January 14, 2021
Dear President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris: As 267 rabbis and cantors from 34 states and the District of Columbia representing all major Jewish denominations, we write today to congratulate you on your recent election and to urge you to pursue a foreign policy over the course of your administration that puts the human rights and dignity of the most vulnerable at its center. As Jews and faith leaders, our work is built on b’tzelem Elohim: the teaching of our tradition that every human—regardless of country of origin—is created in the divine image.
Over the last four years, the Trump administration dismantled our country’s global leadership on human rights and the rule of law. It undermined the international human rights system at the United Nations, denied the dangers of COVID-19 and climate change, lauded authoritarian regimes and attacked the rights of the most vulnerable people, including women, girls and LGBTQI+ people. As a result, democratic institutions at home and abroad are under assault, nationalist movements are on the rise and rights and protections for marginalized communities are being decimated—with devastating consequences.
As Jews and faith leaders, we stood in opposition to these attacks, as we knew then and we know now that every human is deserving of the same human rights. And as supporters of American Jewish World Service (AJWS)—an organization rooted in Jewish values that supports 519 grantee partners that promote human rights and combat poverty in 18 countries in the Global South—we share a vision for a better and more just world with grassroots human rights activists worldwide.
Today, we stand together in the fight to rededicate the United States to the cause of global human rights. We urge you, as the next President and Vice President, to adopt the following progressive human rights agenda for the country: 1. Reaffirm and recommit the United States to the international human rights system and diplomacy by: l Rejoining and refunding multilateral organizations and agreements, in particular the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Paris Climate Agreement and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). l Rejecting the Trump administration’s attempts to undermine the international human rights system, including through the Commission on Unalienable Rights, its report and the Geneva Consensus, and denouncing the use of narrow definitions of religious freedom that act as a cudgel against the rights of marginalized people. l Rebuilding and reinvigorating the State Department, United States Agency for International Development and National Security Council by appointing qualified and diverse individuals and supporting career servant experts, while bolstering the tools available to this staff to support human rights across all foreign policy.
2. Promote comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people by: l Rescinding the global gag rule (also known as the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy), a draconian policy that has prevented people from accessing health care services, and committing to work with Congress to ensure a permanent legislative repeal.
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_ 1 _ l Encouraging the repeal of the Helms Amendment, which prevents U.S. foreign assistance from supporting women, girls and LGBTQI+ individuals in accessing safe abortion services. l Protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTQI+ people across the globe, including enforcing nondiscrimination in service delivery and directing agencies to include global LGBTQI+ funding in budget lines, and supporting the passage of legislation enshrining LGBTQI+ rights in U.S. foreign policy.
3. Restore U.S. leadership in promoting democracy and justice around the globe by: l Using all diplomatic and economic levers to ensure the rights of minority communities, journalists and human rights defenders within repressive countries are respected, upheld and enjoyed. l Supporting the civil and political rights of all people around the world to protest abusive governments, express their opinions and access information from government on issues of import without fear of reprisal or criminalization. l Supporting credible domestic and international justice efforts for victims of human rights abuses in the wake of conflict or mass atrocities, including in often overlooked countries such as Burma, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua. l Continuing the use of Global Magnitsky Act sanctions against those who commit corruption and human rights abuses and working with Congress for a reauthorization of that authority.
4. Ensure a just and robust U.S. response to international COVID-19 pandemic efforts by: l Calling for the passage of a COVID-19 relief package containing at least $20 billion of international funding to combat the health and human rights impacts of the ongoing pandemic worldwide. l Rejoining the World Health Organization and participating in global efforts to secure and distribute an accessible vaccine for all.
According to our scripture, whoever destroys a life, it is considered as if they destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if they saved an entire world (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). We believe that this practical vision for respecting human rights will save lives – and repair our world.
Ensuring international justice and human rights is an active responsibility, one that we expect your administration to heed as we all seek a return to U.S. moral leadership on the global stage. It is only by ensuring that the United States is at the forefront of a progressive vision of the future for all people that we can build a more just world for the most vulnerable among us.
Sincerely, The undersigned 267 rabbis and cantors Congregations and institutions listed for affiliation purposes only.
Rabbi Stephanie Aaron Cantor Sheri Allen Congregation Chaverim Beth Shalom Tucson, Arizona Ft. Worth, Texas
Cantor Sarah Alexander Rabbi Daniel Alter CJE SeniorLife Temple Beth Emeth Skokie, Illinois Ann Arbor, Michigan
Rabbi Katy Allen Rabbi Renni Altman Ma’yan Tikvah Poughkeepsie, New York Wayland, Massachusetts Continued >>
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_ 2 _ Rabbi Julia Andelman Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor The Jewish Theological Seminary Congregation Shirat HaYam Nantucket New York, New York Brooklyn, New York
Rabbi Ramie Arian Rabbi Deborah Bronstein White Plains, New York Har Hashem Boulder, Colorado Rabbi Melanie Aron Congregation Shir Hadash Rabbi Sharon Brous Los Gatos, California IKAR Los Angeles, California Rabbi George Barnard Cincinnati, Ohio Rabbi Joshua Brumbach Beth Emunah Synagogue Rabbi Benjamin Barnett Agoura Hills, California Havurah Shalom Portland, Oregon Rabbi Yechiel Buchband Valley Stream, New York Rabbi Eliot Baskin Greenwood Village, Colorado Cantor Scott Buckner Israel Congregation of Manchester Cantor Miranda Beckenstein Manchester Center, Vermont Temple Beth Abraham Hartsdale, New York Rabbi Michael Cahana Congregation Beth Israel Rabbi Shelley Kovar Becker Portland, Oregon New York, New York Rabbi Debra Cantor Rabbi Debra Bennet B’nai Tikvoh-Sholom Temple Chaverim Bloomfield, Connecticut Plainview, New York Rabbi Kenneth Carr Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel South Easton, Massachusetts Congregation Emanu El Los Angeles, California Rabbi Jonathan Case Beth Shalom Rabbi Lisa Bock Columbia, South Carolina Westlake Village, California Rabbi Jeffrey Clopper Rabbi Joshua Boettiger Huntington Station, New York Temple Emek Shalom Ashland, Oregon Rabbi Alan Cohen Boynton Beach, Florida Rabbi Deborah Bravo MakomNY Rabbi Barry Cohen Woodbury, New York Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Portland, Oregon Rabbi Philip Bressler Beit Am Rabbi Daniel M. Cohen Corvallis, Oregon Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel South Orange, New Jersey Continued >>
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_ 3 _ Cantor Gerald Cohen Rabbi Barat Ellman Shaarei Tikvah Brooklyn, New York Yonkers, New York Cantor Estelle Epstein Rabbi Mark Cohn Congregation Beth Sholom Temple Emanuel Teaneck, New Jersey Winston-Salem, North Carolina Rabbi Helaine Ettinger Cantor Richard Cohn Millburn, New Jersey New York, New York Rabbi Susan Falk Rabbi Meryl Crean Brooklyn, New York Lansdale, Pennsylvania Cantor Kenneth Feibush Rabbi Eric Cytryn Temple Sholom of West Essex Rabbinical Assembly Cedar Grove, New Jersey Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Cantor Devorah Felder-Levy Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz Congregation Shir Hadash Congregation Emeth Los Gatos, California Morgan Hill, California Rabbi Marla Feldman Rabbi Jo David Women of Reform Judaism New York, New York New York, New York
Rabbi Beth D. Davidson Rabbi Michael Fessler Adath Yeshurun Reconstructing Judaism Manchester, New Hampshire Poughkeepsie, New York
Rabbi Aderet Drucker Rabbi Brian Fink The Den Collective Brooklyn, New York Bethesda, Maryland Rabbi Adam Fisher Rabbi Elizabeth Dunsker Port Jefferson Station, New York Congregation Kol Ami Vancouver, Washington Rabbi Joshua Fixler Congregation Emanu El Rabbi Judith Edelstein, D. Min. BCC Houston, Texas New York, New York Rabbi Nancy Flam Rabbi Laurence Edwards Northampton, Massachusetts Congregation Or Chadash, Emeritus Chicago, Illinois Cantor Claire Franco The American Conference of Cantors Rabbi Jean Eglinton Port Washington, New York Tampa, Florida Rabbi Alan Freedman Rabbi Amy Eilberg Temple Beth Shalom Los Altos, California Austin, Texas
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_ 4 _ Rabbi Dayle Friedman Rabbi Seth Goldstein Growing Older Temple Beth Hatfiloh Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Olympia, Washington
Rabbi Stacy Friedman Rabbi Amy Goodman San Rafael, California Newton, Massachusetts
Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein Rabbi Felipe Goodman Congregation Kneseth Israel Temple Beth Sholom Elgin, Illinois Las Vegas, Nevada
Rabbi Gordon Fuller Rabbi Maralee Gordon Myfamilyrabbi.com Woodstock, Illinois Columbia, Maryland Rabbi Mel Gottlieb Rabbi Roy Furman Los Angeles, California Minyan Lomdim Chicago, Illinois Rabbi Rachel Grant Meyer Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Wendi Geffen Deerfield, Illinois Rabbi Katie Greenberg CSAIR Rabbi David Gelfand Bronx, New York Temple Israel of the City of New York New York, New York Rabbi Amanda Greene Chicago Sinai Congregation Rabbi Laura Geller Chicago, Illinois Temple Emanuel Los Angeles, California Rabbi David Greenstein Montclair, New Jersey Rabbi Gail Glicksman YPC Shari-Eli Rabbi Arthur Gross Schaefer Haverford, Pennsylvania Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount University Rabbi Geoffrey Goldberg Santa Barbara, California Rabbincial Assembly of America Great Neck, New York Rabbi Jennifer Gubitz Boston, Massachusetts Rabbi Elisa Goldberg Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rabbi Eric Gurvis Sha’arei Shalom Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg Sherborn, Massachusetts Malkhut Jackson Heights, New York Rabbi Maurice Harris Reconstructing Judaism Cantor Frances Goldman Glenside, Pennsylvania Richmond, Virginia Cantor Sara Hass Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell Temple Israel Temple Concord Long Beach, California Binghamton, New York Continued >>
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_ 5 _ Rabbi Corey Helfand Rabbi Jan Katzew Foster City, California HUC-JIR Montgomery, Ohio Rabbi Me’irah Iliinsky Community Rabbi Rabbi David Kay San Francisco, California Interfaith Council of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Rabbi Daniel Isaak Congregation Neveh Shalom Cantor Robert Kieval Portland, Oregon Cantors Assembly, Jewish Theological Seminary Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Debbie Israel Congregation Emeth Rabbi Dusty Klass Watsonvilke, California Temple Beth El Charlotte, North Carolina Rabbi Lisa Izes Chavura Beth Chai Rabbi Alexandra Klein Irvington, New York Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel South Orange, New Jersey Rabbi Glenn Jacob New York Interfaith Power and Light Rabbi Lori Klein Mahopac, New York Chadeish Yameinu Capitola, California Rabbi Rachel Joseph Congregation Beth Israel Rabbi Myriam Klotz Portland, Oregon Institute for Jewish Spirituality Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster T’ruah Rabbi Michael Knopf Teaneck, New Jersey Beth El Richmond, Virginia Rabbi David Kaiman Congregation Bnai Israel Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky Poserow Gainesville, Florida Chavurat Tikvah of Westchester Bedford Hills, New York Rabbi Beth Kalisch Beth David Reform Congregation Rabbi Ira Korinow Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Temple Emanu-El Newton Highlands, Massachusetts Rabbi Karen Kaplan Bnai Israel Rabbi Ilyse Kramer Kearny, New Jersey Columbia Jewish Congregation Columbia, Maryland Rabbi Mario Karpuj Sandy Springs, Georgia Rabbi Barry Krieger Greenland, New Hampshire Rabbi David Katz Temple Beth El Rabbi Paul Kurland Williamsburg, Virginia Nanuet Hebrew Center Nanuet, New York Continued >>
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_ 6 _ Rabbi Enid C. Lader Rabbi Janet Liss Beth Israel - The West Temple North Country Reform Temple Cleveland, Ohio Bayville, New York
Rabbi Karen Landy Cantor Leon Lissek Havurat Shalom Congregation Beth Shalom, Teaneck, and Brookline, Massachusetts Congregation B’nai Amoona, St. Louis, Emeritus Teaneck, New Jersey Rabbi Hannah Laner P’nai Or Rabbi Sarah Mack Portland, Oregon Temple Beth El Providence, Rhode Island Rabbi Susan Leider Congregation Kol Shofar Rabbi Dana Magat Tiburon, California Temple Emanu-El San Jose, California Rabbi Michele Lenke holywork.org Rabbi Laurie Matzkin Sherman Oaks, California Campbell, California
Rabbi Darah Lerner Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer Congregation Beth El Religion Outside The Box Bangor, Maine Portland, Oregon
Rabbi Joshua Lesser Rabbi Batsheva Meiri Congregation Bet Haverim Beth Hatephila Atlanta, Georgia Asheville, North Carolina
Rabbi Peter Levi Rabbi Alysa Mendelson-Graf Anti-Defamation League Port Washington, New York Aliso Viejo, California Rabbi Margaret Meyer Rabbi Adina Lewittes Hebrew Union College Sha’ar Cincinnati, Ohio Closter, New Jersey Rabbi Avis Miller Rabbi Valerie Lieber Open Dor Foundation, Inc. Kane Street Synagogue Chevy Chase, Maryland Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Josh Minkin Rabbi Seth Linfield Temple Emanu-El of Canarsie Dorset, Vermont Brooklyn, New York
Cantor David Lipp Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh Louisville, Kentucky Temple Israel of Hollywood Los Angeles, California Rabbi Ellen Lippmann Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Loren Monosov Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey Continued >>
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_ 7 _ Cantor Penny Myers Rabbi Steven Reuben Cantors Assembly Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation Buffalo, New York Pacific Palisades, California
Rabbi Brian Nevins-Goldman Rabbi Philip Rice Voorhees, New Jersey Congregation Micah Franklin, Tennessee Rabbi Sheryl Nosan Central Conference of American Rabbis Rabbi Dorothy Richman El Cajon, California Albany, California
Rabbi Kathy Novick Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks Good Shepherd Hospice The Temple Bay Shore, New York Louisville, Kentucky
Rabbi Hannah Orden Rabbi Carnie Rose Congregation Beth Hatikvah Congregation B’nai Amoona Summit, New Jersey St. Louis, Missouri
Rabbi Jack Paskoff Cantor Dara Rosenblatt Lancaster, Pennsylvania Temple Beth-El Richmond, Virginia Rabbi Salem Pearce Carolina Jews for Justice Rabbi Jade Ross Durham, North Carolina Port Washington, New York
Rabbi Allison Peiser Rabbi Ronald Roth Marblehead, Massachusetts Fair Lawn Jewish Center, Congregation B’nai Israel Fair Lawn, New Jersey Rabbi Hava Pell Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Rabbi Michael Rothbaum Lemoyne, Pennsylvania Congregation Beth Elohim Acton, Massachusetts Rabbi Barbara Penzner Temple Hillel B’nai Torah Rabbi Ruhi Rubenstein West Roxbury, Massachusetts Temple Beth Israel Eugene, Oregon Cantor Alisa Pomerantz-Boro Congregation Beth El Rabbi Halina Rubinstein Voorhees, New Jersey Rosh Pinah Chavurah of the Rivertowns Irvington, New York Rabbi Eve Posen Congregation Neveh Shalom Rabbi Neil Sandler Portland, Oregon Ahavath Achim Synagogue Atlanta, Georgia Rabbi Joshua Ratner Woodbridge, Connecticut Rabbi Simone Schicker Kalamazoo, Michigan Rabbi Esther Reed Highland Park, New Jersey Continued >>
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_ 8 _ Cantor Eric Schulmiller Rabbi Ellie Shemtov The Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore Rutland Jewish center Port Washington, New York Rutland, Vermont
Rabbi Joel Schwab Cantor Linda Shivers Bronx, New York Portland, Oregon
Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz Cantor Harris Shore Willimantic, Connecticut Los Angeles, California
Rabbi Sid Schwarz Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-weiner Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Tikvah Rockville, Maryland Roswell, Georgia
Cantor Lisa Segal Rabbi Suzanne Singer Temple Beth Sholom Riverside, California Miami, Florida Rabbi Dr. Nadia Siritsky Rabbi Ron Segal Temple Bet Yam Temple Sinai St. Augustine, Florida Atlanta, Georgia Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg Cantor Judith Seplowin Beth Shalom of Traverse City Salutation Lake Orion, Michigan Providence, Rhode Island Rabbi Lily Solochek Rabbi Gerald Serotta Adas Yoshuron Synagogue Chevy Chase, Maryland Rockland, Maine
Rabbi Scott Shafrin Rabbi Eric Solomon Kol Rinah Beth Meyer Synagogue St. Louis, Missouri Raleigh, North Carolina
Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet Rabbi Jenny Solomon North Shore Synagogue Beth Meyer Synaogogue Syosset, New York Raleigh, North Carolina
Rabbi Dean Shapiro Rabbi Zev Sonnenstein Temple Emanuel Temple Shalom of Central Florida Tempe, Arizona Oxford, Florida
Cantor Rena Shapiro Rabbi Robin Sparr Beth Samuel Jewish Center Natick, Massachusetts Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro Rabbi Randy Sheinberg University Synagogue Temple Tikvah Pacific Palisades, California New Hyde Park, New York
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_ 9 _ Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker Rabbi David Teutsch Mount Zion Reconstructing Judaism St. Paul, Minnesota Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rabbi Miriam Spitzer Rabbi Gordon Tucker Temple Israel Temple Israel Center, Emeritus Scranton, Pennsylvania White Plains, New York
Rabbi Sonya Starr Rabbi Victor Urecki Columbia Jewish Congregation B’nai Jacob Columbia, Maryland Charleston, West Virginia
Cantor Michael Stein Rabbi David Vaisberg Temple Aliyah Temple B’nai Abraham Woodland Hills, California Maplewood, New Jersey
Rabbi David Steinhardt Rabbi Andrew Vogel Bnai Torah Congregation Temple Siani Boca Raton, Florida Brookline, Massachusetts
Rabbi Keith Stern Rabbi Carrie Vogel Temple Beth Avodah Kehillat Israel Newton, Massachusetts Pacific Palisades, California
Rabbi Kaya Stern-Kaufman Rabbi Pamela Wax New Castle, New Hampshire North Adams, Massachusetts
Rabbi Ariel Stone Rabbi Elyse Wechterman Congregation Shir Tikvah Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Portland, Oregon Wyncote, Pennsylvania
Rabbi Joshua Strom Rabbi Sheila Weinberg Congregation B’nai Yisrael Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Armonk, New York Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rabbi Edward Sukol Rabbi Jennifer Weiner The Shul Springfield, Virginia Pepper Pike, Ohio Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub Rabbi Robert Tabak Brooklyn, New York Elkins Park, Pennsylvania Rabbi Stephen Weisman Rabbi Susan Talve Temple Solel Central Reform Congregation Bowie, Maryland St. Louis, Missouri Rabbi Max Weiss Rabbi Elliott Tepperman Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion Bnai Keshet Oak Park, Illinois Montclair, New Jersey
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_ 10 _ Rabbi Raysh Weiss Rabbi Mel Young Congregation Beth El Portland, Oregon Yardley, Pennsylvania Cantor Natalie Young Rabbi Sarah Weissman Temple Beth El Congregation Beth Am Irvine, California Redwood City, California Rabbi Sara Zacharia Rabbi Lauren Werber New York, New York Temple B’nai Abraham Cleveland, Ohio Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller Temple Chaverim Rabbi Josh Whinston Plainview, New York Temple Beth Emeth Ann Arbor, Michigan Rabbi Lina Zerbarini Kehillath Shalom Synagogue Rabbi David Wirtschafter Huntington Station, New York Temple Adath Israel Lexington, Kentucky Rabbi Sara Zober Reno, Nevada Rabbi Michal Woll Congregation Shir Hadash Rabbi Julie Zupan Milwaukee, Wisconsin Union of Reform Judaism Sharon, Massachusetts
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