- RABBIS RELEASE "LETTER OF CAUTION" TO PRESIDENT
BUSH 375 REFORM, CONSERVATIVE ORTHODOX RABBIS TAKE UNIFIED STAND
ON ROAD MAP IMPLEMENTATION CALL FOR 1 MILLION AMERICANS TO ADD
THEIR NAMES TO ONLINE PETITION NEW YORK
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- :: May 29, 2003 - The Interdenominational Rabbinic Committee,
coordinated by Amcha-The Coalition for Jewish Concerns, released
the text of the "letter of caution" sent to President
George W. Bush at a 10 am press conference today in Manhattan.
The letter was signed by 375 Congregational Rabbis who serve
hundreds of thousands of American Jews from the three major branches
of Judaism and represent the entire religious and political spectrum
of the Jewish community. Never before have so many diverse Congregational
Rabbis come together to sign a letter of consensus on such an
important issue affecting Israel.
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- :: Noting the overwhelming grassroots response to the letter,
the Rabbis announced the launching of a drive to garner one million
American signatures. The petition can be viewed at www.cjcamcha.org
or www.petitiononline.com/amcha503 . In explaining the reasoning
behind this effort, Rabbi Bruce Ginsburg said, "We believe
that the Road Map allows for a variety of interpretations. What
we are doing with our statement is urging President Bush to make
sure its implementation is in line with his vision for Middle
East peace as articulated on June 24th of last year." Rabbi
Ginsburg also stressed that just as "America cannot defend
itself and its friends by hoping for the best," neither
can Israel.
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- :: The statement highlights three principles related to Israeli
security concerns that must govern any peacemaking attempts in
the Middle East. While written before its debate on the Road
Map, these principles were also articulated by the Israeli Cabinet
in the reservations and resolutions accompanying its acceptance.
The three principles are: The PA must renounce the notion of
a Palestinian "Right of Return" to the Jewish State.
The PA must dismantle the existing terrorist infrastructure and
end its anti-Semitic incitement to violence before the Road Map
is implemented.
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- :: Road Map advancement must be based on performance, not
on arbitrary timetables that encourage noncompliance. In stressing
the importance of these principles and their relation to Israeli
security concerns, Rabbi Neal Borovitz observed that "Israel
has a passionate concern for peace, but not at the price of Jewish
suicide." When asked whether the letter constitutes endorsement
or rejection of the Road Map, Rabbi Avi Weiss explained that
the document is remarkable precisely because both advocates and
opponents of the Road Map joined together to issue the statement
in support of Israel. "While every individual Rabbi has
a nuanced position towards the Road Map, ours is a consensus
position," said Rabbi Weiss.
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- :: "There are Rabbis who would have voted in favor of
the Road Map and signed because they want to send a cautionary
message to the President. Then there are Rabbis who would have
voted against it and signed because they want to highlight the
dangers of proceeding along these lines." In explaining
the role of Rabbis during these precarious times, Rabbi Harlan
Wechsler announced that "American Rabbis are trying to wake
up American Jewry as well as others, so that our great country
the United States of America can effectively, and I underline
effectively, help Israelis and Arabs achieve a lasting peace
that will not lead to war."
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- :: The letter was written by the Interdenominational Rabbinic
Committee and coordinated by Amcha - The Coalition for Jewish
Concerns. The six committee members are Rabbi Bruce Block (Reform),
Rabbi Neal Borovitz (Reform), Rabbi Bruce Ginsburg (Traditional),
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin (Orthodox), Rabbi Harlan Wechsler (Conservative)
and Rabbi Avi Weiss (Orthodox). The names of the 375 Congregational
Rabbis who signed the letter will be posted shortly, and are
available upon request in the interim. Text of Letter May 23,
2003 President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania
Ave Washington, DC 20500 Dear President George W. Bush, We support
and commend your courageous leadership in the Middle East and
are sincerely grateful for your further deepening of the strong
ties between America and Israel.
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- :: Mr. President, on June 24, 2002 you presented your vision
for achieving peace in the region. You concluded by saying, this
moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the
Middle East - an opportunity to lay the foundations for future
peace, a test to show who's serious about peace and who is not.
The choice here is stark and simple. The Bible says, "I
have set before you life and death, therefore choose life."
The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose
peace and hope and life. The undersigned Congregational Rabbis,
representing the entire religious and political spectrum of the
Jewish community, are united in the belief that to fulfill your
vision, the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Authority
(PA) must be governed by the following principles:
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- 1) The PA must renounce the notion of a Palestinian "Right
of Return" to the Jewish State. This ostensible "right"
is a ploy to destroy the State of Israel. Were the millions of
Palestinians currently living throughout the world actually resettled
in Israel, the Jewish State would cease to exist.
- 2) The PA must dismantle the existing terrorist infrastructure
and end its anti-Semitic incitement to violence before the Road
Map is implemented. Additional obligations on the parties must
be introduced sequentially, not simultaneously.
- 3) Road Map advancement must be based on performance, not
on arbitrary timetables that encourage noncompliance. Adherence
to these principles offers the best prospect of "peace and
hope and life" that we all pray for daily. Respectfully,
Rabbi Bruce S. Block Rabbi Neal Borovitz Rabbi Bruce Ginsburg
Reform Reform Traditional Rabbi Shmuel Goldin Rabbi Harlan Wechsler
Rabbi Avi Weiss Orthodox Conservative Orthodox 375 Reform, Conservative
and Orthodox Congregational Rabbis, serving hundreds of thousands
of American Jews and representing the entire religious and political
spectrum of the Jewish community, also signed this letter. Phone:
(718) 884-8499 Fax: (718) 884-9866 Email: cjcamcha@cjcamcha.org
Web: www.cjcamcha.org
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