Central Conference of American Rabbis Concerned by New Deportation Strategy

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Central Conference of American Rabbis is deeply concerned by “guidance documents” released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), paving the way for dramatically increased and expedited deportation of immigrants in the United States.

Reform rabbis have long advocated for comprehensive immigration reform. Ours is a nation of laws — all of which, including immigration laws, must be taken seriously. Border security and immigration enforcement must go hand-in-hand with a compassionate and rational approach to the millions of men, women, and children living in this country, some of them for many years or even decades, without proper documentation.

These new regulations are likely to spread panic in the immigrant community, break up families, and discourage undocumented immigrants from complying with pre-existing legal procedures such as keeping court dates and appointments with immigration officials. We are concerned about due process under the law as deportations are expedited. Reports of immigration officials focusing on “target-rich environments,” which is to say places frequented by immigrants, are likely to increase.

Further, the DHS must take active steps to prohibit enforcement agents from discriminating on the basis of ethnicity. Tens of millions of American citizens and legal residents, particularly Latinos, may be vulnerable. We remain concerned that Hispanic Americans, Muslim Americans, or others will be compelled to carry proof of their citizenship or legal immigration status with them at all times, in order to escape wrongful detention.

Since DHS’s new guidance threatens the families of DACA participants, known as “Dreamers,” we call upon the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security to take steps to state clearly that the Trump Administration supports DACA, and to propose legislation that would provide Dreamers a streamlined path to citizenship. We further call upon the Administration not to break up Dreamers’ families by deporting Dreamers’ parents or siblings, unless they are hardened criminals who would have been subject to deportation before today’s guidance.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                         Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Reform Jewish Movement Opposes David Friedman’s Nomination for U.S. Ambassador to Israel

Friday, February 17, 2017

There can be no doubt that David Friedman loves Israel or that he has an extraordinarily close relationship with President Trump, but those are not the essential qualifications of a U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

This week, we watched as President Trump presided over a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and made statements that are contrary to the vision of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee considered the nomination of a potential U.S. Ambassador to Israel whose rhetoric could similarly endanger the future of Israel.

After extensive consideration of his lengthy public record on issues related to Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship, as well as hearing from Mr. Friedman during his confirmation hearing and a one-on-one private meeting between Mr. Friedman and URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs, we oppose the nomination of David Friedman as Ambassador to Israel. We urge all Senators to join us and vote against Mr. Friedman’s nomination.

We have never before opposed the nomination of a U.S. Ambassador. We do so now because of our firm belief that Mr. Friedman is the wrong person for this essential job at this critical time:

• Mr. Friedman lacks the basic qualifications for the position. Unlike every other past holder of this important position, Mr. Friedman has no professional foreign policy experience. He has never been involved in these issues other than as a zealous partisan and financial supporter of settlement activity.

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• Mr. Friedman’s views on key issues suggest he will not be able to play a constructive role. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel has the important responsibility of advising, shaping, and helping implement the President’s foreign policy goals. Indeed, it appears that Mr. Friedman’s extreme views on key issues related to the two-state solution, Israel’s borders, settlements, and the location of the U.S. Embassy are already reflected in the White House. Such positions are detrimental to peace and a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.

We simply can’t accept that Mr. Friedman’s moderated position as expressed in his confirmation hearing replaces a long and detailed history that he has on Israel, both in his stated comments and his philanthropy. He has invested significant dollars in support of the settlements and a vision of Israel that we believe endangers both American and Israeli security and other interests in the region.

• Mr. Friedman lacks the necessary temperament for such a sensitive position. Mr. Friedman has publicly disparaged organizations representing large constituencies of American Jews, calling fellow Jews “kapos” and “morons.” While we appreciate that during his hearing Mr. Friedman recognized the problematic nature of these remarks, we note that he has had an opportunity to apologize for those deeply offensive remarks every day since he made them months ago. Any American ambassador, let alone one in such a sensitive post, must possess a personality that instinctively seeks to bridge divides, rather than inflame divisions.

Just as we are critical of Mr. Friedman’s lack of diplomatic temperament, we wish to distance ourselves from the protesters who repeatedly interrupted his hearing. Mr. Friedman deserves a hearing, and Senators deserve a chance to ask him the important questions they have about his fitness for this office.

A robust, bipartisan U.S.-Israel relationship serves the interests and reflects the values of both nations. Israel has no more longstanding friend and the U.S. has no stronger ally in the region. We will continue to work to ensure Israel’s security and well-being as well as the achievement of a two-state solution with a Jewish state in Israel and an Arab state in Palestine, living peacefully side by side.

Association of Reform Zionists of America
Rabbi Josh Weinberg, President

Association of Reform Zionists of America
Rabbi John Rosove, Chair

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Steve Fox, Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Denise Eger, President

Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism
Isabel P. Dunst, Chair

Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism
Jennie Rubin, President

Men of Reform Judaism
Steven Portnoy, President

National Association for Temple Administration
Abigail Goldberg Spiegel, President

North American Federation of Temple Youth
Kathryn Fleisher, President

Program and Engagement Professionals of Reform Judaism
Shelly Lenkin Gordon, President

Reform Pension Board
G. Leonard Teitelbaum, Chair

Reform Pension Board
Michael Kimmel, Executive Director

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director

Union for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President

Union for Reform Judaism
Daryl Messinger, Chair

Women’s Rabbinic Network
Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser, Co-President

Women’s Rabbinic Network
Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, Executive Director

Women’s Rabbinic Network
Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller, Co-President

CCAR-ARZA Statement on Two-State Solution

Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Association of Reform Zionists of America emphatically restate our support for the two-state solution. We continue to envision Israel thriving as a Jewish State, living in peace and security alongside a Palestinian State that would fulfill the legitimate national aspirations of its people.

Reform rabbis and Reform Zionist leaders are dismayed that President Trump has backed away from decades of bipartisan American policy supporting the two-state solution.  The President opined that a one-state solution might also bring peace. However, given demographic realities in the region, one democratic state between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River would eventually bring an end to Israel’s character as a Jewish State. The alternative, Israel’s rejecting democracy, should be unthinkable.

We urge the President to return to decades of bipartisan American policy supporting and working to achieve peace through the two-state solution.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                    Rabbi Steven A. Fox                          
President, CCAR                            Chief Executive, CCAR

Rabbi Joshua Weinberg                 Rabbi John Rosove
President, ARZA                             Board Chair, ARZA

ARZA, CCAR Strongly Condemn Israeli Regularization Bill

Declare New Law Undemocratic and Shortsighted

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

The Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) strongly condemn the Knesset’s passage yesterday of the so-called “Regularization Bill” as undemocratic and shortsighted.

In a disturbing turn of events, the Regularization Bill passed its second and third readings late Monday night in the Knesset by a vote of 60-52. The law, which applies specifically to properties in 16 settlements, retroactively legalizes controversial settlements and outposts on privately owned Palestinian property, expropriating them as state-owned land. Under the bill’s terms, the government would offer Palestinian owners financial compensation for their lands—a de facto admission that the settlers’ land is not, in fact, ownerless.

The Reform Jewish Movement in North America is determined that only a two-state solution, negotiated by both the Israelis and Palestinians, can end the conflict and offer hope for security and a lasting peace for both peoples. This new law poses a tremendous obstacle toward that elusive goal. We worry that this is, in fact, an incremental step toward Israel’s unilateral annexation of significant blocs of the West Bank, further jeopardizing the actual contiguous land needed for a future Palestinian state.

Many in Israel’s center-right camp have criticized the law as reckless and dangerous, particularly because it affects Palestinians who are not Israeli citizens and, as Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit stated, this legislation is in violation of international law regarding property rights.

“This bill’s passage presents a grave risk to Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic State as it enables Jews to legally expropriate Palestinian land,” said Rabbi Joshua Weinberg, President of ARZA.

“We are deeply concerned that this law will further isolate Israel in the international community and expose Israel and its military officers to legal action in the International Criminal Court.  We celebrate Israel’s democratic institutions and commitment to rule of law—and we regard this law as both unjust and utterly indefensible at Israel’s High Court of Justice or The Hague. We urge the government to find and adopt alternative legislation consistent with Israeli and international law.”

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The Association of Reform Zionists of America, founded in 1978, is the Zionist arm of the North American Reform Movement, working to strengthen the connection of million and a half Reform Jews to Israel and to supporting the Reform Movement in Israel.

The CCAR. Founded in 1889, is the oldest and largest rabbinic organization in North America. The CCAR’s unique contribution to a continued vibrant Jewish community and Reform Movement lies in its work fostering excellence in Reform Rabbis; enhancing unity and connectedness among Reform Jews; applying Jewish values to contemporary life; and, creating a compelling and accessible Judaism for today and the future.

Central Conference of American Rabbis Opposes Confirmation of Elizabeth “Betsy” DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education

Sunday, February 5, 2017

​When the Talmud teaches that “Jerusalem was destroyed because school children were kept from their classrooms,” it conveys eternal truth: Education is essential to the welfare, indeed the survival, of any society. In America, Jewish immigrants often made their first steps toward success and integration in the public school classroom. None should be surprised, then, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis adopted a resolution in 1998 entitled, “Making Public Education a National Priority.”

​That 1998 resolution begins with the reminder that “the Reform Jewish movement has developed very strong policy supporting the maintenance and enhancement of the public schools and opposing any schemes to divert resources from them. We have consistent policy opposing government funding of sectarian educational institutions.” Recognizing the diminishing resources directed toward public education, the resolution called for enhanced support and innovation in public schools. The CCAR also supported, and continues to support, “choice within the public schools, provided that it does not create an undue financial burden on the parents, unequal spending of government resources, nor a further segregated society.”

The CCAR further resolved to “cautiously support the charter school movement and other forms of creative education as alternative options within the public schools, provided that all such programs: (1) are established for a specific educational objective; (2) are subject to proper administrative and curricular oversight and regular auditing of their results; (3) are available to all students at no cost to the individual family; (4) are non-sectarian; (5) are not-for-profit; (6) adhere to the same standards and guidelines in civil rights and religious liberties as do other public schools.”

We reaffirm our commitment to public education and our 1998 resolution today. With those principles as our guide, the Central Conference of American Rabbis approaches President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Elizabeth “Betsy” DeVos to become U.S. Secretary of Education.

Ms. DeVos’s experience in education is focused solely on school choice, almost entirely of the type that the CCAR resolved not to support in 1998. In 2000, Ms. DeVos advocated for a ballot measure that would create a private school voucher through the Michigan constitution. She founded, and until recently led, the American Federation for Children – a non-profit that also has an associated Political Action Committee(PAC) – which promotes vouchers that would enable parents to take their children and funding away from public schools into private schools, including sectarian schools. Ms. DeVos has declared specifically Christian goals for her approach to diverting funding from public to private education.

Ms. DeVos has also donated significant funds to organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights. Since the Secretary of Education is charged with enforcing non-discrimination laws, LGBTQ advocates, including the CCAR, are concerned. Schools must be on the forefront of creating welcoming, inclusive environments that assure all students equal access to education and equal opportunity for advancement.

Therefore, the Central Conference of American Rabbis opposes the confirmation of Elizabeth “Betsy” DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education, and urges the Senate to reject her nomination.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                         Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Affirms Commitment to Johnson Amendment

 Friday, February 3, 2017

On Thursday, at the National Prayer Breakfast, where the Central Conference of American Rabbis was represented by its President, Rabbi Denise Eger, President Donald Trump vowed to “destroy” the Johnson Amendment, designed by former President Lyndon B. Johnson when he was a Senator and adopted by an overwhelming bipartisan majority. The Central Conference of American Rabbis urges Congress to reject any attempt to weaken, let alone repeal, the Johnson Amendment, which protects America’s cherished First Amendment rights and protections by prohibiting non-profit entities such as houses of worship from supporting or opposing candidates for office.

Reform rabbis regularly raise the voice of Torah, individually and collectively, speaking out for justice and righteousness in the great tradition of our ancient prophets. The Johnson Amendment does not restrict the ability of any religious institution or other non-profit to speak out on important issues. Indeed, Catholic priests and Reform rabbis alike regularly advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, while taking opposite sides in the debates over reproductive liberty and LGBTQ equality, to name just a few examples. None of us, though, should wish to turn our pulpits into platforms for individual candidates, which would besmirch the holiness of our missions.

Worse, if churches, synagogues, and other non-profit organizations can support or oppose candidates, “dark money” would likely multiply even more than it did in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in the infamous Citizens United case, as wealthy individuals and corporations could secretly funnel money to candidate support at the expense of the American taxpayer. Donations to houses of worship and other 501c3 non-profits are and must remain private and tax-deductible, protecting free exercise of religion.

Reform rabbis recognize that religious institutions of various political persuasions have on occasion intentionally or inadvertently violated the Johnson Amendment. We call for vigorous enforcement of the law rather than its abolition to maintain the separation of church and state as envisioned by our founders.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                         Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Opposes President’s Executive Action on Pipelines

Thursday, January 26, 2017

The Central Conference of American Rabbis continues to support the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, and to oppose the Dakota pipeline, at least as currently routed. Therefore, we strongly object to President Trump’s January 24 Executive Action in this regard. We raised the collective rabbinic voice in objection to this pipeline in our Statement of October 31, 2016. We also oppose the President’s Executive Order as it pertains to the Keystone XL Pipeline, because the President’s action does not take into account the vital concerns we expressed with our Reform Movement partners on August 7, 2014. Reform rabbis stand for climate justice, opposing economic development that ravages our planet, most often at the expense of God’s most vulnerable creatures, including the world’s poor and disenfranchised.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                         Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis

CCAR Statement on Voter Fraud and Voter Suppression

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The Central Conference of American Rabbis notes with concern that President Trump has ordered an in-depth investigation into unsubstantiated claims of alleged voter fraud, but taken no action to address the very real problem of voter suppression.

While Reform rabbis welcome any inquiry that would restore Americans’ faith in the voting process, we note that numerous studies over the years, including in 2016, have found no evidence of significant fraud. We wonder how such an investigation would be conducted by an Administration that admits to relying on “alternative facts” rather than the truth.

Jewish tradition teaches us: “Truth comes first and last.”

The truth is that, rather than voter fraud, the real scandal in American elections is voter suppression. Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, thereby neutering Section 5, one state after the next has enacted laws that make voting more difficult – particularly for poor people and members of minority groups that have historically faced discrimination at the voting booth.

The truth is that voter identification laws discriminate against poor voters who have a harder time obtaining the required identification than do other Americans. And the truth is that, even where those laws have been invalidated by federal courts, voters are intimidated and dissuaded from voting by election officials who request identification that isn’t required.

The truth is that polling places have been closed in countless areas most heavily populated by minority voters, requiring longer journeys to polling places that poor working people can ill afford to make.

The truth is that voting hours and early voting days have been cut, further suppressing the vote, particularly among poor working people who most need flexible voting hours.

The truth is that gerrymandered districts, heavily concentrating minorities, result in underrepresentation of minority voters in state legislatures and in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Last year, Reform rabbis and the communities they serve joined in an effort of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism to partner with the NAACP in non-partisan voter registration and voter protection effort. We saw attempted and actual voter suppression first hand. We will never stop speaking out against voter suppression and taking action to prevent it.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                         Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Condemns Terror Attack in Jerusalem

Monday, January 9, 2017

The Central Conference of American Rabbis mourns the loss of innocent life Sunday morning in Jerusalem, when a Palestinian terrorist murdered four young Israeli soldiers participating in an educational tour, not on combat duty, and wounded many others.

The young soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces are the daughters and sons of families of every walk of Israeli life, unifying the nation as they dedicate their young adulthood to the defense of their country.  We extend our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and communities who must now bury their loved ones.

Terrorism wrought by Palestinians extremists does not serve the Palestinian people or their legitimate national aspirations. Instead, these acts stand in the way of a negotiated settlement, which is the only sure path to peace and security for both Israel and the Palestinians.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                         Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Condemns Terror Attack in Jerusalem

Monday, January 9, 2017

The Central Conference of American Rabbis mourns the loss of innocent life Sunday morning in Jerusalem, when a Palestinian terrorist murdered four young Israeli soldiers participating in an educational tour, not on combat duty, and wounded many others.

The young soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces are the daughters and sons of families of every walk of Israeli life, unifying the nation as they dedicate their young adulthood to the defense of their country.  We extend our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and communities who must now bury their loved ones.

Terrorism wrought by Palestinians extremists does not serve the Palestinian people or their legitimate national aspirations. Instead, these acts stand in the way of a negotiated settlement, which is the only sure path to peace and security for both Israel and the Palestinians.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger                         Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis