OHALAH



			TIKKUN OLAM OHALAH TIKKUN OLAM RESOLUTIONS AND STATEMENTS REGARDING THE MIDDLE EAST Pursuant to the OHALAH constitution, a tikkun olam resolution must be approved by a two-thirds vote of our members. In addition to, and separate and apart from, tikkun olam resolutions, beginning in February 2009, we are going to have OHALAH Statements Regarding the Middle East to honor our diversity. OHALAH Statements Regarding the Middle East are defined as follows: Minority Opinion Among OHALAH Members – If forty to fifty percent of those voting support a particular statement on the Middle East, it may be posted on the OHALAH website and publicized as a minority opinion. Majority Opinion Among OHALAH Members – If fifty-one percent to ninety-nine percent of those voting support a particular statement on the Middle East, it may be posted on the OHALAH website and publicized as a majority opinion. Unanimous Opinion - If everyone voting on the statement votes yes, the statement may be posted on the OHALAH website and publicized as OHALAH’s position on the subject. Click here for STATMENTS REGARDING THE MIDDLE EAST 2009 OHALAH BOARD STATEMENT We were saddened to learn of the arrest by the Kotel (Western Wall) this week of a woman because she was praying wrapped in a tallit (traditional prayer shawl). The reason given for the arrest was that she was not dressed "according to the custom of the site". That explanation raises questions as to what exactly the custom is and how it came about. The custom surely isn't based upon modesty, since men seem to be allowed to pray wearing shorts. The custom also does not seem to be based upon Orthodox halacha (law) as there is no checking as to whether anyone is wearing a four cornered garment without tzitzit (fringes). Men are not stopped from praying if they are not wearing a tallit. And as for women wearing tallitot, even according to Orthodox halacha, this practice, though not m'chuyav, (obligated) is at least mutar (permitted). The Torah portion that is read during the week of the arrest was Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9 . We should try and learn from our tradition. Like Yaacov Avinu (our forefather Jacob) women should not have to wear a disguise over their tallitot in order to pray or receive a blessing. The authorities should overcome the blindness they share with Yitzchak Avinu (our forefather Isaac), to the sincere spirituality of women involved in prayer and not force them like Yaacov to have to pursue their spiritual development and involvement far from their "home". We call upon the religious and judicial authorities to recognize that customs do adapt to changing circumstances. Today's circumstances include the enhanced recognition that humans were created in the divine image "btzelem el!him barah oto, zachar un'keyva barah otam" (in the image of the Divine was mankind created, masculine and feminine). As the Psalms end "kol haneshama t'hallel Y-ah" (every soul needs to praise G-d), it is time to recognize that everyone who is conscious and wants to offer praises and prayers to our Creator, should not be arrested for doing so. L'Shalom u-l'Shalom Bayit, Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, President on Behalf of the Board of Directors of OHALAH: The Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal 2008 OHALAH RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE JEWISH NATIONAL FUND We, the members of OHALAH, the Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal: 1. Commend the Jewish National Fund in the United States (JNF-US) and Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (KKL) for their devotion to the Jewish people and the State of Israel and for its many projects to restore and honor the Land. 2. Urge that JNF-US inform potential donors about the distinctions between giving to Blueprint Negev and giving to KKL, and about the fact that Blueprint Negev is the JNF-US name for the development projects in the Negev run by different organizations. 3. Urge that JNF-US, KKL and its associate bodies throughout the world advocate for a change in Israeli law to ensure the social and political rights of the Bedouin population and the status of unrecognized villages and to recognize the moral responsibility to others dwelling amongst us demanded by our tradition, e.g., to refrain from destroying Bedouin communities to make room for new Jewish towns. 4. Urge that JNF-US refrain from publicizing, promoting, or funding any project involving the demolition of any Bedouin home or community. 5. Urge that JNF-US or its agents involved in Blueprint Negev provide studies demonstrating that all environmental concerns have been satisfactorily reviewed from the perspectives of sustainability and social impact by KKL’s Sustainability Committee and by other relevant review boards, and that any studies that have been previously completed or will be completed be made public. 6. Urge that JNF-US direct Tnuat Or to make full disclosure of all its activities and allocations on the JNF-US and KKL web sites. We also urge that JNF-US effect the removal of all language from its promotional materials or the promotional materials of its affiliates that treats the Bedouin as a threat or speaks negatively about the Bedouin, especially from the material of Tnuat Or. ------ OHALAH BOARD ENDORSED RESOLUTIONS In addition to the 2008 member supported resolution above concerning the Jewish National Fund, the OHALAH Board endorsed the following resolutions and various members of OHALAH and the public signed onto them. 2008 OHALAH BOARD ENDORSED TZEDEK RESOLUTION PLEASE NOTE: The Tzedek Resolution is still active and accepting signature. If you wish to add your name, please contact Rabbi Pam Frydman Baugh at pbfrydman@yahoo.com. We, caring citizens of the world, sign our names to the resolution below to raise consciousness concerning health care, the global economy and the need to care for the most vulnerable among us. HEALTH CARE - We applaud governments who provide access to health care for all of their citizens and residents. We beseech countries that do not yet provide health care for all of their citizens and residents to make every effort to do so as soon as humanly possible. This includes providing health care facilities and health care services in such as way as to render them affordable and accessible. GREEN MARKET ECONOMY – We call your attention to the realities of global economic interdependence. See for example http://www.economywatch.com/market-economy/global-market-economy.html. We call for access to investment opportunities that support socially conscious commodities, such as food grown through healthy and organic means, energies that are environmentally friendly, and products and technologies that do not fund war. CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US – We applaud the commitments of the world’s wealthy nations that help to relieve the indebtedness of poor and developing nations and that provide foreign aid in times of both natural and human disaster. In addition to these efforts, we call for an annual contribution by wealthy nations to a fund that would be monitored by a non-governmental agency with representation from all contributing nations with the purpose of distributing the funds to non-governmental agencies in poor and developing nations and among poor and underserved populations in developing nations to provide basic nutrition, preventative health care and disease control and treatment. As the calendar turns in each culture and corner of the globe, hope and celebration touch the hearts of those who celebrate. As the calendar turns in your part of the world, please take steps to help make the world a better place for all the inhabitants of the world. Eshet Hazon Matia Rania Angelou, Wayland, Massachusetts. Rabbi Chava Bahle, Michigan Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman, Petersburg, VA Rabbi Pamela Frydman Baugh, San Francisco, California Rabbi Elisheva Beyer, Reno, Nevada Rabbi Eli Cohen, Santa Cruz, California Rabbi Howard Cohen, North Carolina Rabbi Diane Elliot, Richmond, California Rabbi Dan Goldblatt, Danville, California Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, Oakland, California Rabbi Shaya Isenberg, Gainesville, Florida Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, Raleigh, North Carolina Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan, Vancouver, Canada Rabbi Lori Klein, Capitola, California Rabbi Eyal Levinson, Givataim, Israel Abbe Lyons, Ithaca, New York Rabbi Paula Marcus, Santa Cruz, California Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, Las Vegas, Nevada Rabbi David Shneyer, Washington, D.C. Ed Stafman, Tallahassee, Florida Rabbi Shohama Wiener, New Rochelle, NY Ora Weiss, Jerusalem, Israel OHALAH 2008 BOARD ENDORSED RIGHT TO MARRY RESOLUTION Marriage has been a protected human right since time immemorial. The time has come to extend that right to same sex couples. We are inspired by the example of Canada, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of California that extend the right of marriage to same sex couples. We applaud the leadership of Great Britain, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Iceland, France, New Zealand and the States of Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oregon, Maine, Washington, Hawaii and the District of Columbia that provide support for same sex couples by sanctioning same-sex registered partnerships or civil unions or by providing some form of spousal rights for gay and lesbian couples. We call upon the people of California to vote in the November election in favor of same sex marriage, which is in danger of being outlawed once again in that state. We call upon Americans who live in other states where same sex marriage will be on the ballot to educate themselves, and to vote against measures that state that marriage is between a man and a woman because that language--although traditionally linguistically correct--denies the human rights of the gay, lesbian and bisexual members of the community. Eshet Hazon Matia Rania Angelou, Wayland, Massachusetts Rabbi Chava Bahle, Michigan Rabbi Pamela Frydman Baugh, San Francisco, California Rabbi Eli Cohen, Santa Cruz, California Rabbi Howard Cohen, North Carolina Rabbi Diane Elliot, Richmond, California Rabbi Dan Goldblatt, Danville, California Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, Oakland, California Rabbi Shaya Isenberg, Gainesville, Florida Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, Raleigh, North Carolina Rabbi Lori Klein, Capitola, California Rabbi Deb Kolodny, Washington, D.C. Rabbi Eyal Levinson, Givataim, Israel Rabbi Paula Marcus, Santa Cruz, California Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, Las Vegas, Nevada Rabbi David Mivasair, Vancouver British Columbia Rabbi David Shneyer, Washington, D.C. Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg Ed Stafman, Tallahassee, Florida Rabbi Bridget Wynne, El Cerrito, California 2008 OHALAH BOARD ENDOSED RESOLUTION CONCERNING KOSHER MEAT BY UNKOSHER MEANS Traditional Jewish Law prescribes precise actions and conditions required in order for food to bear a “Kosher” label. Likewise, Jewish Law has precise guidelines for allowed and forbidden actions and conditions for the treatment of workers, including immigrant workers. In situations where Jewish Law regarding the treatment of workers has been violated in the process of their preparing of food for “Kosher” certification, we believe that food must be denied “Kosher” certification. In The Fire Within, a biography of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the book's author, Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, relates that Rabbi Salanter advised his students that when they were preparing matzot for Passover, they should not overwork themselves or make excessive demands of the female workers who were kneading the dough and otherwise preparing for the matzah baking. That same account appears in a Hebrew volume titled Bikkurei Shai, written by a modern Israeli rabbi who has served as Chief Rabbi of Givatayim, Israel. If Chassidim making matzot for their own use and the use of the community must pay attention to worker rights, it is also incumbent upon us to treat immigrants the same under the Torah based halachah of treating the stranger as the home-born. Reports arising from the May 12, 2008 Department of Homeland Security raid at the AgriProcessors Kosher Meat Packing Plant in Postville, Iowa, establish that there are credible allegations that the owners and management of AgriProcessors committed serious violations of Jewish Law against scores of immigrant workers at the plant including sexual assault and harassment, rape, abuse, and use of child labor. Under these circumstances and credible allegations, we call upon our fellow clergy who provide Kashruth certification to suspend the certification of “Kosher” meat from AgriProcessors until the truthfulness of these allegations are determined in a proper legal forum where the workers, and the owners and management, have a hearing that complies with the requirements of due process of civil and Jewish laws. We also call upon our fellow Jews to boycott meat from AgriProcessors until this determination. If these allegations are determined to be true, the “Kosher” decertification and boycott should continue until full t'shuva and tikkun is done by the owners and management of AgriProcessors, including apologies to the workers, full compensation for their injuries, and the implementation of procedures and systems with effective monitoring to ensure that abuse of AgriProcessors workers never occurs again. Eshet Hazon Matia Rania Angelou, Wayland, Massachusetts Rabbi Chava Bahle, Suttons Bay, Michigan Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman, Petersburg, VA Rabbi Pamela Frydman Baugh, San Francisco, California Rabbi Eli Cohen, Santa Cruz, California Rabbi Howard Cohen, North Carolina Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan, Chico, California. John K. Diamond, Newport News, Virginia Rabbi Diane Elliot, Richmond, California Rabbinic Pastor Kate Shulamit Fagan, St. Petersburg Florida Rabbinic Pastor Andrew Gold, Santa Fe, New Mexico Rabbi Dan Goldblatt, Danville, California Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, Ph.D, President Academy for Jewish Religion, Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, Oakland, California Rabbi Naomi Mara Hyman, Easton, Maryland Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, Raleigh, North Carolina Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan, Vancouver, Canada Ms. Marky Kelly, Portland, Oregon Rabbi Lori Klein, Capitola, California Rabbi Judith Kummer, Boston, Massachusetts Rabbi Gilah Langner, Washington DC Rabbi Michael Lerner, San Francisco, California Rabbi Stan Levy, Los Angeles, California Cantorial Student Abbe Lyons, Ithaca, New York Rabbi Paula Marcus, Santa Cruz, California Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, Las Vegas, Nevada Rabbi David Roller, Gilbert, Arizona Frederic C. Schultz, J.D., San Diego, CA Rabbi David Shneyer, Washington, D.C. Ed Stafman, Tallahassee, Florida Lester M. Tubman, Northridge, California Yisraela Tubman, Northridge, California Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hollace Westfeldt, Boulder, Colorado Rabbi Shohama Wiener, New York 2008 OHALAH PROFESSIONAL ETHICS STATEMENT ENDORSED BY THE OHALAH BOARD AND ETHICS COMMITTEE L'shem yichud kudsha brich hu ushechintey hamekadeshet umevarechet otanu beshalva vavetach. In the name of Oneness, blessed be, and the Shechina who blesses and sanctifies us with equanimity and safety. There are people all over the world connected with one another through their professions and their faith in one another and in humanity. Doctors, nurses, therapists and others in the healing professions may work shoulder to shoulder to find cures at home and to treat patients on the front lines of disaster relief and human need. Teachers and clergy often reach across divides to help their students and congregants learn about others both at home and abroad. All of us who work in these professions or enjoy the fruits of those who work in these professions can appreciate the importance of good boundaries to keep us safe and ensure that we and our loved ones are treated fairly. Policies concerning privacy and confidentiality characterize the rights of students, congregants, patients and clients. The right to be treated fairly and honestly, equitably and respectfully is a right that is available in more and more venues and circumstances as professional standards evolve throughout the world. OHALAH, the Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal, wishes to engage in consciousness-raising among our members and their congregants, constituents and students that one has recourse regarding the professionals in our lives, include the clergy in our lives, and also the professionals who treat us when we are ill and who teach and guide and counsel us and our children. To this end, we have declared 2009 (5769) “THE YEAR OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.” We invite you to share the information in this brief article in your newsletter, on your website and/or as a handout available to those who visit your community or institution. We invite you and the members of your community to log onto the OHALAH website at http://www.ohalah.org/profstandyear.htm and sign our Tzedek Resolution TO HELP MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. We invite you to schedule a workshop in your community to better educate yourselves in the professional boundaries extant in the state, region or nation where you live concerning medical treatment, education and the practice of your faith. Learn about the offices and agencies available to respond to questions and receive complaints and concerns. Find ways to make this information available to your constituents both now and in the future. Like many rabbinic associations and other associations of professionals, OHALAH's governing policies are available to the public. OHALAH policies are on our website at www.ohalah.org/guidelinesohalah.htm, including our policy regarding membership standards and our clergy code regarding sexual and financial ethics. May the professional standards that affect our lives be stepping-stones to a safer and more equitable future for all. Keyn yehi ratzon. So may it be. 2007 OHALAH TIKKUN OLAM RESOLUTIONS In 2007, OHALAH passed one tikkun olam resolution. OHALAH 2007 RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE WAR IN IRAQ We, Ohalah, the Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal, call on the American government – 1. Not to escalate the Iraq War by sending more troops to Iraq, especially since calls for such an escalation lack the clear support of the American people and Congress and would necessitate the extending of the tours of duties of American soldiers, many of whom have already spent several tours of duty in Iraq. 2. To adopt a firm time-table for ending the military presence of United States forces in Iraq; We also direct that this statement be made public in the press and throughout the Jewish Renewal movement and sent to leaders of the Executive and Legislative branches of the US government. We also urge ALEPH to encourage its members to send letters to the President and the Congress in support of the two positions cited above.