Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

World Anti-Semitism

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

We have noticed with great alarm, and also experienced first hand, a tremendous upsurge

in world anti-Semitism during the previous year. Hate-filled thoughts which some

people once hesitated to utter are now commonly and brazenly spoken. Hate-filled

actions which some people once hesitated to take are now commonly and brazenly perpetrated.

These words and deeds pose a threat to the Jewish community, to its friends and to

other minority communities, regardless of race or creed.        

Both at home and abroad, events are occurring which desecrate the principles of human

decency and mutual understanding. In France, Jewish schools, businesses and synagogues

have become targets of neo-fascist killers and vandals. The response of the French government has been insufficient at best. In the Soviet Union, refusenik emigration

has been cut almost 90% and more Jews, such as Viktor Brailovsky, are being incarcerated.

In Iran, the Jewish community is under increasing threats from the Ayatollah Khomeini and his henchmen. The deplorable execution of a prominent Iranian .Jewish journalist

recently added to the mounting fear. In Argentina, the government continues a policy

of overt libel, detention, and torture. In Ethiopia, Falashan Jewry moves closer

to extinction as its people are killed, dispersed and literally enslaved. In the United

States, the renewed militancy of the Ku Klux Klan has led to the indoctrination of

innocent young people, bloodshed, and murder. Even in our own regions, desecration

of cemeteries, vandalism and arson in synagogues and community centers have become a

mounting concern for Jewish institutions. These examples comprise only a partial

list.

Therefore, be it resolved

that the CCAR calls upon its members and their constituent organizations and synagogues

to respond to this growing problem in several ways.

a) By making both adults and children aware of the current situation and by educating

them on the historical roots of anti-Semitism.

b) By responding to local acts of anti-Semitism appropriately and in consultation

with such Jewish agencies as the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League,

Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation, the American Jewish Congress,

and the Canadian Jewish Congress; and with the support of responsible Jews in all segments

of Jewish society, especially the elderly.

c) By organizing letter-writing campaigns and petition drives that will make the government

and law enforcement officials aware of the situation and prompt them to take immediate

and effective action.

d) By forming coalitions with church organizations and ministerial groups in an ongoing

manner to mobilize the religious community to fight this poisonous trend that threatens

the American way of life.

e) By discouraging vigilante-like action on behalf of the Jewish community as advocated

and practiced by some organizations.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Peace Negotiations

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

Here in Israel, in the sight of both Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the Central Conference

of American Rabbis calls upon our fellow descendants of Abraham living in those countries

to join with Israel and Egypt in the negotiations begun with such promise at Camp David. Such united efforts will insure a stable and secure Middle East.        

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Sale of American Arms to Saudi Arabia

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

The enhancement of the offensive capabilities of the F-15 warplanes sold two years

ago to Saudi Arabia, and the sale of AWACs, can only present an ability and temptation

to use them against the State of Israel, against whom Saudi Arabia has sworn jihad

, holy war, repeatedly and only recently. Israel is the steadfast ally of the United

States, and cannot be placed in such a position of jeopardy.        

When the F-15 aircraft were sold to Saudi Arabia, a solemn promise was made by the

United States Government not to deliver such enhancement packages. The new Administration

is bound by that promise, and cannot be viewed in the eyes of the world as not living up to its covenants.        

Furthermore, we must remember the lesson of Iran. The Saudi government is unstable,

and all the arms sent to, and intended for it, could fall into the hands of unfriendly

forces, to the detriment of the United States and the West.        

Such an unnecessary sale, particularly without achieving Saudi acceptance of the State

of Israel and a firm guarantee to join in the Camp David peace process, will only

serve to fuel the arms race and antagonisms in the Middle East, further destabilizing

the region and acting in the worst interests of the United States and our allies.        

We call upon the Administration to withdraw its proposal to provide the offensive

capability packages and AWACs to Saudi Arabia, and should formal notification be

sent to Congress, we call upon the Congress to vote against.        

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Ordination of Colleagues in Israel

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

The Central Conference of American Rabbis congratulates Hebrew Union College-Jewish

Institute of Religion on the occasion of granting semichah

to a new class of Israelis at its Jerusalem school. We view the ordination of Zeev

Harari and Gil Nativ as powerful evidence that an indigenous progressive Judaism

has taken root and continues to flourish in Eretz Yisrael.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Ordination of Colleagues in Israel

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

The Central Conference of American Rabbis congratulates Hebrew Union College-Jewish

Institute of Religion on the occasion of granting semichah

to a new class of Israelis at its Jerusalem school. We view the ordination of Zeev

Harari and Gil Nativ as powerful evidence that an indigenous progressive Judaism

has taken root and continues to flourish in Eretz Yisrael.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

World Anti-Semitism

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

We have noticed with great alarm, and also experienced first hand, a tremendous upsurge

in world anti-Semitism during the previous year. Hate-filled thoughts which some

people once hesitated to utter are now commonly and brazenly spoken. Hate-filled

actions which some people once hesitated to take are now commonly and brazenly perpetrated.

These words and deeds pose a threat to the Jewish community, to its friends and to

other minority communities, regardless of race or creed.        

Both at home and abroad, events are occurring which desecrate the principles of human

decency and mutual understanding. In France, Jewish schools, businesses and synagogues

have become targets of neo-fascist killers and vandals. The response of the French government has been insufficient at best. In the Soviet Union, refusenik emigration

has been cut almost 90% and more Jews, such as Viktor Brailovsky, are being incarcerated.

In Iran, the Jewish community is under increasing threats from the Ayatollah Khomeini and his henchmen. The deplorable execution of a prominent Iranian .Jewish journalist

recently added to the mounting fear. In Argentina, the government continues a policy

of overt libel, detention, and torture. In Ethiopia, Falashan Jewry moves closer

to extinction as its people are killed, dispersed and literally enslaved. In the United

States, the renewed militancy of the Ku Klux Klan has led to the indoctrination of

innocent young people, bloodshed, and murder. Even in our own regions, desecration

of cemeteries, vandalism and arson in synagogues and community centers have become a

mounting concern for Jewish institutions. These examples comprise only a partial

list.

Therefore, be it resolved

that the CCAR calls upon its members and their constituent organizations and synagogues

to respond to this growing problem in several ways.

a) By making both adults and children aware of the current situation and by educating

them on the historical roots of anti-Semitism.

b) By responding to local acts of anti-Semitism appropriately and in consultation

with such Jewish agencies as the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League,

Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation, the American Jewish Congress,

and the Canadian Jewish Congress; and with the support of responsible Jews in all segments

of Jewish society, especially the elderly.

c) By organizing letter-writing campaigns and petition drives that will make the government

and law enforcement officials aware of the situation and prompt them to take immediate

and effective action.

d) By forming coalitions with church organizations and ministerial groups in an ongoing

manner to mobilize the religious community to fight this poisonous trend that threatens

the American way of life.

e) By discouraging vigilante-like action on behalf of the Jewish community as advocated

and practiced by some organizations.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Disestablishment of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

Be it resolved

that the Central Conference of American Rabbis calls for the disestablishment of

the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel so that the cause of religious Judaism

in Israel be enhanced. Stripped of arbitrary power, all rabbis would need to rely

on moral suasion and inspired teaching to reach Israel’s vast majority of unaffiliated Jews,

convincing instead of coercing, and necessarily more responsive to issues they have

thus far ignored: War and peace, the social gap, poverty, corruption, and, most particularly, the spiritual values of Judaism itself. Let rabbis be rabbis rather than politicians,

that Israel be more authentically Jewish than the narrow theocracy for which Israel’s

politicized religious establishment yearns.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Disestablishment of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

Be it resolved

that the Central Conference of American Rabbis calls for the disestablishment of

the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel so that the cause of religious Judaism

in Israel be enhanced. Stripped of arbitrary power, all rabbis would need to rely

on moral suasion and inspired teaching to reach Israel’s vast majority of unaffiliated Jews,

convincing instead of coercing, and necessarily more responsive to issues they have

thus far ignored: War and peace, the social gap, poverty, corruption, and, most particularly, the spiritual values of Judaism itself. Let rabbis be rabbis rather than politicians,

that Israel be more authentically Jewish than the narrow theocracy for which Israel’s

politicized religious establishment yearns.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Peace Negotiations

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

Here in Israel, in the sight of both Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the Central Conference

of American Rabbis calls upon our fellow descendants of Abraham living in those countries

to join with Israel and Egypt in the negotiations begun with such promise at Camp David. Such united efforts will insure a stable and secure Middle East.        

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

World Anti-Semitism

Adopted by the CCAR at the 92nd Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jerusalem, Israel June 23-28, 1981

We have noticed with great alarm, and also experienced first hand, a tremendous upsurge

in world anti-Semitism during the previous year. Hate-filled thoughts which some

people once hesitated to utter are now commonly and brazenly spoken. Hate-filled

actions which some people once hesitated to take are now commonly and brazenly perpetrated.

These words and deeds pose a threat to the Jewish community, to its friends and to

other minority communities, regardless of race or creed.        

Both at home and abroad, events are occurring which desecrate the principles of human

decency and mutual understanding. In France, Jewish schools, businesses and synagogues

have become targets of neo-fascist killers and vandals. The response of the French government has been insufficient at best. In the Soviet Union, refusenik emigration

has been cut almost 90% and more Jews, such as Viktor Brailovsky, are being incarcerated.

In Iran, the Jewish community is under increasing threats from the Ayatollah Khomeini and his henchmen. The deplorable execution of a prominent Iranian .Jewish journalist

recently added to the mounting fear. In Argentina, the government continues a policy

of overt libel, detention, and torture. In Ethiopia, Falashan Jewry moves closer

to extinction as its people are killed, dispersed and literally enslaved. In the United

States, the renewed militancy of the Ku Klux Klan has led to the indoctrination of

innocent young people, bloodshed, and murder. Even in our own regions, desecration

of cemeteries, vandalism and arson in synagogues and community centers have become a

mounting concern for Jewish institutions. These examples comprise only a partial

list.

Therefore, be it resolved

that the CCAR calls upon its members and their constituent organizations and synagogues

to respond to this growing problem in several ways.

a) By making both adults and children aware of the current situation and by educating

them on the historical roots of anti-Semitism.

b) By responding to local acts of anti-Semitism appropriately and in consultation

with such Jewish agencies as the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League,

Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation, the American Jewish Congress,

and the Canadian Jewish Congress; and with the support of responsible Jews in all segments

of Jewish society, especially the elderly.

c) By organizing letter-writing campaigns and petition drives that will make the government

and law enforcement officials aware of the situation and prompt them to take immediate

and effective action.

d) By forming coalitions with church organizations and ministerial groups in an ongoing

manner to mobilize the religious community to fight this poisonous trend that threatens

the American way of life.

e) By discouraging vigilante-like action on behalf of the Jewish community as advocated

and practiced by some organizations.