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Statement of the Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism on Our Hopes for Peace and Safety in a Time of War

January 9, 2009/13 Tevet 5769

The Conservative/Masorti Movement supports the State of Israel, its government and military, in its current operations to protect the citizens of Israel’s southern region and offers our prayers and material assistance to its soldiers and their families. We lament Hamas’ unrelenting and finally intolerable barrage of rocket fire on Israel’s cities and civilians. We pray that a leadership of the Palestinian people emerges that will honor a verifiable and monitored cease fire and negotiate an enduring peace. We pray for peace.

We particularly commend the many efforts on the part of our colleagues in the Masorti Movement and Schechter Institute to provide substantive and spiritual support for soldiers and civilians in areas affected by rocket fire.

When the Holy Blessed One created the first human being, God showed the human the Garden of Eden, and said: “See My works, how fine and excellent they are! All that I have created, I created for you. Consider this and do not destroy My world: for if you do, there is no one to set it right.” Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13 (Rabbinic text)

We believe that the task of humanity is to preserve God’s Creation and for people to live cooperatively.

Even a mighty hero, once the arrow leaves one’s hand, one can no longer make it come back. Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael, Tractate Shirah §4. (Rabbinic text)

We pray for a speedy and effective end to this conflict. We pray for minimal losses.

Whenever destruction of the wicked takes place, there is grief for them above. Zohar Bereshit, I:57b (Rabbinic text)

We know that God mourns losses on all sides. Saddened by this war, we dedicate ourselves to help Israel speedily fulfill its mission to live with security and in lasting peace with its neighbors.

But every person shall sit under their grapevine or fig tree with no one to disturb them. For it was the Lord of Hosts who spoke. Micah 4:4

So may it be God’s will.

The Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism includes: Cantors Assembly, Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, Jewish Educators Assembly, Jewish Theological Seminary, Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel, Masorti Olami – World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues, MERCAZ USA, MERCAZ Olami, National Ramah Commission, Inc., North American Association of Synagogue Executives, Rabbinical Assembly, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, Solomon Schechter Day School Association, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, and Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.