Resolutions 2007

Whereas Professor Arnold M. Eisen, steeped in the institutions and traditions of Conservative Judaism, is a distinguished scholar in the field of American Judaism;

Whereas Professor Arnold M. Eisen has contributed significantly to the revitalization of modern American Jewish life by teaching its leadership the core values of Judaism; and

Whereas Professor Arnold M. Eisen, a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has demonstrated a deep commitment to Israel and Zionism.

Whereas recognizing and supporting the ongoing efforts of the government of the United States and the Security Council of the United Nations together with many countries around the world that are concerned by Iran’s goal of achieving complete nuclear capabilities and that are taking steps to stop their nuclear program;

Whereas Iran has rebuffed requests from the international community to halt its nuclear development program;

Whereas a nuclear Iran poses a threat to many countries in the world, the international economy and world-wide oil markets;

Whereas God’s promise to multiply the Nation of Israel “as the dust of the earth” and “the stars in the sky” has yet to be fulfilled, as the past several decades has seen the Jewish population decline;

Whereas the Jewish People, relative to its size, lost more population than any other group during World War II;

Whereas assimilation and the blurring of Jewish identity continue to weaken the fabric of the Jewish People; and

Whereas in some countries Jewish population growth has come to a standstill or has even dipped below zero population growth.

“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger”  (Ex. 23:9)

Whereas the Jewish people have been immigrants and wanderers for most of our history;

Whereas the United States, which has long been a home and haven for economic and political refugees, maintained open immigration policies in the early twentieth century that saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews and others;

Background:
While over the past 30 years the Rabbinical Assembly has come out in favor of Reproductive Freedom and Choice in a number of areas, such as abortion (1975 and subsequently); violence and pro-choice (1993);  the 2005 resolution supporting informed access to reproductive care and the letter sent later that year to Senator Arlen Specter,  expressing concern on the use of reproductive choice as a litmus test in the appointment of Federal judges;  there has not yet been a comprehensive resolution on the whole issue of Reproductive Freedom of choice.

Background: