Resolutions 2001

WHEREAS the Rabbinical Assembly is on record supporting equal funding for all forms of denominational education in Ontario; and

WHEREAS the government of Ontario has indicated in its prospective budget the intention to phase in a refundable tax credit for each child attending independent schools; and

WHEREAS this initiative is an important step forward toward our previous resolution that all religious groups be treated equally with Roman Catholics for provincial educational support.

WHEREAS the Conservative/Masorti Movement was the first religious stream to be pro-Zionist; and

WHEREAS Medinat Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael have continued to be of central importance and paramount concern to the Conservative Movement; and

WHEREAS the current situation in Israel has increased concerns about physical safety and resulted in the diminution of the presence of world Jewry coming to Israel for visits and for study; and

WHEREAS first-hand reports from recent visitors to Israel suggest that security within Israel is undiminished.

WHEREAS the United Nations has declared this year the International Year of the Volunteer; and

WHEREAS poverty is rampant in both developing and developed countries; and

WHEREAS the concept of תקון עולם and גמילות חסדים are מצוות בין אדם לחבירו in our tradition.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all members of the Rabbinical Assembly be encouraged to do service of גמילות חסדים over the next year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly encourage other arms of the movement and Conservative Jews to join us in this effort.

WHEREAS the Temple Mount and the remnants of the Temple have been sacred to the people of Israel and to the Jewish religion for centuries; and

WHEREAS Moslem religious leaders have denied this historic connection of Judaism and the Jewish People to the Temple Mount and to the Western Wall; and

WHEREAS these attempts have been supported and initiated by members of the Palestinian Authority in an attempt to delegitimize the Israeli presence in Jerusalem.

WHEREAS successive Governments of Israel have sincerely attempted to settle the dispute with the Palestinians through negotiations for peace; and

WHEREAS the Rabbinical Assembly deplores and condemns the decision of the Palestinian Authority to return to violence, to continue to educate their children to hate Jews, and to support terrorism, resulting in the deaths and injury of so many Israeli citizens.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly support Israel’s actions taken to protect its citizens; and

WHEREAS on May 4, 2001, the 54 member Economic and Social council of the United Nations voted the United States off of the Commission on Human Rights; and

WHEREAS the United States has been a leader in the fight for human rights around the world; and

WHEREAS U.S. has proved to be a highly effective partner in responding to human rights violations; and

WHEREAS the United States has had a seat on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights since 1947; and

WHEREAS the worldwide Conservative/Masorti Movement is represented in the World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency for Israel by MERCAZ Olami; and

WHEREAS the participation in the World Zionist Organization and Jewish

WHEREAS Jewish tradition teaches that we are not to stand idly by at the suffering of other human beings; and

WHEREAS the world community has witnessed a number of war crimes and human rights violations in the past century which continue to bring an abhorrent level of loss and suffering to innocent people; and

WHEREAS many pressing energy and environmental issues facing the Nation and world are overdue for action and should become priorities for the United States Administration and Congress, Canada, and all other countries; and

WHEREAS energy resources are abundant gifts for human well-being from our creator God which we are under the moral obligation not to waste; and

WHEREAS as faithful stewards of Creation we are thus morally compelled to choose safe, clean and sustainable sources of energy which will protect and preserve the world; and

WHEREAS Judaism believes in the equality of all human beings regardless of race, creed or any other consideration; and

WHEREAS we, as Jews, believe that all Americans must have equal access to the voting process which is so central to our democracy in accordance with the words of Leviticus 19:15, “You shall not render an unfair decision;” and

WHEREAS, there are available methods which will ensure a greater accuracy in the recording of votes and procedures which can assure fairer access to the polls.