Sharing this letter I sent to the ethics folks at the #CCAR (the body that credentials rabbis in the #Reform movement of #Judaism
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To whom it may concern:
cc: #RabbiCaryKozberg, Temple Sholom, Springfield, OH
I am writing to inquire if I can file a complaint against Rabbi Cary Kozberg for the racist remarks he made to the JTA, which were reported by them in this story:
Please take a moment and read the story and read what Rabbi Kozberg said. It is appalling and shameful, absolutely contrary to Jewish values that teach us to love the ger (stranger) in our midst.
I will admit that in reviewing the CCAR's ethics code (online at https://www.ccarnet.org/about-us/ccar-ethics/ccar-ethics-code/ ), it does not appear that Rabbi Kozberg violated those policies, but surely in this day and age it would be a serious ethical violation for a rabbi to besmirch an entire immigrant community in the way that he has. If hate speech by rabbis is not an ethical violation, then the CCAR needs to revise its ethics code to make it a violation.
I am a proud member of both a Reform synagogue and a humanistic havurah. Part of the reason I'm part of my reform temple is the movement's strong emphasis on social justice and its commitment to fighting racism. This is very personal to me, and I know many others who feel the same way.
In anger and sadness,
James
#Mazeldon #Racism #Immigrant #Springfield #SpringfieldOH #haiti #Haitian #Haitians
Good but overdue news from the #CCAR
I’m going to rant, sorry. I normally wouldn’t but this is my home county in the UK and this account on the birdsite is followed by #LiberalJudaism in #York and the #CCAR.
I came across them as they claim to fight #antisemitism. But they retweeted BBC news about a recent arrest of (maybe, it’s not clear in the article) a trans woman who abducted(?) an 11 year old girl. And retweeted an anti-trans account’s tweet of it.
1/2
#transmisia #transphobia
#CCAR, the organization of #Reformrabbis, continues -
We encounter God’s presence in moments of awe and wonder, in acts of justice and compassion, in loving relationships and in the experiences of everyday life.
We respond to #God daily: through public and private prayer, through study and through the performance of other (mitzvot), sacred obligations — (bein adam la Makom) to God, and (bein adam la-chaveiro) to other human beings.
In 1999 #CCAR reaffirmed -
We affirm the reality and oneness of God, even as we may differ in our understanding of the Divine presence.
We affirm that the Jewish people is bound to God by an eternal (b’rit) covenant, as reflected in our varied understandings of Creation, Revelation and Redemption.
We affirm that every human being is created (b’tzelem Elohim) in the image of God, and that therefore every human life is sacred
Belief in #God is the foundation of Judaism - this is from #CCAR, the official body of #Reformrabbis
The heart of Judaism and its chief contribution to religion is the doctrine of the One, living God, who rules the world through law and love. In Him all existence has its creative source and mankind its ideal of conduct. Though transcending time and space, He is the indwelling Presence of the world. We worship Him as the Lord of the universe and as our merciful Father.
A great #shiur on #spirituality from the Reform movement. Johanna Hershenson comments on
Now Bezalel, son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, had made ALL that the Eternal had commanded Moses. (Exodus 38)
and on - Just as the Eternal had commanded Moses, so the Israelites had done ALL the work. And when Moses saw that they had performed ALL the tasks – as God had commanded, so they had done – Moses blessed them. (Exodus 39)
https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/torah-commentary/mishkan-invitation-divine
Comissió Catalana d'Acció pel Refugi
James M Branum - יעקב מתתיהו ☮
James M. Branum יעקב מתתיהו
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