Resolution Adopted by the CCAR
SEDERS FOR TIBET
Adopted by the 109th Annual Convention of the
Central Conference of American Rabbis
June, 1998
Background
Seders for Tibet brings to the Jewish celebration of freedom an awareness of the current plight of the Tibetan people, who are suffering under Chinese oppression. The form the seders take is open to the imagination and creativity of the participants: they have ranged from simply doing a seder and inviting Tibetan guests, to inserts in the Haggadah of parallel or analogous material from Tibetan history. In the preparation for such seders comes an increased awareness of the Tibetan cause in our community, and concrete expressions of support.
In line with a resolution of support at the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Seders for Tibet committee would supply materials and information about the seders, and the Jewish connection to the Tibetan situation. Some of these materials are already available on the Internet, at the website
http://www.savetibet.org including the text of the Haggadah used at the Religious Action Center for the April 24, 1997 seder with the Dalai Lama.
The committee is headed by Rodger Kamenetz, a member of Touro Synagogue in New Orleans, LA, and author of The Jew in the Lotus. Members include: Rabbis David Saperstein, Lawrence Kushner, William Cutter and Arthur Waskow. The committee is in formation. It will be working closely with the Religious Action Center and with the International Campaign for Tibet. Current address for the committee: 1209 Pine Street, New Orleans, LA 70118. Phone: 504-864-9976.
Rationale for Jewish participation in the Tibetan freedom struggle: text from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
The Jewish experience-we were once slaves in Egypt-lends itself to compassion for other persecuted religious minorities, specifically the plight of Christians, Tibetans, and Bahais. At Passover, we are reminded that we were once slaves in Egypt. With respect to the plight of the Tibetan people, the RAC hosted last year a Passover Seder with the Dalai Lama, as part of a national campaign to raise awareness about the religious persecution and political oppression of the Tibetan people. The Seder was attended by leaders of the Jewish and Tibetan communities. The Dalai Lama expressed the significance of the event to those gathered at the April 24, 1997, seder, saying that : “The Tibetan people have learned about the secrets of Jewish spiritual survival in exile…Jewish people remember their liberation from slavery to freedom and this has brought you hope in times of difficulty.”
We are taught to remember the day on which God freed us with a mighty hand and we went forth from Egypt. For this reason, and for our belief in the sanctity of life, the Jewish people are the “agents of freedom for all God’s children who dwell in darkness.”
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis urge the participation of Reform synagogues, through congregational and individual seders, in Seders for Tibet for 5759/1999 in cooperation with the Seders for Tibet 5759/1999 committee.
Seders for Tibet brings to the Jewish celebration of freedom an awareness of the current plight of the Tibetan people, who are suffering under Chinese oppression. The form the seders take is open to the imagination and creativity of the participants: they have ranged from simply doing a seder and inviting Tibetan guests, to inserts in the Haggadah of parallel or analogous material from Tibetan history. In the preparation for such seders comes an increased awareness of the Tibetan cause in our community, and concrete expressions of support.