San Francisco, California
March 10, 2010 The development of nuclear weapons capability by the Islamic Republic of Iran poses the greatest threat to world peace today and is an existential danger to the State of Israel and its people. The Central Conference of American Rabbis, the largest organization of Jewish clergy in the world, is gathered this week for its annual Convention in San Francisco. Israel, though, is never far from our minds. In 2006, meeting in San Diego, our Conference adopted a comprehensive resolution on the threat posed by Iran. Sadly, that threat, to Israel and to world peace, has only worsened. We are grateful to leaders in Congress and in the Obama Administration, and in the Bush Administration before it, who have stood up against nuclear weapons development in Iran. Working with Zionist organizations and our Reform Movement institutions, the American government has enacted ever-deepening sanctions aimed at reducing the nuclear threat from Iran. We support those endeavors. This very week, as we have been meeting in convention, a bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives introduced the Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act, which would enhance the existing sanctions regime by requiring accountability on behalf of all arms of the U.S. government. In keeping with long-standing CCAR positions, we support this proposed legislation and other moves like it that may prove necessary in the weeks and months ahead. We urge both houses of Congress and the President to act speedily to strengthen sanctions aimed at stopping an Iranian regime that moves ever closer to full nuclear capability.
Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis
About The CCAR
The Central Conference of American Rabbis, founded in 1889, is the oldest
and largest rabbinic organization in North America. As the professional
organization for Reform Rabbis of North America, the CCAR projects a
powerful voice in the religious life of the American and international
Jewish communities. Since its establishment, the CCAR has a rich history of
giving professional and personal support to Reform rabbis, providing them
opportunities for study, professional development and spiritual growth
beginning while they are still in seminary, through mid-careers, and into
retirement. The CCAR is uniquely positioned to meet the ongoing needs of
its nearly 2,000 member rabbis (virtually the entire Reform rabbinate) and
the entire Reform Jewish community. For more information please visit the
CCAR's website at http://ccarnet.org/. For the latest news from the CCAR
follow @ReformRabbis on Twitter.
Contact Information: Contact: Itay Engelman Sommerfield Communications 212-255-8386 itay@sommerfield.com