Resolution Adopted by the CCAR
Special Needs
Adopted by the CCAR at the 100th Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Cincinnati, Ohio June, 1989
WHEREAS the Union of American Hebrew Congregations Board of Trustees in November 1988
adopted a resolution of Lehiyot
(“becoming”), which would provide special needs learners, parents, and teachers with
specialized resources for Jewish education, and
WHEREAS the goals of the program as listed in that resolution included:
1. to make Judaism and Jewish education accessible to all Jewish learners;
2. to stimulate and Inspire special needs learners to develop their identities as
enlightened, involved, and committed Jews;
3. to establish a supportive environment in our synagogues in which the special needs
person can take increased responsibility for his/her participation;
4. to establish a national network focused on the special needs of special needs people
and their families–as related to issues of Jewish identity –so as to reduce feelings
of loneliness and isolations
5. to encourage feelings of adequacy and enthusiasm for special needs people–related
to Jewish life activities–by establishing realistic educational and programming expectations,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Central Conference of American Rabbis commend the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations in taking programmatic steps to meet these
goals, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CCAR pledge its cooperation with the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations toward the implementation of these goals.