluralistic Jewish State,

THEREFORE let it be known and fully acknowledged that Reform/ Progressive Judaism

is totally committed to the upbuilding of the State of Israel as a full and equal

partner. We expect and demand all protections to safeguard our moral and legal rights

not only within the state, but within the Jewish Agency and within the World Zionist Organization

as well. All efforts to deny. hinder. or block such rights must necessarily fail.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Reform Aliya

Adopted by the CCAR at the 99th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel, March, 1988

WHEREAS Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people and the center of its spiritual

and cultural life, and

WHEREAS the CCAR is committed to the upbuilding of the State of Israel as a mode for

the continued creative survival of the Jewish people, and

WHEREAS the CCAR recognizes Israel as a legitimate and desirable life option for Reform

Jews,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: the CCAR applauds the establishment of Tenu-at Magshimim Reformim

(TaMaR), the movement for Reform Zionist Fulfillment, and calls upon colleagues and

congregations to promote and support its continued development so that liberal Judaism

and liberal Jews may make a significant contribution to the development of the Jewish homeland, Israel, as a pluralistic and humanistic society which is truly a light

unto the nations.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Anne and Jonathan Pollard

Adopted by the CCAR at the 99th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel, March, 1988

WHEREAS serious questions have been raised regarding the sentence of Jonathan Pollard–without

parole–for aiding an ally in peacetime, and

WHEREAS the possible injustice is underscored by the contemporaneous case of John

Walker, who will be eligible for parole in ten years, after selling major damaging

military material to the U.S.S.R.. and

WHEREAS we are very concerned about the treatment received by Jonathan Pollard’s co-defendant,

Anne Henderson Pollard, during her incarceration, especially realizing her serious

medical condition

BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Board of the CCAR urge all its members, as well

as the UAHC and HUC-JIR and other major Jewish and Christian organizations, to become

fully acquainted with the details of the trial and sentencing, and use their good

offices to encourage the United States government to reevaluate the Pollard case, and to

ensure that the Pollards be treated with fairness and equity during their incarceration.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

The Pursuit of Peace in the Middle East

Adopted by the CCAR at the 99th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel, March, 1988

WHEREAS the reborn Jewish State, now celebrating the 40th anniversary of its founding,

represents the sacred fulfillment of our people’s millennial dream to return to its

ancient homeland whose very soil regularly yields up proof as to the authenticity

and the antiquity of our historic right to the exercise of sovereignty in this area,

and

WHEREAS the shared dream of Herzl and Ahad Ha-Am was not only to create a place of

refuge to which all Jews might freely flow, certain of always being greeted by doors

opened wide, but to create as well a cultural, religious, and spiritual center here

which would nourish and sustain our people’s continuing quest for a world of justice,

of mercy, of love, of devoted service to God and to our fellow human beings, and

of peace, and

WHEREAS the status quo produced a demographic reality that threatens Israel’s Jewish

character and democracy, and

WHEREAS in the past the Conference has supported the principle of exchanging territory

for peace.

THEREFORE do we urge all peoples involved in the current struggle– be those people

Muslims, Christians, or Jews, be they citizens of Israel, citizens of those nations

which share common borders with Israel, or the stateless who are the concern of us

all–to join forthrightly, openly, and without precondition or prior threat, in the active

search for a fair, enduring, all embracing peace:

THEREFORE do we urge that even in this election year the pursuit of justice and peace

be vigorously carried forward, whether through bilateral or trilateral arrangements,

or under international auspices, and

THEREFORE do we join with those citizens and officials of the State of Israel who

hold that the pursuit of justice and peace by the Jewish State must now be undertaken

with renewed commitment. It is intolerable for the status quo to be maintained. We

welcome the efforts of Secretary of State Shultz to advance the peace process. Feeling

the urgency of the moment, we call upon all parties to the conflict to respond affirmatively

to these efforts.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Law of Return: Implementation

Adopted by the CCAR at the 99th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel, March, 1988

WHEREAS, following legal proceedings initiated by the Israel Movement for Progressive

Judaism, the Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that all converts to Judaism must be

registered upon application as Jews under the Law of Return, and

WHEREAS since 1984 no Reform or Conservative converts to Judaism have been so registered,

despite repeated requests,

THEREFORE does the Central Conference of American Rabbis call upon the leaders of

the Government of Israel to continue to make certain that the laws of the State,

and the rulings of its Supreme Court, are duly and faithfully implemented.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

World Zionist Congress Elections

Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1987

As we meet in convention assembled, our congregants and members of our communities

have received ballots for the forthcoming elections to the World Zionist Congress.        

In support of the activities of ARZA and KADIMA to bring about, through the World

Zionist Organization, full and equal opportunity for nonorthodox Judaism to flourish

within the State of Israel, we call upon the members of the Central Conference of

American Rabbis to mount an all-out campaign within our congregations to stimulate those

who are eligible to cast their ballots in support of the ARZA or KADIMA slates.        

At this crucial juncture, our individual efforts can have enormous impact upon the

spiritual evolution of the Jewish State.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Elie Wiesel

Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1987

WHEREAS in his book La Nuit

(1958; Night

, 1960), Elie Wiesel was among the first to testify to the horrors of the Nazi concentration

camps, and

WHEREAS Elie Wiesel brought the plight of Soviet Jewry to the attention of millions

of Western readers in his moving eyewitness account, Les Juifs du Silence

(1966; The Jews of Silence

, 1968), and

WHEREAS in his lectures and public appearances, Elie Wiesel has continued to be a

courageous and passionate advocate of peace and justice for all oppressed peoples,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Central Conference of American Rabbis express to

Elie Wiesel as recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace, its high esteem and deep

pride.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

On the Importance of Continued Meetings Between the United States and the Soviet Union

Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1987

WHEREAS we view with favor the summit meetings between the leaders of the United States

and the U.S.S.R.,

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

the President of the United States and the Secretary-General of the Communist Party

of the U.S.S.R. to arrange for periodic summit meetings for the discussion of issues

of mutual concern.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

United Nations War Criminals Files

Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

1987

WHEREAS it is unconscionable for the files of those the War Crimes Commission declared

indictable to remain hidden, and

WHEREAS justice delayed is justice denied,

THEREFORE be it resolved that the Central Conference of American Rabbis calls upon

the Governments of the United States and Canada to reverse their votes, in order

that the Secretary-General of the United Nations be instructed to release the files

for publication, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the CCAR and their congregants call upon

their Representatives and Senators to vote for resolutions now pending in their respective

Houses calling upon the United States Government so to inform the Secretary-General, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CCAR commend the Government and people of Australia,

the lone nation voting for release of the files, for their honorable action.