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Amended Resolution on Abortion (1982) Reverence for the life is the cornerstone of our Jewish heritage. Since abortion in Jewish law is primarily for the mother’s physical or mental welfare, we deplore the burgeoning casual use of abortion. Abortion should be “legally available but ethically restricted. Though the abortion of a fetus is not equivalent to taking an actual life, it does represent the destruction of potential life and must not be un…

Affirmative Action: No Reverse Discrimination Women’s League for Conservative Judaism is cognizant of the need to give special consideration to those who are deprived. We therefore recommend affirmative action to provide compensatory education, training, counseling, placement, and welfare, which is based solely upon need. Women’s League believes that admission to educational institutions, as well as hiring and promotion in employment, should be b…

On Yom Kippur, we read in Isaiah: “…and thou shalt bring the poor that are cast out to thy house.” As Jews, we must be sensitive to the problem of homelessness. Central to the issue is the disparity in earnings between the rich and the poor, where the working poor are unable to match their wages to income needed for a substantial life. The fact that wages are too low and rents too high creates class inequality. Women’s League for Conservative Jud…

Agunah/Pre-Nuptial Agreement (2008) Background In Judaism, the act of marriage is identified as kiddushin attesting to the reverence with which marriage is held. Most rabbinic scholars consider marriage between two Jews as being an anticipated life-long commitment. Yet, some marriages do fail and Judaism provides for the dissolution of the marriage by means of divorce. Today in the United States, statistics show a civil divorce rate of 50% over a…

We are experiencing the worst world public health crisis faced in modern times, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a disease which has the possibility of devastating society. Confusion, ignorance and denial are among the most common responses to the AIDS epidemic. The religious community has a responsibility to help build awareness and sensitivity, Jewish tradition charges us to comfort those who are afflicted in the spirit of love a…

Amnesty (Vietnam) (1974) Although our participation in the Vietnamese War has ended, many thousands of American youths, opposed to service in that war, remain in exile or suffer the consequences of their opposition. However, the time has come for a spirit of national reconciliation to pervade in the quest for an equitable solution to this problem. To debate the morality of this war is non-constructive. Our purpose is to restore this large number …

Anti-Semitism: Resurgence of Anti-Semitism (2002) Anti-Semitism has been harshly brought to the forefront of Jewish life in every country around the world, even in places with no Jewish population. Widespread internet hate groups and burgeoning Arab emigration have contributed to the growth of anti-Semitism. Outside the Arab and Muslim countries, medrassas (Muslim schools) which teach hatred of the infidel, including Christmas, Jews, the West, Is…

Apartheid (Amended Resolution) (1986) The position of Judaism with regard to apartheid has remained unchanged for more than 3000 years. The basic tenets of Judaism are totally irreconcilable with any form of racism and racial discrimination. We, as a people, have a collective historical experience of being the victim of discrimination and exclusion. Therefore, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism condemns the policy of apartheid and urges its …

Arab Boycott (1976) The Arab boycott against Israel is not limited to that country alone, but extends to and discriminates against business firms and citizens who trade with Israel. Many American business firms comply with Arab boycott demands in direct contravention of American anti-discrimination laws and the United States policy against restrictive trade practices or boycotts by foreign countries against nations friendly to the United States. …

Arab Boycott Against Israel and Affecting America (1958) National Women’s League notes with grave concern the continued Arab interference with the free exercise of American enterprises which has extended to a systematic boycotting and blacklisting of firms owned by Jews or doing business in or with Israel. The Arab League maintains a public blacklist of American and other companies that invest in Israel, maintain branches, assembly operations or …