Resolution Adopted by the CCAR
South Africa
Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
1987
WHEREAS our prophets and rabbis taught that all human beings are created in the image
of God and have an equal claim to equity and justice, and
WHEREAS the Jewish religious tradition and historical experience equate racism with
ultimate evil. and
WHEREAS Reform Judaism, throughout its history, has spoken with vigor and clarity
against racial segregation and discrimination in the United States and the world,
and
WHEREAS South Africa is the only country in the modem world that constitutionally
establishes white supremacy and racial oppression, and
WHEREAS apartheid is a system that affronts the most profound values of humanity and
democracy and violates the teachings of our religion, and the apartheid regime poses
a moral challenge to all who cherish liberty and decency, and
WHEREAS in 1976 the Central Conference of American Rabbis protested against racism
and police brutality in South Africa and its dealings with Zimbabwe,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCAR:
1. Reaffirms its condemnation of apartheid.
2. Calls upon the government of South Africa to release immediately Nelson Mandela
and all others imprisoned because of their opposition to apartheid.
3. Calls upon the government of South Africa to enter into negotiations aimed at eliminating
apartheid with bona fide representatives of the victims of apartheid.
4. Calls upon the Canadian Parliament and the United States Congress to enact legislation
that will ban new business investment and bank loans in South Africa; ban the importation
into the United States and Canada of all South African gold coins; ban all sales of U.S. and Canadian equipment with military and police application; ban U.S.
and Canadian contributions to South Africa through the International Monetary Fund.
5. Calls upon the governments of the United States and Canada to reduce the level
of diplomatic recognition of South Africa.
6. Further calls on the U.S. Congress and the Canadian Parliament, if substantial
progress toward the abolition of apartheid does not occur within one year, to enact
the following legislation: divestiture of United States and Canadian assets in South
Africa and institution of a trade embargo by the United States and Canada against South
Africa.
7. Affirms its fraternal support for the Southern African Union for Progressive Judaism,
the Southern African Association of Progressive Rabbis, and the South African Jewish
Board of Deputies in their support for fundamental reform of South African life and institutions, their condemnation of violence, and their complete rejection of apartheid.
8. Directs the Executive Board in a manner it deems appropriate and responsible to
boycott firms that engage in business in South Africa and have not accepted the Sullivan
Principles.
9. Directs the Executive Board to divest the CCAR of all investments in corporations
doing business in South Africa.
10. Further recommends that CCAR members urge their congregations and their individual
members to cease the purchase of South African gold coins as an immediate, direct,
personal and symbolic protest against South Africa’s racist and repressive regime.
11. Calls upon the members of the CCAR and their congregations and constituencies
to lend moral and substantive support to those in South Africa actually engaged in
the non-violent struggle against apartheid:
A. by continuing messages of support and encouragement to individuals such as Beyers
Naude, Allan Boesak, Helen Suzmann, Frederick Van Zyl Slabbert, Winnie Mandela, Bishop
Desmond Tutu, and others.
B. by establishing a relationship with and contributing to the Legal Resource Center
at the University of Wetwatersrand.