Issues and Resolutions

 

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak…
-Martin Niemöller

 

 The Society for Humanistic Judaism affirms human responsibility:

 

• We seek solutions to human conflicts that respect the freedom, dignity, and self-esteem of every human being. We make ethical decisions based on our assessment of the consequences of our actions.
• We believe that it is human beings who have the responsibility for solving human problems. We are committed, in the enduring Jewish tradition of support for social action and social progress, to community service and actions for social justice. We each take responsibility for our own behavior, and all of us take collective responsibility for the state of our world.

 

— Society for Humanistic Judaism, Core Principles, October 1999

 

Criteria for Selection of Issues

The Society for Humanistic Judaism (SHJ) speaks out on issues that promote our core ethical values.

 

Therefore, the resolution must relate to at least one of the below criteria:

 

1. Separation of church and state (i.e. freedom of religion and freedom from religion), OR
2. Jewish identity/culture, OR
3. Policy solutions that promote the core ethical values of freedom, dignity and self-esteem and are based on persuasive arguments from compelling evidence

 

Recognizing that civil discourse is a core ethical value, when an issue falls under criterion 3 and there are persuasive arguments for more than one point of view, SHJ will present two or more views on the topic in an appropriate forum called “Humanistic Voices.”

 

—Society for Humanistic Judaism, October 2015

 

Resolutions Issued by the Society for Humanistic Judaism (In Date Order)

 

Core Principles of the Society for Humanistic Judaism (October 1999)

 

• Society for Humanistic Judaism Denounces Discrimination in Foster Care System (February 2019)
• Humanitarian Policies for Undocumented Immigrants (August 2018)
• Condemnation of New Rule That Employers Do Not Have to Provide Birth Control to Employees (October 2017)
• Assault Rifle and High Capacity Magazine Ban (January 2013 and October 2017)
• Condemnation of Ethnic Cleansing in Myanmar; Urges Support for Victims (October 2017)
• Call for Civil Dialogue, Not Violence (June 2017)
• Johnson Amendment Retention Support (May 2017)
• Resolution Against Hate Crimes (February 2017)
• Condemnation of Executive Order on Immigration (January 2017)
• Defunding of Planned Parenthood Efforts Condemned (November 2016)
• Enforcement of Secular Education (November 2016)
• Speaking Out on Syrian Refugees (November 2015)
• Humanitarian Assistance for Syrian Refugees (September 2015)
• Communicable Diseases (October 2014)w
• Condemnation of ASA Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions (May 2014)
• J Street Rejection by Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (May 2014)
• Freedom of Speech (May 2014)
• Physician-Assisted Death (October 2013)
• Gender Equality and Women’s Equality Day (August 2013)
• Support for Humanist Chaplains (July 2013)
• Opposition to Politically Motivated Violence & Hate Speech (October 2012)
• Commemoration of Murdered Israeli Athletes at 2012 Olympics (July 2012)
• Opposition to School Vouchers (May 2012)
• Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Waist Factory Fire (April 2012)
• Opposition to Conscience Clauses (February 2012)
• Anti-Bullying (February 2012)w
• Condemnation of Mosque Burning (October 2011)
• Workers’ Rights (June 2011)
• Homophobic Bullying (October 2010)
• Aid to Victims of Terrorism (October 2007 and 2010)
• Advance Directives (October 2007)
• Immigration (October 2007)
• Teaching of Science in Public Schools (May 2007)
• Separation of Church and State (April 2006)
• Marriage Equality (April 2004)w Rule That Employers Do Not Have to Provide Birth Control to Their Employees
• In Support of Israel (May 2002)
• Stem Cell Research  (January 2002)
• September 11, 2001 (November 2001)
• Boy Scouts (May 2001)
• Opposition to Funding Faith-Based Action (May 2001)
• In Support of Mideast Peace Process (October 2000)
• Support for Reproductive Choice (August 1996)
• Opposition to School Prayer (May 1995)

 

Statements Issued by the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews

• Proclamation of the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews (October 1986)
• Who is a Jew? (October 1988)
• Statement on the Future of the Jewish People (October 1990)
• Statement on Eurasian Jewry (October 1992)
• What Does It Mean to Be Jewish? (September 1994)
  
• Jews Among The Nations (October 1996)