Whereas there is a grave shortage of organs available for transplantation, leading to thousands of deaths each year;
Whereas serious illnesses and conditions leading to disability and often death may be ameliorated or cured through new technologies;
Whereas a key measure of the strength of the Conservative Movement in North America is congregational presence in Jewish communities; and
Whereas the Conservative Movement has not been devoting sufficient resources to the development of new congregations in areas of new Jewish settlement;
Therefore be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly:
Whereas in 1948, there were over 850,000 Jews living in Arab countries;
Whereas in virtually all cases the Jews left their countries of origin under conditions of duress and distress, abandoning individual and communal property which was confiscated without any compensation; and
Whereas President Clinton declared that here should be a fund which compensates the Israelis who were made refugees by the war that occurred after the birth of the State of Israel.
Background:
Faith in Action is a program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It helps fund and provides support for interfaith community groups and synagogues of various movements to train volunteers to provide health-related services to members of their community.
Whereas Jewish tradition has long taught that g’milut hasadim, performing acts of kindness, is one of the foundations of human society and the world, as Shimon the Righteous taught (Avot 1:2), “On the things the world stands: on the Torah, on worship, and on acts of kindness;”
Whereas Jewish tradition has derived from the Torah the principles of bal tashhit, "Do not waste" (Deut. 20:19);
Whereas the situation in the Middle East continues to escalate and our own country has engaged in armed conflict with Iraq, it is critical for the United States to reduce our reliance on imported oil;
Whereas energy independence should be seen as a primary strategy of the War on Terrorism;
Whereas the United States and Canada have long been a haven for immigrants seeking the political, economic and religious freedoms this country offers and in particular Jews have relied and continue to rely on fair and open immigration policies; and
Whereas the Torah repeatedly emphasizes the value of kindness and respect for the stranger; and
Whereas there has been a deterioration in public policy toward the acceptance of new immigrants and treatment of non-citizens; and
Whereas the United States and Canada have long been a haven for immigrants seeking the political, economic and religious freedoms this country offers and in particular Jews have relied and continue to rely on fair and open immigration policies; and
Whereas the Torah repeatedly emphasizes the value of kindness and respect for the stranger; and
Whereas there has been a deterioration in public policy toward the acceptance of new immigrants and treatment of non-citizens; and
Whereas in the last century, public health measures such as sanitation and vaccination helped wipe out many infectious diseases, adding 25 years to life expectancy;
Whereas despite modern advances in medicine, many chronic diseases are increasing among our citizens;
Whereas there is considerable evidence that many of these threats may be linked to factors in the environment, and therefore might be prevented;
Whereas the Torah (Deut. 15:8) enjoins us to provide for the basic needs of the poor (de mahsoro);
Whereas Jewish tradition has always valued work for bringing dignity to the worker, as the Talmud (Nedarim 49b) says, “Great is work, for it honors the workers;”
Whereas the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 profoundly changed the structures within American government and society for meeting the needs of the poor and supporting them while they find work;
Whereas Jewish tradition has long taught that it is the community’s responsibility to provide for its poor, as Lev. 25:35 teaches, “If your brother, being in straits, comes under your authority, you shall strengthen him;”
Whereas Jewish communities always provided for their poor, as Maimonides teaches, “We have never seen nor heard of an Israelite community that does not have a charity fund;”
Whereas the number of people receiving welfare increased in more than ¾ of the states during the last quarter of 2002;