North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association
NCJCA STATEMENTS
North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association Statements
Congress should provide $14.3 B in supplemental security assistance to Israel: A Statement by the Steering Committee of the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association (NCJCA) April 19, 2024 This coming weekend the US House of Representatives is expected to act on the proposed $14.3 billion supplemental security assistance package for Israel. This provision also includes humanitarian aid for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. We join the US Administration in urging our elected leaders from North Carolina in both the House, and when it is considered by the Senate, to act favorably on this legislation. This past Saturday night (April 13, 2024, Eastern Standard Time) saw an unprecedented and highly-condemned attack aimed at Israel by Iran. Hundreds of drones, UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles were launched. Israel, working together with the US, Britain, France, Jordan, and other allied forces, successfully stopped 99% of those deadly munitions from reaching their intended targets in Israel. Throughout Saturday evening, many Jewish clergy in North Carolina were in touch with friends and family in Israel. We were not alone as so many others were doing likewise. There were heartfelt prayers for security and safety. The vast majority of the projectiles (99%) were shot down though tragically one seven-year-old Bedouin girl was severely injured and we pray for her recovery. It became clear that nearly everyone else in Israel weathered the intended onslaught without being harmed physically. And yet, no one – in Israel or connected to Israel – escaped that evening unshaken. Sadly, such threats against Israel aren’t going away anytime soon. Israel's defense Saturday night was not sheer luck. It was the product of the strong US-Israel relationship and connections that have been built over generations. US-Israel relations haven’t always been without their moments of disagreement. But they have been important... especially for troubling times like the brazen attacks by Hamas of October 7th, the ongoing shelling into northern Israel from Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the large-scale missile launch from Iran just days ago. =========================================== In practical terms, we encourage Jewish clergy statewide and our congregants to take the following: steps: 1. Before the end of the business day on Friday, call the Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. The office of any Member of Congress or US Senator can be reached via this number. 2. Make 3 separate calls: one to your local House Representative and one each to Senator Ted Budd and to Senator Thom Tillis. You can find your local US House Member here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative After you are connected to the office you are calling, you may get a voicemail. Be sure to leave a brief message. If a person answers, ask to speak with the Legislative Assistant who handles defense or foreign affairs. You may also leave a message with the person who answers the call. Do not dismay that you are not speaking with the Representative or Senator themselves. Stay on one issue. Urge them to support the $14.3 billion dollars in supplemental security assistance to Israel NOW. These funds were needed several months ago, but after the Iranian attack, they are essential now more than ever! 3. Above all, please express gratitude to our elected officials for their past support of Israel. If you want to, you can mention that missile defense systems are very expensive. For example, the cost of each Arrow 2 interceptor used last Saturday is approximately $1 million; moreover, the cost of each similarly deployed Arrow 3 interceptor is approximately $2.5 million. This is what Israel needed, and still needs, to save lives. These calls, in total, take about 5 minutes. Before the end of this week, we ask that you take five minutes to make a timely difference for the defense of Israelis and to strengthen the partnership between our country and Israel. Given the time-sensitive nature of the upcoming vote in Congress, as well as the contours of the Jewish calendar, this Statement is being posted as quickly as possible.
Not in our Name - North Carolina Jewish Clergy Hold Hamas Responsible, November 2023 This editorial was posted online in the Charlotte Observer, the Raleigh News & Observer, and the Durham Herald-Sun on Saturday, November 4, 2023. By Rabbi Daniel Greyber and the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association On November 3rd, not yet a month since the Hamas massacre of 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians, and the taking of more than 220 hostages, a group of protesters sat on NC Highway 147 with a sign saying, “NC Jews Say Ceasefire Now.” They do not speak in our name. We are grateful for the steadfast support of Israel by North Carolina’s Congressional delegation as well as Governor Roy Cooper and the North Carolina House and Senate. Our commitments to peace and compassion for innocent Israelis and Palestinians force us to confront a painful truth: Israel must fight a just war until Hamas is defeated. Yehuda Kurtzer wrote recently about how a just war is not easy or victimless; it is morally necessary, because pacifism in the face of an unfettered evil is an untenable moral position." Israel must do its utmost to prevent civilian casualties and do all within its power to ensure food, water, medicine and other humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza, while fighting an enemy that violates all rules of war. Hamas purposefully uses its own citizens as human shields and has cynically misappropriated hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign aid to buy and manufacture weapons and to build a network of tunnels deliberately beneath neighborhoods, mosques and hospitals. Scholars at West Point write that Israel’s Military Advocate General’s Corps “is an exceptionally competent group of advisors on the law of armed conflict that is organized to ensure IDF commanders have access to high-caliber legal advice in real time. Once planners identify and propose targets based on anticipated or actual missions and operational goals, lawyers from the International Law Department (ILD) review each.” Independent reviews of Israel’s targeting practices consistently find them within the mainstream of contemporary state practice. Civilian deaths in Gaza are extraordinarily tragic and heart-breaking. We recognize that far too many innocent Gazans, including children, are suffering immeasurably and have lost their lives. However, as a matter of policy, the IDF - unlike Hamas - follows the international protocols of war and civilian casualties are never intentional. We firmly believe that Hamas, not Israel, is ultimately culpable for the deaths of innocent Palestinians. No modern nation state can tolerate a situation in which its borders are violated and where its civilian citizens - men, women, children, and the elderly - are unable to go to sleep at night without fear of murder, injury, dismemberment, rape and abduction, as happened in Israel on October 7th. On Thursday November 2nd, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad stated on Lebanese television that Hamas will repeat the October 7th massacre again and again until Israel is destroyed. A ceasefire allows Hamas to continue its reign of terror over innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Eradicating Hamas is essential for achieving the safety and security of both Jews and Palestinians between the river and the sea. This terrible war can end tomorrow. Rather than call for a cease fire as some activists have done we call for Hamas to immediately and unconditionally free all hostages and to offer its immediate and unconditional surrender. Finally, demonstrations in the Triangle will not determine the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the type of conversations we have about it will impact the future of our local interfaith community. We encourage you to invite us to hear the perspective of mainstream Jewish leaders who represent the majority of the North Carolina Jewish community and to share questions that have arisen for you and your communities about Israel/Palestine. Together we can build communities of understanding and relationship here in North Carolina. Rabbi Daniel Greyber is the rabbi of Beth El Synagogue in Durham. The views expressed in this editorial are his own, as they are the own views of the 31 individual clergy who signed on to this editorial. SIGNED AS OF 11/4/2023 Rabbi Chaya Bender, Wilmington, NC Rabbi Philip J Bentley, Hendersonville, NC Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, Winston-Salem, NC Rabbi Robin Damsky, Efland, NC Rabbi Lucy Dinner, Raleigh, NC Rabbi Andrew Vogel Ettin, Salisbury, NC Rabbi Elana Friedman, Durham, NC Rabbi John S. Friedman, Durham, NC Rabbi Michael Gisser, Chapel Hill, NC Rabbi Daniel Greyber, Durham, NC Rabbi Fred Guttman, Greensboro, NC Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, Raleigh, NC Rabbi Tracy Klirs, Charlotte, NC Rabbi Asher Knight, Charlotte NC Rabbi Andy Koren, Greensboro, NC Cantor Karen Kumin, Durham, NC Cantor Ted Labow, Hendersonville, NC Rabbi Mitchell Levine, Asheville, NC Rabbi Laura Lieber, Durham, NC Cantor Shira Lissek, Charlotte, NC Rabbi Emily Losben-Ostrov, Wilmington, NC Rabbi Cantor Jacqueline Marx, Raliegh, NC Rabbi Batsheva Meiri, Asheville, NC Rabbi Judy Schindler, Charlotte, NC Rabbi Melissa B. Simon, Chapel Hill, NC Rabbi Matthew Soffer, Durham, NC Rabbi Eric Solomon, Raleigh, NC Rabbi Dr. Jenny Solomon, Raleigh, NC Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas, Charlotte, NC Rabbi Alty Weinreb, Boone, NC Rabbi Michael Wolk, Charlotte, NC
North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association Statement on the Simhat Torah Massacre/War in Israel, October 20, 2023 The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association is horrified by the massacre of innocent Israelis, both Jewish and Arab, and foreign nationals by the terrorist group Hamas on Shabbat/Simhat Torah and the relentless war that has followed. The wanton killing of innocents, including numerous children and seniors, coupled with the kidnapping of at least 199 individuals, including many Americans, has shaken us to our core. Hamas’ actions are a war crime that are diametrically opposed to the teaching of every sacred scripture. We stand in solidarity with the State of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of all who were murdered, and injured or kidnapped. We express our profound gratitude to President Biden and his administration, Governor Cooper, our North Carolina Congressional Delegation, and all North Carolina political, civic and religious leaders who have expressed their condemnation of Hamas as well as their unambiguous support for Israel, the Israel Defense Forces, and the right of Israel to defend itself. We call for the immediate and unconditional return of all hostages. The State of Israel faces an extraordinarily complex military task. We echo President Biden’s call to Israel’s political and military leadership to do everything within their power to avoid civilian Palestinian casualties. The Torah teaches that every human being is made in the image of God – that includes every innocent Palestinian man, woman and child. We have never taught otherwise. This is why we also denounce the morally and legally unacceptable way that Hamas has placed civilians in harm's way by hiding behind and beneath them. To our fellow North Carolinians who have expressed their concern for the Jewish community, we offer our profound gratitude. Your support and prayers give us comfort in our time of extraordinary pain. Those looking to support Israel during this emergency should direct their donations to the Israel Emergency Campaign of the Jewish Federations of North America. To those who express “justifications” for this horrific terrorist attack, we find your words to be morally repugnant and antisemitic. Whatever the politics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is no excuse for the wanton killing and hostage-taking of innocents. Jewish institutions throughout the world, including here in North Carolina, are at threat. Your support of Hamas, an oppressor of innocent Palestinians, conveys that you do not believe Jewish lives matter. We are hurt by the lack of concern for the Jewish community’s welfare and feel abandoned by people we thought of as friends. We are deeply pained by the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia that has flared up due to the current violence in the Middle East. We decry and mourn the murder of a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy and the seriously wounding of his mother in Chicago. At-home fighting and demonization does not make those in Israel and Gaza any safer and endangers all. We commit to combating both Islamophobia and antisemitism, not just now but always. With every ounce of our souls, we pray that the rocket fire from Gaza and Lebanon will stop, that the hostages will be speedily and safely returned to their families, the State of Israel will successfully root out Hamas, innocent Israelis’ and Palestinians’ lives will be spared, and a new political reality will be born that will allow both Israelis and Palestinians to work towards a future of peace.
Letter Calling Upon the Leaders of North Carolina Republican Party To Condemn Lieutenant Governor Robinson’s Antisemitic and Hate-Filled Rhetoric, July 2023 The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association signed on to this letter calling upon leaders of the North Carolina Republican Party to put partisanship aside and strongly condemn Lieutenant Governor Robinson’s pattern of antisemitic and hate-filled rhetoric. July 2023 Phil Berger, Tim Moore, Michael Whatley North Carolina Republican Party Leaders PO BOX 12905 Raleigh, NC 27605 Dear Mr. Berger, Mr. Moore, and Chairman Whatley, As members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation and faith leaders across the state, we are appalled by recent reports that brought to light Lieutenant Governor Robinson’s pattern of antisemitic and hate-filled rhetoric, including defending Moms for Liberty’s use of Hitler quotes in their promotional materials. His inflammatory statements invoke harmful stereotypes and conspiracy theories, downplay the Holocaust, and denigrate entire groups of human beings. They are not just deeply troubling, but downright dangerous. Lieutenant Governor Robinson has repeatedly used his platform to target vulnerable populations. Jewish communities here in North Carolina are already experiencing a swell of discrimination, threats, and acts of violence. Hate crimes are up in the state. His venomous words will undoubtedly exacerbate episodes of hate and extremism that will not just threaten the Jewish Community, but all North Carolinians. As leaders from different faiths and backgrounds, we stand united in the belief that an attack on one group is an attack on us all, and that this type of language has absolutely no place in the North Carolina government or anywhere else. North Carolina’s strength comes from its diversity. Leaders who seek to dehumanize and divide us instead of bringing us together are chipping away at the values on which our nation was founded – that we are all created equal. It is incumbent on our leaders to uphold the obligation of the office they occupy. The Lieutenant Governor has plainly failed to do that. Today, we urge you, as leaders of the North Carolina Republican Party, to put partisanship aside to act in good conscience and strongly condemn his statements. Together, we can confront antisemitism and stop the rise of hate and violence in its tracks. We look forward to your swift response.
NCJCA Calls for the NC Democratic Party To Refrain From Resolutions on Israel and the Middle East, June 8, 2023 In the summer of 2022, the North Carolina Democratic Party considered and passed a series of platform resolutions targeting Israel. The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association (NCJCA) issued a statement prior to the party’s convention urging the rejection of those resolutions. It has come to our attention that similar, and additional platform measures, either disparaging Israel or presenting one-sided information about the situation in the Middle East, are slated to be considered during NC Democratic Party deliberations taking place in the coming days and weeks. As such, the NCJCA calls on our state Democratic Party to not make or pass such resolutions. Instead, we strongly encourage the reaffirmation of the statement on the Middle East from the 2020 National Democratic Convention. In addition, we stand by our statement from last summer, which expresses solidarity with the State of Israel, recognizing its strengths and shortcomings. We value the premium that the United States has historically placed on its vital relationship with the State of Israel. We unequivocally support efforts by the United States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and countries throughout the Middle East in their joint quest for a more peaceful future for the region. As North Carolina Jewish clergy, we work in a variety of settings, representing individuals and communities whose identity is deeply connected to both North Carolina and the State of Israel. Annual attacks on our connections to Israel have us seriously concerned, especially as all Jews, in all places, are increasingly subjected to hatred, violence, and antisemitic attacks. An official resolution targeting Israel, even if not the intent, can send signals that antisemitism is acceptable and fuel further incidents. Statements by state parties and leaders have consequences which impact both our personal and communal safety and security. We urge a balanced, well-vetted approach to America’s Middle East policy, something that is present in the National party statement but which is lacking in those resolutions under consideration here at home in the NC Democratic Party. We ask the leadership of the NC Democratic Party to vote no on these resolutions. They do not further the chances for Middle East peace. Furthermore, such one-sided and disparaging stances do not speak to the long list of concerns facing North Carolinians each and every day. Moreover, they rarely result in attracting party members, and have little to no positive impact on voter registration or turnout. As we also noted last summer, the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association is officially non-partisan. However, within our ranks are numerous clergy who, as private citizens, affiliate as Democrats. This effort to single out Israel in the party’s platform is particularly disappointing for our NC Jewish clergy affiliated with the Democratic party, dividing and pushing us away at a time that the opposite is needed. There are so many important issues facing our state that directly impact the health, education, and rights of citizens and we do not need the distraction of divisive issues - we need unity and focus on the issues at home. For more information on the NCJCA, please visit www.ncjca.org.
North Carolina Request for Support, December 20, 2022 During this time of year many religions and groups turn to messages of light and peace, along with multiple holiday observances. The Jewish community is in the midst of the celebration of Hanukkah, a holiday that speaks to the core of religious freedom. We live in times when freedom, religious and otherwise, is increasingly threatened. The Jewish community, among other groups, has been subjected to an alarming rise in hate incidents in the last few years. These include: •Antisemitic flyers disseminated across North Carolina neighborhoods and malls. •Jewish students on college campuses targeted for being Jews and condemned and banned from using student spaces. •Letters mailed to Jewish leaders at their homes threatening torture and violence against Jews. •The kidnapping of Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and his congregants in Colleyville, Texas. (Rabbi Cytron-Walker now serves a NC congregation) Many of our families live in fear. In a recent meeting with Governor Cooper one Rabbi shared that: “I’ve had parents and even some children ask me, “Rabbi, should I hide away my Star of David necklace?” “This Hanukkah, there is one question beating in the hearts of Jewish North Carolinians: Is it safe for us to place our Hanukkah menorahs in the window of our homes as Jewish tradition demands?” Twenty-nine years ago, when antisemitism was maligning the Jewish community in Billings, Montana, a group of community leaders joined together and published a full- page picture of a Hanukah menorah in the newspaper and invited people to put the picture in their window as a sign of solidarity and support for the Jewish community. The response was overwhelming and transformative for Jews and non-Jews alike. Many of you have asked how you can support us during these times of increased hatred. The Governor has placed a Hanukkah menorah prominently outside the executive mansion in solidarity with the Jewish celebration of religious freedom. We invite you to consider: sharing the story of transformation from Billings, Montana; displaying a menorah in your community or home window; or reaching out with a card or call of support to the Jews that you know. Every time you reach out in support you help keep the Hanukkah lights and the message of this season before us. This letter was crafted by Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Temple Beth Or in Raleigh in the immediate aftermath of the antisemitic disruption that took place at a Raleigh public high school.
NCJCA Calls For The NC Democratic Party To Reject Resolutions’ Unbalanced Criticism of Israel, June 17, 2022 We, North Carolina Jewish clergy, stand in solidarity with the State of Israel and value the premium that the United States has historically placed on its vital relationship with the State of Israel. We unequivocally support efforts by the United States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and countries throughout the Middle East in their joint quest for a more peaceful future for the region. We also recognize that Israel, like other countries, is not a perfect state. We, North Carolina Jewish clergy, take seriously thoughtful and balanced criticism of Israel’s policies whether it hails from Israeli citizens, our fellow Americans, or members of the international community. Many North Carolina Jewish clergy are at the forefront of lovingly criticizing Israel when we believe Israel has not met the Jewish values standard upon which we stake our lives. To our dismay, it has come to our attention that there are a number of problematic resolutions under consideration at the NC State Democratic Party's convention to be held this upcoming Shabbat. Of the seven resolutions devoted to foreign affairs, three are focused on criticism of Israel. While some of our clergy are sympathetic to some of the claims embedded in the statements, on the main, these resolutions are not thoughtful nor balanced. In short, they contain one-sided representations of the complexities of the decades-long Arab-Israeli conflict. Sadly, such party stances often lead to the demonization of Jews and Israelis, ignore Israel's genuine security concerns, play upon age-old anti-Jewish stereotypes, and include language which implies that Israel should cease to exist as a sovereign state. Furthermore, given the troubling rise in direct acts of anti-semitism against many North Carolina synagogues, we consider these resolutions to be potentially dangerous. We do not believe that these resolutions further the chances for Middle East peace, and we know these resolutions do not reflect the diversity of views within the NC Democratic party. The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association is officially non-partisan. However, within our ranks, we include numerous clergy who, as private citizens, affiliate as Democrats. This effort to single out Israel in the party’s platform is particularly disappointing for our NC Jewish clergy affiliated with the Democratic party. Thereby, we call upon the NC Democratic Party to reject these resolutions and, in turn, invite conversation with the NCJCA and other concerned NC Democrats who seek a platform that reflects the spectrum of views on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Signed by the NCJCA Steering Committee, Rabbi Judy Schindler Rabbi Eric Solomon (co-chairs) Rabbi Mark Cohn Rabbi Lucy Dinner Rabbi Andy Koren Cantor Shira Lissek Rabbi Batsheva Meiri
Statement of the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association on the Preservation of Women’s Rights to Accessible Reproductive Healthcare in North Carolina, May 20, 2022 The recently released draft of a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade raises numerous concerns. Chief among them: our country’s commitment to guaranteeing affordable access to reproductive healthcare for all women. There is perhaps no more contentious issue in American life beyond abortion. As Jewish clergy, we look to our sacred texts for guidance and the answer is unequivocal: the value and preservation of life is paramount. In the case of a pregnancy, first and foremost, the life and the well-being of the mother supersedes all other concerns. While abortion is never permitted wantonly, all abortions are to be handled compassionately in weighty conversations between a mother and her healthcare provider along with other meaningful resources, like Jewish clergy, whom she may consult. We consider the removal of abortion access and subsequent legislation forcing women to carry forth with pregnancies that potentially risk their lives to be an unconstitutional breach of Jewish citizens’ rights to life and religious freedom. Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, we, rabbis and cantors of the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association, hereby call upon North Carolina elected officials to preserve North Carolina women’s rights to privacy, accessible reproductive healthcare, and religious freedom including the right to choose an abortion. About the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association (NCJCA) The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association (NCJCA) is an organization of rabbis and cantors of various streams serving congregations, agencies, organizations, and the broader Jewish community of North Carolina. In its gathering, it seeks to reflect the moral and religious voices of the Jewish community in North Carolina. It promotes the interests of Judaism and the Jewish people in North Carolina and throughout the world; serves as a collective voice of the North Carolina Jewish clergy community, and supports members in professional and personal growth. For more information contact co-chairs, Rabbi Judy Schindler (Schindlerj@queens.edu) and Rabbi Eric Solomon (erics@bethmeyer.org). The Steering Committee includes Rabbi Judy Schindler of Charlotte (co-chair), Rabbi Eric Solomon of Raleigh (co-chair), Rabbi Mark Cohn of Winston-Salem, Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Raleigh, Rabbi Andy Koren of Greensboro, Cantor Shira Lissek of Charlotte, and Rabbi Batsheva Meiri of Asheville.
Statement of the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association on Rising Antisemitism, April 27, 2022 On this occasion of Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins this evening, April 27th, and in light of the ADL report released yesterday noting that antisemitic incidents of assault, harassment, and vandalism have reached an unprecedented high in 2021, the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association calls upon all North Carolinians to condemn antisemitism whenever and wherever they witness it and to work to combat this hate, along with all other forms of hate, through education and actions that create a safe and vibrant community for all those who call North Carolina home. About the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association (NCJCA) The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association (NCJCA) is an organization of rabbis and cantors of various streams serving congregations, agencies, organizations, and the broader Jewish community of North Carolina. In its gathering, it seeks to reflect the moral and religious voices of the Jewish community in North Carolina. It promotes the interests of Judaism and the Jewish people in North Carolina and throughout the world; serves as a collective voice of the North Carolina Jewish clergy community, and supports members in professional and personal growth. For more information contact co-chairs, Rabbi Judy Schindler (Schindlerj@queens.edu) and Rabbi Eric Solomon (erics@bethmeyer.org). The Steering Committee includes Rabbi Judy Schindler of Charlotte (co-chair), Rabbi Eric Solomon of Raleigh (co-chair), Rabbi Mark Cohn of Winston-Salem, Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Raleigh, Rabbi Andy Koren of Greensboro, Cantor Shira Lissek of Charlotte, and Rabbi Batsheva Meiri of Asheville.