News

JTA
-- The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism has extended the
deadline for its rabbis to sign a letter to Congress asking lawmakers
not to cut aid to Israel.

The letter, signed by rabbinic
representatives of all four streams of Judaism, originally was supposed
to be sent to lawmakers on April 15, during the congressional budget
debate.

The letter reads, "As Rabbis in the American Jewish
community, we write today to express our unified support for the State
of Israel and to underscore the vital importance of U.S. foreign aid to
Israel. It is essential that foreign aid to Israel, America’s strongest
ally in the Middle East, continue as part of a strong far-reaching
foreign aid package that allows nations to address poverty, global
warming, democracy building, human rights and disease prevention."

In
an open letter to their rabbinic colleagues, Reconstructionist Rabbi
Brant Rosen and Rabbi Brian Walt, former executive director of Rabbis
for Human Rights, said they disagreed with the letter, objecting
to a passage that reads, "As Jews we are committed to the vision of the
Prophets and Jewish sages who considered the pursuit of peace a
religious obligation. Foreign Aid to Israel is an e... >>>