Resolution Adopted by the

CCAR

The Jerusalem

Covenant Twenty-Five Years of United Jerusalem

Adopted by the 104th Annual Convention of

the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June

1993

During the celebration of the

25th year of Jerusalem’s unification under Israeli rule.

the office of the Prime Minister of the

State of Israel promulgated a document called

“The Jerusalem Covenant.” Its English text is:

As of this day, Jerusalem Day, the

twenty eighth day of the month of Iyar in the year

five thousand seven hundred fifty two: one thousand

nine hundred and twenty-two years

after the destruction of the Second Temple; forty-five years

since the founding of the State of Israel; twenty-five years since the

Six Day War during which the Israel

Defense Forces, in defense of our very existence, restored the

Temple Mount and the

unity of

Jerusalem; twelve years since the Knesset of Israel reestablished

Jerusalem.

‘unified and whole is

the Capital of Israel:’ the State of Israel is the State of

the Jewish People and the Capital

of Israel is the Capital of the People of Israel.

We have gathered together in Zion, national leaders

and heads of our communities

everywhere to enter into a covenant with Jerusalem as was done

by the leaders of our nation

and

all the people of Israel upon Israel’s return to its Land from the

Babylonian

exile; and the people

and their leaders vowed to “dwell in Jerusalem, the Holy city.

”        

‘Once again ‘our feet stand within your gates of

Jerusalem–Jerusalem built as a city

joined together’ which ‘unites the people of Israel to one

another,’ and links heavenly

Jerusalem with earthly

Jerusalem.        

"We have returned to the place

that the Lord vowed to bestow upon the descendants

of Abraham, Father of our Nation; to the City of

David, King of Israel; where Solomon,

son of David, built a Holy Temple; a Capital City which became

the Mother of all

Israel; a

metropolis for justice and righteousness and for the wisdom and

insights of

the ancient world;

where a Second Temple was erected in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.

In this City the Sanhedrin convened

in session in its stone chamber. ‘For there were

the seats of justice, the Throne of the House of

David,’ ‘For out of Zion shall go forth

Torah, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

‘        

"Today as of old we hold fast to the truth of

the words of the Prophets of Israel,

that all the inhabitants and the world shall enter within the

gates of Jerusalem:

‘And it shall

come to pass in the end of days, the mountain of the House of the Lord

will be well established at the

peak of the mountains and will tower above the hills,

and all the nations shall stream towards it.

‘        

"Each and every nation will live in it by its

own faith: “For all the nations will

go forward, each with its own Divine Name: We shall go in the

name of the Lord our

God for ever

and ever.’ And in this spirit the Knesset of the State of Israel has

enacted a law: the places holy to

the peoples of all religions shall be protected from any

desecration and from any restriction of free

access to them.        

‘Jerusalem–peace and tranquility

shall reign in the city: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;

may those who love you be tranquil. May

there be peace within your walls, and tranquility

within your palaces.” Out of Jerusalem a message of

peace went forth and shall yet go forth again to all the inhabitants

of the earth: ‘And they shall beat

their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-

hooks; nation will not

lift up

sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more.’ Our sages

have

said: ‘In the future The Holy

One, the Blessed, will comfort Jerusalem only with peace.

‘        

‘From this place we once again take this vow: ‘If

I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may

my

right hand lose its strength; may my tongue cleave to my palate if I

do not remember

you, if I do not

raise up Jerusalem at the very height of my rejoicing,

‘        

‘And with all these understandings, we enter into

this Covenant and write: We shall

bind you to us forever: we shall bind you to us with

faithfulness, with righteousness

and justice, with steadfast love and compassion. We love you O

Jerusalem with eternal love, with unbounded love, under siege and when

liberated from the yoke of oppressors.

We have been martyred for you; we have yearned for you, we have

clung to you. Our

faithfulness to

you we shall bequeath to our children after us. Forevermore, our

home shall be within You.”

Representatives of Jewish

communities and organizations worldwide, including the CCAR,

gathered last month in Jerusalem to

participate in a ceremony on Yom Yeushalayim

5753. marking the close of the 25th year

festivities. At that time, our representative.

Rabbi Moses Cyrus Weiler, confirmed our Conference

‘s adherence to the Jerusalem Covenant

by presenting a “Certificate of the Covenant” to the

President and the Government of

Israel.        

As additional testimony of our ratification

of the Jerusalem Covenant, the Prime Minister’s

Conference for Jerusalem has asked us to establish

“guest books” to signify our congregants’

association with the Covenant, these books will

remain open until 1996, the year designated as the trimillennium of

Jerusalem (3000 years from the reign

of King David).

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED, the CCAR urges all of its members to arrange for the

publication

of the “Jerusalem

Covenant” in each congregation and organization they serve, and

further, to create a “guest book”

that will record signatures of those adults and

children who signify their support of the Covenant,

and to forward these completed

books to the Prime Minister’s Conference for Jerusalem by May

1996 as testimony to

the broad love

of Jerusalem in our Movement, the close ties we have with the united

capital of Israel and its

inhabitants, and a demonstration of our solidarity with Jerusalem,

whose well-being and peace we

continue to seek.

Resolution Adopted

by the CCAR

Action for

Israeli MIAs

Adopted by the 104th

Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American

Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June 1993

WHEREAS, Zecharia Baumel, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz were

captured in 1982 and Ron

Arad was

captured in 1986, and

WHEREAS,

the fate of these members of the Israeli Defense Forces has never been

determined,

and

WHEREAS, there have been persistent reports that

some or all of these missing Israelis

are being held by Islamic Fundamentalists with connections to

Iran and/or Syria,

and

WHEREAS, the families of these MIAs should

not be condemned to the continuing anguish

of not knowing the fate of their loved ones;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the CCAR calls upon

the governments of the U.S. and

Canada to use their good offices in whatever ways possible to

determine the fate

of these MIAs

and to secure their release if they are still alive or the return of

their remains if they are not.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Health Care Reform

Adopted by the 104th Annual Convention of

the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June

1993

WHEREAS, in 1991, the CCAR

adopted a resolution on “National Health Care,” the CCAR

now resolves to reconfirm the principles

therein. (See appendix A)

Resolution Adopted by the

CCAR

Call for Immediate

Action to Halt the Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Adopted by the 104th Annual Convention of

the

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June

1993

(Due to the time-sensitive

nature of this issue, the full text of this resolution

to be presented at the convention is subject

to change.) As we mark the 50th anniversary

of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising by resolving that

“never again” will we stand by and

allow attempts to commit genocide to go unopposed, we the

victims and children of victims

of

silence are gratified that, though belatedly, the world has come to

grips with

lessons learned during

the Holocaust. We call upon the Canadian and American public

to join us in imploring our

government to assume its rightful moral responsibility

and global leadership by taking the

following decisive measures to end this barbarity.

WHEREAS, we call upon the governments of the United

States and Canada to be more vigilant

to stand up to genocide and “ethnic cleansing” in the

future.

WHEREAS, we hope that the

world will respond in a more timely fashion to any current

or future actions of genocide and ethnic

cleansing.

WHEREAS, we call for

the immediate lifting of the arms embargo in order to provide

defenseless Bosnians with the means

to defend themselves.

WHEREAS, we

call for an increase in humanitarian aid to the civilian

population.

WHEREAS, we call for

maximizing the isolation of Serbia in the world community through

the imposition of more severe

economic and diplomatic sanctions.

WHEREAS, we call upon members of the Conference to exercise

their moral leadership

in the

implementation of this resolution.

WHEREAS, we call for the immediate implementation of all these

measures before the

of the Bosnian

population is completed as the world stands

by.        

We hope that as a nation whose highest

principle incorporates a commitment to individual

and human rights, we will be able to look back upon

this tragic episode and say in

good

conscience that our country did what was humanly possible to stop the

carnage, save lives, and promote peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR On Convening in States Denying Legal Protection of Civil Rights for Gays and Lesbians Adopted by the 104th Annual Convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June

1993

 

WHEREAS, the CCAR has a longstanding commitment to civil rights of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, and

WHEREAS, there is a concerted effort to block implementation of civil rights protection for gays and lesbians, evidenced by the passage of Amendment II by the voters of Colorado in November, 1992, and,

WHEREAS, numerous ballot initiatives are currently being proposed in other jurisdictions, to similarly prevent the access to protection of civil rights laws, on the basis of sexual orientation, and

WHEREAS, the CCAR considers the principle in this instance to take priority over the transaction of business as usual.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the CCAR not hold regional or national meetings in any state, province, or municipality which has a law in effect on or after January 1,1995, denying gays and lesbians legal protection of their civil rights. If a regional body cannot comply with this resolution within its own boundaries, it will be exempted.

Resolution Adopted by the

CCAR

Medical Use of Fetal

Tissue

Adopted by the 104th Annual

Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June 1993

Background

:

Fetal tissue is a unique substance that has been constructively used

in medical

research for at least

sixty years. Cultures of fetal kidney cells were used in the

1950s to develop the polio vaccine.

Today, critical studies which help unlock the

structure of HIV utilize human fetal tissue. Highly

promising transplant therapies using human

fetal tissue hold out the possibility of cure or amelioration

of conditions including

Parkinsons

disease, type I diabetes mellitus, DeGeorge syndrome, Alzheimers

disease, spinal cord injuries and Huntington’s chorea.

It is increasingly apparent for a variety of

scientific and technical reasons that

this tissue, to be truly efficacious, must be obtained from

therapeutic rather than

spontaneous

abortions.

There is an emerging

consensus of Reform Jewish authorities that tissue obtained from

either therapeutic or spontaneous

abortions may be used for purposes of life saving

or life enhancing research. In 1985, the CCAR

published a responsum in the Yearbook

. (See appendix B). Therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that, the CCAR supports fetal tissue

research, provided that relevant

legislation and regulations protect women and fetuses from

exploitation, and

BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED that, the CCAR adopts the principles contained in the 1985

responsum, “Fetus Used For

Experimentation.”

Resolution Adopted

by the CCAR

Absorption of

Ethiopian Immigrants

Adopted by the

104th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American

Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June 1993

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis

sees the process of

absorption of

Ethiopian Jews, and their integration into Israeli society as of

utmost

significance, and notes that

this process is far from complete. Although Ethiopian

Jewish expression may differ greatly from Reform in

context and history, the struggle

of African Jews for recognition and dignity speaks to us

all.        

Moreover, many aspects of their plight

resonate particularly for us: Orthodox intransigence

and double standards, the dual specters of

discrimination and disinterest, and the

claims of an alternative approach to legitimacy and

tolerance.        

The Central Conference notes that

this issue extends further than Operations Moses

and Solomon. It reflects on our dialogue with

African Americans in the United States,

and on our passionate concern for the integration of all

Olim

from the four

corners of the earth in the State of

Israel.        

The Central Conference salutes the work of

many in Israel who strive to make the mass

immigration of the Beta Israel

of Ethiopia into a true Aliyah

. We note in particular the efforts

of Reform institutions such as the Israel Religious

Action Center in the areas of national advocacy and

individual legal assistance,

and

the Leo Baeck Education Center, which has worked intensively with

Ethiopians

in Israel for over a

decade, often in the face of Orthodox

opposition.        

The Central Conference resolves to

develop closer ties with the Jews of Ethiopia.

Their fate is our fate. Their struggle for

legitimacy and respect is ours. We extend

to our brothers and sisters our words and our hearts.

Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Gender Equitable Education

Adopted by the 104th Annual

Convention of

the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June 1993

“And

God created Adam in God’s own image, in the image of God was Adam

created; Male

and female God

created them. (Gen 1:27)”

Background:

Excellence in education cannot be fully addressed without

confronting the issue of

inequities

within the classroom. These classroom problems with regard to gender

have

been well documented in the

past few years, most recently in a 1992 study published

by the American Association of University

Women (AAUW). This study documented the persistence

of blatant and subtle sexism in American school

systems. It found that teachers pay

less attention to girls on a daily basis, that girls are still

far behind boys in math and science achievement, and that many school

textbooks still ignore girls and

women and still engage in gender

stereotyping.        

Excellence in education is firmly

tied to educational equality. The AAUW study confirmed

that children’s ideas of gender bias are

developed and legitimized in the classroom.

The Commission and the Union of American Hebrew

Congregations cannot support women’s equality without also actively

endorsing equality for females in all aspects of

education.        

In 1975, the CCAR urged Reform

congregations to rid religious school textbooks and

curricula of gender stereotypes. In the 1970s, the

Religious Action Center of Reform

Judaism undertook a review of the most popular UAHC textbooks

to identify and eliminate racial, sexual and ethnic stereotypes. That

study led to significant improvements

in the elimination of such images. Although the Union of

American Hebrew Congregations

has

strong positions on both the equality of the sexes and on excellence

in education, it does not directly address the integrally related

issue of gender equitable education.

Therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED,

that the Central Conference of American Rabbis:

1. Endorse legislation that funds the promotion of

gender equity in education;

2.

Urge congregations and all institutions of Reform Judaism to examine

their own

approaches to gender

equity in their Religious and Hebrew schools. These approaches

include, but are not limited to,

the selection of textbooks that have appropriate

images of women and girls and men and boys, the

equitable treatment of girls and boys by Religious

and Hebrew school teachers.

Resolution Adopted

by the CCAR

Drug Trade

and Drug Legislation

Adopted by the

104th Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American

Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June 1993

WHEREAS, the overall situation regarding the use of drugs in

our society and the crime

and

misery that accompanies it has continued to deteriorate for several

decades,

and

WHEREAS, our society has continued to attempt, at

enormous financial cost, to resolve

drug abuse problems through the criminal justice system, with

the accompanying increases

of

prisons and numbers of inmates, and

WHEREAS, the huge untaxed revenues generated by the illicit

drug trade are undermining

legitimate governments world-wide, and

WHEREAS, the present system has spawned a cycle of

hostility by the incarceration

of

disproportionate numbers of African-Americans, Hispanics, and other

minority groups,

and

WHEREAS, the number of people who have

contracted AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases

from contaminated hypodermic needles is epidemic

under our present system, and

WHEREAS, in our society’s zeal to pursue our criminal

approach, legitimate medical

uses

for the relief of pain and suffering of patients have been

suppressed.

THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that our society must recognize drug use and abuse as the

medical and social problems that

they are and that they must be treated with medical

and social solutions, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an objective commission

be immediately empowered by Congress

to recommend revision of the drug laws of the United States in

order to reduce the

harm our

current policies are causing.

Resolution Adopted

by the CCAR

D.C.

Statehood

Adopted by the 104th

Annual Convention of

the Central Conference of American

Rabbis

Montreal, Quebec, June 1993

Background:

The District of Columbia is an anomaly within our democratic

nation, being the home

of more than

600.000 Americans, more than the populations of Alaska, Wyoming, or

Vermont. Residents of the District

of Columbia pay more federal taxes than the residents

of eight states and the District sent more people to

serve in Operation Desert Storm

than did 19 States. Moreover, while the residents of the

District of Columbia are

called

upon to meet the same obligations of citizenship as the residents of

the 50

States, they are denied

fundamental rights of citizenship enjoyed by the residents of the

States. For example, District

citizens have no representation in the Senate, and

their representatives in the House of

Representatives cannot vote in a manner that

can determine the outcome of a legislative

action.        

Although Congress has granted the District a

significant measure of “home rule,” Congress

retains ultimate control over the budget of the

District and all local legislation.

Using this power, Congress last year imposed an unwanted

referendum on reinstatement of the death penalty on the District and

has often vetoed legislation enacted

by the elected City Council of the District. Using its control

over the budget, Congress

has

prevented the District from using locally raised revenues to provide

abortions

to poor women or

extending health benefits to domestic partners of District

employees.        

The federal government also retains

complete control over the appointment of judges

who sit in the local courts of the District of

Columbia, these courts handle the

same civil and criminal matters as those dealt with in the

state and municipal courts

of the

50 States. Presidents can and have ignored qualified local candidates

for judgeships

to repair political

debts and appointed persons to the District bench who were not

district residents and had shown

little prior interest in the District.

        

The current status of the government of the District

of Columbia leaves its residents

second-class citizens with limited rights but all the

obligations imposed on citizens

of

the 50 States. For centuries until modern times, Jews throughout the

world have

experienced second-class

citizenship and its destructive consequences. Our tradition

tells us that all are created equal, and our

experience teaches us that all must

be treated equally. As a Movement we consistently support

achievement of equality

for

all.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,

that the Central Conference of American Rabbis:

1) Supports the creation of a fifty-first State

within what is now the District of

Columbia;

2) Urges the

Congress and President of the United States to take the necessary

actions

to achieve that end.