NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), which represents nearly 2,000 Reform rabbis, adopted a resolution endorsing the mission statement of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues, an organization devoted to the welfare of Israel which supports the Jewish state's commitment to a secure and peaceful existence for Jews and Arabs alike.
According to the resolution, the CCAR supports all efforts to realize the promise of full and equal citizenship rights and privileges for all Arab citizens of Israel, as envisioned in Israel's Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, the CCAR opposes any proposed laws that would limit the citizenship rights of and equal governmental services to non-Jewish citizens of Israel.
The resolution notes that, despite notable efforts, some of them governmental, the civil rights and benefits of citizenship afforded to Arab citizens of Israel are not on par with those offered to Jewish citizens. It insists on equal educational opportunity for Jewish and non-Jewish children in Israel, declaring: "Even if 'separate but equal' is preferred by both Jews and Arabs in Israel, that separate education must truly be equal, including funding at every level."
For the full text of the statement, please visit: http://data.ccarnet.org/cgi-bin/resodisp.pl?file=arab&year=2009Ju
To arrange a conversation with Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus, CCAR President or Rabbi Steven Fox, Executive Vice-President, please contact Itay Engelman of Sommerfield Communications, Inc. at 212-255-8386 or itay@sommerfield.com.
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.
The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6492