Central Conference of American Rabbis Expresses Support For NAACP

Friday, January 6, 2017

This week, in Alabama, NAACP leaders, including NAACP President Cornell William Brooks, placed themselves on the front lines of justice, engaging in peaceful civil disobedience at the Alabama office of Sen. Jeff Sessions, calling upon Sessions to withdraw as President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee to be our nation’s next Attorney General.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis affirms its historic support for the NAACP, which stretches back to NAACP’s foundation. Our mutually supportive relationship was dramatically brought to life during the summer of 2015, when over 200 Reform rabbis joined in NAACP’s Journey for Justice, marching from Selma, Alabama to Washington, D.C., carrying a sacred scroll of our Torah, emphasizing our shared commitment to civil rights, voting rights, economic justice, education, and criminal justice reform.

The Senate owes the people of the United States a thorough airing of each nominee’s record and positions on the issues. That process must secure answers to important questions and concerns.  Within the Reform Movement, there is an opportunity to submit questions that will then be shared with the Senate. The questioning process must include Issues of racial justice, civil rights legislation, criminal justice reform, voting rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights, economic justice, education, and other matters of equality under the law for every nominee whose Department informs and implements the United States policy on these matters, especially the Department of Justice and the Attorney General who heads it.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Response to Secretary Kerry’s Remarks

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

We share these words from our friend and colleague Rabbi Rick Jacobs regarding Secretary Kerry’s remarks today. We reaffirm CCAR’s longstanding commitment to peace, democracy, and a two-state solution as stated in our historic resolutions, including that of 2015.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

New York, NY; December 28, 2016 — Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President Rabbi Rick Jacobs released the following statement in response to Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks on Middle East peace:

Secretary of State John Kerry’s comprehensive remarks today were a powerful affirmation of the bipartisan bedrock of American policy in the Middle East, and of our own approach: support for a two-state solution. That support was, rightly, cast in some of the staunchest pro-Israel language and most forceful denunciations of Palestinian instigation of violence that we have ever heard from the podium at the State Department.

Secretary Kerry is right to highlight the danger of allowing the status quo to continue to slide toward a one-state solution. We agree that “trends on the ground… are combining to eliminate hope, leading to a one-state solution” that neither the Israeli or Palestinian public wants. The Secretary was right, too, to shine a spotlight on Palestinian incitement of violence and the veneration of terrorists, and on the runaway freight train of the settlement expansion, driven by the most right-wing elements in Israeli politics and supported by the Israeli government.

Secretary Kerry is also correct, of course, that the U.S. should not, and cannot, dictate a solution. But his speech today reminds us that the United States has an indispensable role to play. It is difficult to imagine progress without vigorous American leadership, and the principles Secretary Kerry laid out today are a useful example of that leadership.

We continue to believe that the administration was wrong to abstain from voting on Resolution 2334 at the United Nations last week. Though we share the administration’s concern about settlement expansion, and, of course, its commitment to addressing Palestinian violence, it does not follow that the United Nations Security Council is the right place to have that discussion. In fact, we believe that the United Nations, with its long, consistent, and unchecked record of anti-Israel animus, has disqualified itself from playing a constructive role. Still, nothing justifies the outrageous, vitriolic, and unprecedented language that has been directed at President Obama and others in the wake of the UN vote.

We are mindful, as we must be, that Secretary Kerry’s remarks come on the eve of a new American administration. We are convinced that a constructive American role is essential, and so we must acknowledge that we are not heartened by what we have heard thus far from the President-Elect and his team. We hope the Trump administration will recognize the necessity of two states as the only way to sustain a Jewish, democratic, and secure Israel.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis Opposes Anti-Israel Resolution Approved by U.N. Security Council

Friday,  December 23, 2016

The Central Conference of American Rabbis expresses strong disagreement with today’s Security Council Resolution targeting Israel, while also affirming its opposition to the Israeli settlement policy and its support for a two state solution.

The CCAR has frequently criticized the current Israeli settlement policy as an obstacle to peace.  At the same time, the United Nations is not the arena in which to address these complex issues. Peace negotiations belong between the two parties involved.  Further, the U.N.’s obsessive and relentless criticism of Israel, while ignoring the unspeakable repression committed by illegitimate regimes and terrorist organizations worldwide, falsely and maliciously labels Israel uniquely as a pariah state.

For almost eight years, the Obama Administration has recognized the U.N.’s unjust targeting of the Jewish State by routinely vetoing every anti-Israel resolution heretofore brought to the Security Council. Today’s abstention, therefore, leaves us dismayed, disappointed and angry.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Statement on Nomination of U.S. Ambassador to Israel

Friday, December 16, 2016 

The Central Conference of American Rabbis respects that the new nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is a longstanding friend of Israel and a Hebrew speaker, both of which are qualities that would enhance the critical U.S. – Israel relationship, as well as liken him to the diplomat he would replace, Ambassador Dan Shapiro.

At the same time, we are greatly concerned about the issues and values that have emerged over time about Mr. Friedman that cause us to urge caution toward his nomination.  We look forward to robust confirmation proceedings to explore these issues to determine if they promote or undermine the interests of the United States and Israel. We are particularly concerned by Mr. Friedman’s apparent support for unfettered expansion of settlements in disputed territory and his rejection of the two-state solution, flying in the face of decades of U.S. policy toward the region and opposing the declared position of the Israeli government. Reform rabbis oppose settlement expansion and cherish the dream of two states for two people, living side by side at peace.

We also fear that Mr. Friedman’s public statements indicate an approach and inflammatory attitude, and therefore deride Americans who may disagree with his view and concurrently promote division among Americans, including within the Jewish community.  For example, Mr. Friedman has labeled Jews who promote a more progressive Zionist view than his on Israel as “far worse than kapos.”

Like the Ambassador-Designate, Reform Rabbis herald Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish State. We affirm every nation-state’s right to determine its own capital. Any U.S. Embassy or Ambassador’s residence in Jerusalem must be built in the portion of Jerusalem that was part of Israel before the 1967 Six-Day War. We also urge caution in the timing of any such move with a sensitivity toward violence that such a move could provoke.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Denounces Proposed Ohio Bill to Restrict Women’s Reproductive Liberty

 Thursday, December 8, 2016

Yesterday, the Ohio Legislature ignominiously adopted draconian restrictions on abortion rights. If signed into law, the bill known as HB 493, would impose lengthy prison sentences on physicians who terminate pregnancies as early as the first fetal heartbeat can be detected, often as early as the sixth week of pregnancy, and sometimes before a woman even knows that she is pregnant.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis is alarmed and dismayed by this unconstitutional legislative initiative. We urge Governor John Kasich to veto this attack on women. Failing a veto, we are confident that the bill would never gain the power of law, but would be ruled unconstitutional, like several similar overtures attempted by other states.

Reform Rabbis study and are master-teachers of a long and sacred tradition, with provisions dating back some 2,000 years to place the mother’s well-being above that of the fetus that is part of her body.

Reform Rabbis lead an American Jewish community that cherishes the separation of church and state. Just as we do not wish to impose our religious convictions about the status of a fetus on our civil society, we will not stand idly by while the religious convictions of some restrict the reproductive freedom of all American women are incorporated into state of federal law.

Reform Rabbis and the communities we serve trust American women to make their own decisions about what is best for their own health care, including especially reproductive health care, in consultation with their physicians — and, if they wish, in conversation with their families, clergy, and other trusted advisors.

This unconstitutional and repugnant initiative of the Ohio legislature must not stand.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Responds to Massive Fires in Israel

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Central Conference of American Rabbis has watched with concern as much of Israel has burned. For the better part of a week, raging fires threatened not only forests and wildlife, but homes, lives, and property. We are grateful that, as Shabbat came to a close, these fires had largely been brought under control.

Reliable reports indicate that at least some of these fires were the result of arson, acts of terror against all citizens of Israel — Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, and others. Reform rabbis are confident that Israel’s security forces will bring the perpetrators to justice.

The CCAR applauds the ultimately-successful firefighting efforts of Israelis working in concert with teams and equipment dispatched from around the world. We join Prime Minister Netanyahu in particularly noting, with gratitude, the assistance of the Palestinian Authority and a number of Arab and Muslim countries, fighting the fires alongside Israel and its allies, including the United States.

We express gratitude and send strength to our Israeli colleagues who quickly took leadership roles in dealing with rapid response efforts. Now that these terrible fires are under control, they face the aftermath, which will include relief efforts in a myriad of ways, including providing emotional support and pastoral counseling to their traumatized communities.

The CCAR urges its members and the communities we serve to support victims of these devastating fires, donating through ARZA to benefit Congregation Or Hadash in Haifa and its members, as well as other Reform Movement institutions whose facilities and/or constituencies have been affected by the fires, through IMPJ’s Keren B’kavod fund, or through the Jewish Federations of North America’s emergency fund.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Condemns Death Threats and Vandalism at Ra’anana Synagogue

Thursday, November 24, 2016

The Central Conference of American Rabbis is outraged that our friends at Kehilat Ra’anana awakened this morning to find hateful messages spray-painted on their sacred synagogue home. We are horrified that threats have been issued, by name, against the lives of our members — Union for Reform Judaism President, Rick Jacobs; Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism Executive Director, Rabbi Gilad Kariv; as well as Israel Religious Action Center Executive Director, Anat Hoffman.

Reform rabbis repudiate this dangerous threat to Israel’s civil society; but sadly, we are not surprised. Vandalism and death threats are to be expected from those who directed physical violence at Rabbis Jacobs and Kariv, Ms. Hoffman, and others on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, when they peacefully escorted Torah scrolls to the women’s section of Judaism’s holiest site, the Kotel, the western retaining wall of our sacred Temple mount

We are grateful that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials have condemned this incident of vandalism and death threats. At the same time, we lay much responsibility for acts like these at his feet and his government that continually refuses to grant equal rights to Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel. The Kotel is but one potent example. After agreeing to create a section at the Kotel for egalitarian prayer, the government failed to take steps to implement the plan, empowering Ultra-Orthodox to influence government action to their liking and facilitating the continuation of horrors like today’s in Ra’anana.

We are mindful today of the teaching of our sages, that the Second Temple was destroyed because of “groundless hatred” of Jew against Jew. Similar division, expressed today on the exterior walls of Kehillat Ra’anana, threaten the very soul of the the State of Israel.

Reform rabbis stand with the rabbis and members of Kehillat Ra’anana and the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. We stand against violence, vandalism, and death threats, particularly when issued in the name of our sacred tradition, profaning the Divine Name. We stand with the Israeli Reform community and we pray for their safety. We stand with the State of Israel, praying for the peace of Jerusalem.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Reform Movement Statement on the 2016 Presidential Election

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The people have voted and American democracy is strong. We respect that vote and we extend our hand to President-elect Trump. We also extend our hand to the members of the 115^th Congress. These leaders will have critical decisions to make that will weigh on the future of our nation, our communities, our families and the entire world. We hope that they govern with wisdom and righteousness to create a space where all Americans are respected.

President-elect Trump has the opportunity to use his office to bring Americans together, and to move us toward a brighter future. If he does so, we will be ready to work with him for the common good. If he does not, we also stand ready to be fierce advocates for the values that guide us: inclusivity, justice and compassion.

This week we read Parsha Lech Lecha with its clarion call to “go forth.” Just as Abraham went out into a place of great uncertainty, we now find ourselves in an unanticipated time and place. But we know, like Abraham, that our faith and enduring values will be a strong foundation as we move forward.  We love the stranger, feed the hungry and care for the orphan and the widow.

Throughout our Reform Movement’s history, our congregations, institutions, rabbis, cantors,  other professionals and lay leaders have striven to bring all of us together to strengthen and to sustain one another, and to work together in the pursuit of justice for everyone. We welcome all: Jews and non-Jews, people of all races and religions, of all sexual orientations and the immigrants among us. That welcome is the essence of who we are as a community, and who we are as a country, and that remains as true today as it has ever been.

As we pray each week in our synagogues on Shabbat in the Prayer for our Nation, we ask God for guidance for ourselves and for our nation, to grant our leaders the wisdom and forbearance to govern with justice and compassion. We ask God to help us appreciate one another and to respect the many ways that we may be faithful to the ways of righteousness, and to keep our country sound in body and spirit.

Union for Reform Judaism
Daryl Messinger, Chair, North American Board of Trustees
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Denise L. Eger, President
Rabbi Steven A. Fox, Chief Executive

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Isabel P. Dunst, Chair, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director

Advancing Temple Institutional Development
American Conference of Cantors
Association of Reform Jewish Educators
Association of Reform Zionists of America
Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism
Men of Reform Judaism
North American Federation of Temple Youth
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s Rabbinic Network
World Union for Progressive Judaism

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.

Central Conference of American Rabbis Celebrates Sacred Action at the Western Wall

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Central Conference of American Rabbis commends Reform and Conservative Movement leaders — including CCAR members Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism and Rabbi Dan Freelander, President of the World Union of Progressive Judaism; CCAR Board representative Rabbi Don Goor; Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Executive Director of IMPJ; Israel Religious Action Center and Women of the Wall leaders Anat Hoffman and Rabbi Noa Sattah; Rabbi Josh Weinberg, President of ARZA; Rabbi John Rosove, Chair of ARZA; and Rabbi Steven Wernick, Chief Executive of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism; among others — who bravely bore Torah scrolls to the women’s section of the Western Wall of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount this morning. The sacred action of these leaders exemplifies the great prophetic tradition of Judaism. They engaged in peaceful civil disobedience to protest the Netanyahu government’s unconscionable delay in taking even preliminary steps to implement a compromise plan. The plan, adopted by the Israeli cabinet and announced to great fanfare in February, was to set aside the southern section of the Western Wall for mixed worship under pluralistic auspices. We commend, too, all who courageously escorted the Torah scrolls and their bearers, noting that among them were numerous additional current and future CCAR members — including participants in Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Year-in-Israel program for first year students in its rabbinical, cantorial, and education programs.

Reform rabbis remain outraged that bringing a Torah into the women’s section of the Western Wall is prohibited, but we are grateful that a police permit was issued to legalize today’s action. Reform rabbis are outraged that ultra-Orthodox opponents of today’s action assaulted Women of the Wall participants and their supporters today. Reform rabbis are outraged that Prime Minister Netanyahu continues not to live by his word. We demand that he immediately take concrete steps toward implementation of the Mandelbrit Plan for the establishment of an egalitarian section at the Western Wall of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, where all Jews must be permitted to worship in keeping with their equally legitimate customs.

Each time we take the Torah from the Holy Ark, we proclaim: gratefully declaring that Torah emanates from Zion. Today, we are grateful to our leaders and their supporters who brought Torah to Zion, enhancing access to our sacred scrolls for all men and women eager to embrace Torah. We demand that the Israeli government take its promised next step to ensure lasting equal access to Torah and the Western Wall.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Central Conference of American Rabbis Applauds Christian Rejection of Worst Anti-Israel Initiatives

Monday, June 27, 2016

The Central Conference of American Rabbis is grateful to its friends in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Unitarian Universalist Association, who have prevailed in defeating or amending the most virulently anti-Israel overtures in each church. Presbyterians and Unitarians both rejected divestment overtures, and Presbyterians affirmed the principle of two states for two people. Combined with overwhelming victories in several votes at the United Methodist Church’s General Conference last month, these developments signal a startling and heartening reversal for the destructive Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement which seeks to delegitimize Israel as a Jewish State.

Reform rabbis across North America have been enriched by our conversations with Christian clergy friends and colleagues, as we have shared our commitments to peace and security for Israel, the two-state solution, and the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people. We are grateful that our Christian friends have led the opposition to BDS within their national churches, often in conflict with their own national leadership, insisting that BDS is destructive to achieving our shared goals for the well-being of Israelis and Palestinians.

The CCAR acknowledges with gratitude the national Jewish leaders who have worked tirelessly with Christian partners to achieve these historic victories: Ethan Felson of the Israel Action Network, CCAR member Rabbi David Fox Sandmel of the Anti Defamation League; and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, led by CCAR member, Rabbi Jonah Pesner. As always, we are grateful for the leadership of CCAR member Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, who addressed the Unitarian gathering, successfully encouraging delegates to embrace engagement with both Israelis and Palestinians and support for the two-state solution by rejecting BDS.

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

Central Conference of American Rabbis