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Position of the Reform Movement on the Environment
As heirs to a tradition of stewardship that goes back to Genesis and teaches us to be partners in the ongoing work of Creation, we cannot accept the escalating destruction of our environment and its effect on human health and livelihood.
Let's Move into a Healthier America
As someone who has traveled a good amount, I can’t say I’m always proud of some of the American stereotypes that are out there, worst of all - that Americans are overweight. This is more than a stereotype nowadays when one in three children in the United States is either overweight or obese. In order to fight the past few decades’ transition to unhealthy behavior, First Lady Michelle Obama started the Let’s Move Campaign in 2010.
Background on Living Wage
Despite the wide spread agreement that the key to combating poverty is to move people "from welfare to work," many poor households have at least one working family member. These workers earn such low wages, however, that they cannot support themselves and their families.
Background on Climate Change & Energy
Human activities are causing an enormous, dangerous experiment to be conducted around the globe—in fact, to the globe. In the atmosphere, various gases, including water vapor, carbon dioxide and other trace chemicals, act like the glass of a greenhouse and trap heat near the earth’s surface.
Excecutive Order Regarding White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Strikes Right Balance, Leaves Unresolved Issues
Rabbi Saperstein: "The executive order is a vital step toward strengthening the constitutional foundation of the rules that must be followed by religious and community organizations providing vital social services with government support."
Background on School Prayer
Organized school prayer continues to be one of the most controversial issues in the U.S. today. Many people see organized prayer in schools as a necessary part of the struggle to curtail violence, drug abuse, and other social ills that plague our nation in general and schools in particular.
Position of the Reform Movement on Smoking
Judaism's value of life and health make smoking a habit to avoid. Maimonides' Mishneh Torahcontains a list of activities to be avoided for health reasons ( Deot,Ch. 4).
Reform Movement Decries Vandalism Aimed At Women of the Wall
Rabbi Saperstein and Rabbi Feldman: "The overt threats implied by the vandalism inside the hallway of the apartment building of a leader of Women of the Wall serve to remind us of the utmost importance of the Women of the Wall's efforts to advance religious plural
Background on Hate Crimes
Over the past several years, we have witnessed a rash of violent hate crimes across America. The litany of names has become familiar. Along with the brutal, hate-motivated murders of James Byrd Jr.
Background on Housing
On any given night, there are 610,000 people experiencing homelessness, with around 4 million people experiencing homelessness over the course of a year. While our economy is still recovering from the recession, homelessness is again on the rise in 23 states.