July 7, 2025

The Central Conference of American Rabbis’ 1999 Resolution on Budget Priorities begins,

“The Torah teaches that ‘there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman in your land’ (Deuteronomy 15:11). From the time of the Mishnah, Jewish communities have taken that responsibility both as a command to every individual to give tzedakah and as a command to communities to provide for the poor. The Talmud specifically lists health care, charity funds, and childcare among the ten most critical functions that every community must provide (Sanhedrin 17b).”[i]

This vision of economic justice is a central concern of Torah, an exhortation of the prophets, and a focus of our American Reform rabbinate from its earliest days. Our most ancient texts urge us to care for the poor and needy, and call us to create a society in which all who need can receive help. In this tradition, the Central Conference of American Rabbis is dismayed by recently adopted legislation being referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

This sweeping legislation will cut millions of Americans off from assistance that combats hunger and disease. Funding cuts will severely limit the ability of states to aid their poorest residents with healthcare, at rural hospitals, in nursing homes for those on Medicaid, and with nutrition programs. These severe budget cuts and many more like them will meanwhile fund tax cuts for America’s highest earners, as well as purchasers of gun silencers, among others.

We learn in תנ״ך (Tanach, Hebrew Scripture), צדקה תציל ממות, “tzedakah (charitable giving intended to combat injustice) saves from death” (Proverbs 10:2). CCAR rabbis implore those who will be receiving tax cuts as a result of this legislation to direct those tax savings to charitable giving that feeds the hungry, provides medical care to the poor, and addresses rural healthcare, among other increasingly pressing needs of the most vulnerable Americans. Though it must be the responsibility of our government to care for those in greatest need, we are grateful for those in our communities whose generosity and compassion will make a difference in the months and years to come. And we call on all members of the CCAR and our communities to make their voices heard in support of the voiceless, to carry out the sacred duty of caring for the needy, and to advocate persistently for what we Americans expect from our legislators.

The promise of America, the teachings of Torah and our sages, and the direction set by our American Reform founders demand that, for the sake of life, none among us should go hungry or lack access to medical care. To do anything less violates the Jewish values that Reform rabbis hold dear.

Rabbi David A. Lyon, President
Rabbi Hara E. Person, Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis

[i] https://www.ccarnet.org/ccar-resolutions/federal-budget-priorities-1999/.

CCAR statements are grounded in the history of CCAR resolutions and platforms. We strive to represent the overall voice of the CCAR leadership and the Reform rabbinate on critical issues of the day. The CCAR is a diverse community of rabbis, and we recognize the multiplicity of viewpoints that exist within our membership. We encourage those of differing perspectives to engage in respectful dialogue. It is our hope that these statements provide the Reform community with deeper understanding of important issues that impact our lives as Jews and as global citizens.

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June 22, 2025

More than four decades of Iranian leaders have expressed their ongoing commitment to attacking the United States, Israel, and the Jewish people, directly and through proxies. From the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut to the 1994 bombing of the Jewish AMIA center in Buenos Aries; from supporting Hezbollah to arming and funding Hamas and the massacre of October 7, 2023, as well as the Houthis in Yemen, Iran has made a practice of death and destruction. Throughout, the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran has struck fear in hearts around the world. Now, thanks to the decisive actions taken over the last week by Israel and the U.S., the overarching threat of a nuclear Iran has been diminished.  

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump acted boldly to ensure Iran will not soon have a nuclear weapon. One need not agree with the policies of the current Israeli or U.S. governments to express genuine gratitude for this dramatic intervention. 

At the same time, while Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure has been significantly weakened, their nuclear knowledge can never be eliminated. That is why the pursuit of a long-term agreement that ensures Iran’s nuclear program poses no threat is so vital. 

Let us be clear: military action should always be a last resort. Israelis have suffered greatly, losing their lives and homes to Iranian missiles. Innocent Iranian civilians who were already victims of a repressive regime have suffered deeply in the last week. And we fear that, in the coming days, more lives will be lost to reprisals and counter-reprisals. We are greatly concerned about the danger to U.S. citizens and institutions wherever they find themselves, at home or abroad. And U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East are especially at risk and deserve our prayers. We should also harbor no illusions about the threat levels against Jews and Jewish institutions, which were already at alarmingly high levels. Now, Jewish communities worldwide are more vulnerable. 

This should be a moment of gratitude for the bold and courageous military actions of Israel and the U.S. against Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons, but it is not a time for celebration given the challenges and uncertainties before us, the loss of innocent lives, the ongoing fate of the hostages in Gaza, and the urgent humanitarian crisis there. We must not lose focus on securing the release of the hostages, ending the war, and dramatically increasing humanitarian aid to civilians in desperate need. 

Inspired by the prophet Micah we pray for the day “when all will sit under their vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:4)  

May that day come swiftly and in our time. 

Union for Reform Judaism 
Shelley Niceley Groff (she/her), North American Board Chair 
Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him), President 

Central Conference of American Rabbis 
Rabbi David Lyon (he/him), President 
Rabbi Hara Person (she/her), Chief Executive Officer  

American Conference of Cantors 
Cantor Seth Warner (he/him), President 
Rachel Roth (she/her), Chief Operating Officer

CCAR statements are grounded in the history of CCAR resolutions and platforms. We strive to represent the overall voice of the CCAR leadership and the Reform rabbinate on critical issues of the day. The CCAR is a diverse community of rabbis, and we recognize the multiplicity of viewpoints that exist within our membership. We encourage those of differing perspectives to engage in respectful dialogue. It is our hope that these statements provide the Reform community with deeper understanding of important issues that impact our lives as Jews and as global citizens.

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June 10, 2025

We, the leadership of the Reform Movement—the largest Movement in North American Jewish life—unequivocally condemn the offensive and degrading remarks about Reform Judaism made by MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan in a Knesset committee.

In response to MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv’s statement that his daughters lay tefillin—a sacred and time-honored ritual—MK Distel-Atbaryan compared the act to a bar mitzvah for a dog. These comments are not merely a breach of basic decency and parliamentary norms; they are a direct affront to millions of Jews in Israel and around the world who strive to lead meaningful, moral, and egalitarian Jewish lives.

MK Distel-Atbaryan ended with the hate-filled words:

“Please remove this ‘enlightened Reformist’, as the Jews [in the room] would like to continue the discussion.”

These words reflect a profound ignorance of Reform Judaism—and of Judaism as a whole. Such rhetoric amplifies the dangerous lie that Reform Jews are not truly Jewish, a falsehood that has, in the past, led to verbal harassment, social exclusion, and even physical violence against Jews practicing their faith in progressive or non-Orthodox ways.

We call on MK Distel-Atbaryan to retract her statements and issue a public apology—not only to MK Rabbi Kariv and his daughters, but to all Jews who affirm that there is more than one authentic way to be Jewish.

We urge all Jewish organizations worldwide to publicly denounce these remarks and reaffirm a fundamental truth: the Jewish people are one people, enriched by many voices, traditions, and pathways to Jewish life.

We call upon the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, in his role as a symbol of national unity and shared responsibility, to clearly and unequivocally state that no one in Israel has a monopoly on Judaism and that hate speech, especially from elected officials, has no place in a democratic and inclusive Jewish state.

Union for Reform Judaism
Shelley Niceley Groff (she/her), North American Board Chair
Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him), President
Daryl Messinger (she/her), Chair North American Board, ARZA
Rabbi Josh Weinberg (he/him), VP for Israel and Reform Zionism

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi David Lyon (he/him), President
Rabbi Hara Person (she/her), Chief Executive Officer

American Conference of Cantors
Cantor Seth Warner (he/him), President
Rachel Roth (she/her), Chief Operating Officer

CCAR statements are grounded in the history of CCAR resolutions and platforms. We strive to represent the overall voice of the CCAR leadership and the Reform rabbinate on critical issues of the day. The CCAR is a diverse community of rabbis, and we recognize the multiplicity of viewpoints that exist within our membership. We encourage those of differing perspectives to engage in respectful dialogue. It is our hope that these statements provide the Reform community with deeper understanding of important issues that impact our lives as Jews and as global citizens.

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May 23, 2025

The Central Conference of American Rabbis is horrified and heartbroken by the murders of two employees of the Israeli Embassy to the United States. Sarah Milgrim, ז״ל, and Yaron Lischinsky, ז״ל, died על קידוש השם (al kiddush ha-Shem), “for the sanctification of the Divine Name,” the traditional Jewish idiom for those who are murdered because they are Jews.

The murders of these two extraordinary young adults, on the verge of becoming engaged to be married, is an inestimable loss for their families, their friends and communities, for the State of Israel, and for the Jewish people. Lischinsky and Milgrim were murdered as they were leaving an American Jewish Committee event for young diplomats at Washington, DC’s Capital Jewish Museum, where, according to AJC, they “heard from members of the Multifaith Alliance and IsrAID on humanitarian diplomacy and how a coalition of organizations—from the region and for the region—are working together in response to humanitarian crises” in Israel and Palestine.

The murderer shouted, “Free Palestine” and told police, “I did it for Gaza,” making clear his intent to strike mortal fear in the hearts of the vast majority of American Jews regardless of their views on Zionism. This horrific crime is a harsh reminder that extremists on the left, as well as those on the right, perpetrate violent antisemitism.

We learn in Proverbs, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”^[1] Our Talmudic sages explain: “Actually, a person’s tongue is more powerful than his sword. A sword can kill somebody who is nearby; a tongue can cause the death of one who is far away.”^[2] This murder can be traced to anti-Israel activism that has too often veered into antisemitism and has incited violence by deploying slogans such as “Globalize the Intifada.”

Reform rabbis grieve with the families and friends of Milgrim and Lischinsky, including members of communities served by CCAR rabbis, and all those who strive with us for peace. המקום ינחם אותם ואותן (HaMakom yinachim otam v’otan), “May they be comforted among all who mourn among our Jewish people and all the world.”

Rabbi David A. Lyon, President
Rabbi Hara E. Person, Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis

1. Proverbs 18:21. ↑
2. Babylonian Talmud, Arachin 15b. ↑

CCAR statements are grounded in the history of CCAR resolutions and platforms. We strive to represent the overall voice of the CCAR leadership and the Reform rabbinate on critical issues of the day. The CCAR is a diverse community of rabbis, and we recognize the multiplicity of viewpoints that exist within our membership. We encourage those of differing perspectives to engage in respectful dialogue. It is our hope that these statements provide the Reform community with deeper understanding of important issues that impact our lives as Jews and as global citizens.

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April 21, 2025

The Central Conference of American Rabbis expresses our condolences to our friends in the Catholic community mourning the death of Pope Francis. Though many of us in the Jewish community may have not always agreed with him, Pope Francis was a man of moral courage, faithful duty, and was a true servant of the people. He lifted up the downtrodden, saw the image of God in all, and prayed for all of the human race to live with dignity, respect, and peace. May his lifetime of sacred service inspire all of us who work for the good of humanity and the world.

Rabbi David Lyon, President
Rabbi Hara Person, Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis

CCAR statements are grounded in the history of CCAR resolutions and platforms. We strive to represent the overall voice of the CCAR leadership and the Reform rabbinate on critical issues of the day. The CCAR is a diverse community of rabbis, and we recognize the multiplicity of viewpoints that exist within our membership. We encourage those of differing perspectives to engage in respectful dialogue. It is our hope that these statements provide the Reform community with deeper understanding of important issues that impact our lives as Jews and as global citizens.

Back to CCAR Statements