Resolutions

Whereas Jewish law prohibits causing unnecessary pain to animals; Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has recognized that animals must be raised in humane conditions; Whereas, in 2008, the Rabbinical...

Whereas the Jewish tradition holds in high regard those individuals who choose to adopt the Jewish religion and become part of the Jewish people, treating them as Jews in every sense and forbidding other Jews even from causing them any embarrassment...

א"א קרא עצמו גר שנאמר (בראשית כג: ד) גר ותושב וגו׳ דוד מלך ישראל קרא עצמו גר שנאמר (תהילים לט: יג) כי גר אנכי עמך וכן הוא אומר (דברי הימים א כט: טו) כי גרים אנחנו לפניך וגו׳ חביבה א"י שמכשרת גרים היה בא"י ואמר גר אני מקבלים אותו מיד ובחוצה לארץ אין...

Whereas the Torah teaches us that we are all created בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים (betzelem elohim, “in the image of God”), and thus it follows that Rabbi Eliezer said (Pirkei Avot 2:10), “יְהִי כְבוֹד חֲבֵרְךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁלָּךְ” (“Let your fellow's...

רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר: על שלשה דברים העולם עומד. על הדין ועל האמת והשלום ושלשתן דבר אחד הן. נעשה הדין נעשה אמת נעשה שלום. א"ר מנא ושלשתן בפסוק אחד: אמת ומשפט שלום שפטו בשעריכם(זכריה ח: טז): Rabban Shim’on ben Gamli’el would say: The world...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has passed numerous resolutions (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013) as well as having made public statements (2015 about the Canadian Government as well as one about the US Government) regarding Iran as a nuclear...

“If anyone kills any human being, he shall be put to death” (Leviticus 24:17). In the Mekhilta d’Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai (21:12), the midrash teaches that a fetus is not a living person: “The Torah says ‘[one who strikes] a man’...

לֹ֧א תְאַמֵּ֣ץ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ֗ וְלֹ֤א תִקְפֹּץ֙ אֶת־יָ֣דְךָ֔ מֵאָחִ֖יךָ הָאֶבְיֽוֹן... כִּֽי־פָתֹ֧חַ תִּפְתַּ֛ח אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ ל֑וֹ פָּ֠תֹחַ תִּפְתַּ֨ח אֶת־יָדְךָ֜ לְאָחִ֧יךָ לַעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָ וּלְאֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ בְּאַרְצֶֽךָ׃ Whereas we...

Jewish communities around the world have historically flourished in societies with healthy democracies that champion "government of the people, by the people, for the people." Jewish tradition calls upon us to pursue justice and govern ourselves...

Whereas, antisemitism is the most ancient form of hatred, manifesting itself in different cultures and civilizations and has reached a record high in the 40 years that the ADL has been tracking such incidents; and Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic...

“Great is human dignity, since it overrides a negative precept of the Torah.” (Sanhedrin 19b) Whereas we hold the concepts of Tzelem Elohim and k’vod habri’ot as sacred and foundational, believing that each individual was uniquely created to...

Whereas Dr. Arnold M. Eisen has served The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) as Chancellor for the past thirteen years with distinction; Whereas Chancellor Eisen articulated his vision to the community with the publication of Conservative...

Whereas the Torah describes the foundation of our creation and mission as being to sustain the earth – "לעבדה ולשמרה" – “to work it and protect it (Gen. 2:15).” And whereas we are tasked with creating a habitable world for all God’s creation –...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly deeply values and affirms our Torah’s profoundly humanitarian mitzvot such as “One law for the native and the stranger among you” (Exodus 12:49), “The stranger….you shall love as yourself” (Leviticus 19:34) and many...

Whereas all human beings are holy and created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Whereas our children are our future and we have a responsibility to protect them. Whereas childhood abuse inflicts lifelong trauma on survivors. Whereas the...

Whereas we are commanded to, “not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman. Rather you must open your hand…” (Devarim 15:7-8), and “For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open...

Whereas consistent enthusiastic rabbinic support for immunization has defined Jewish practice and medical ethics ever since the 1796 introduction of Edward Jenner’s pioneering smallpox vaccine, and Whereas timely vaccination is a basic and...

Jewish Cemeteries – Green and Greener by David Zinner What is a Jewish Cemetery and how to make it green(er) Relevant Teshuvot: Burial Morris Feldman, "May a Mausoleum Be Used for Jewish Burial?" YD...

Whereas many of our Jewish sages stress the importance of a community in which the people have a voice in the selection of their leaders as Hillel taught in Pirke Avot (2:5) “Do not separate yourself from the community” and as the Talmud further...

Whereas our Torah clearly beseeches us: “Do not oppress your fellow (Leviticus 19:13),” “Do not stand on the blood of your friend (Leviticus 19:16)” and therefore our communal response, as Jews committed to cultivating holiness, necessitates us to...