BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chair Bradley Abelow Vice Chairs Sharon Leslie Eric Sahn Treasurer James Koshland Secretary Carol Yanowitz Miller President and CEO The Honorable Michael R. Pompeo Robert Bank Marion Bergman Secretary of State Jay Cohan U.S. Department of State Monte Dube* 2201 C Street NW Tom Dubin Eileen Epstein Washington, D.C. 20250 Marty Friedman* Elyse Frishman March 26, 2020 Marc Greenwald Michael Hirschhorn Dear Mr. Secretary, Carol Joseph Paul Lehman Howard Mandel As 302 and cantors from across 35 states and the District of Columbia Jill Minneman representing all major Jewish denominations, we write today to express our deep Rabbi Suzanne Offit Bill Resnick concerns about the State Department’s Commission on Unalienable Rights. Bruce E. Rosenblum Touted by you as a body that will explore the principles and foundations of Nathalie Rubens Suzanne Schecter human rights in U.S. foreign policy, the Commission’s work has become a thinly Elizabeth Galatin Seth veiled effort to apply dangerous religious ideology to curtail the human rights of Judith C. Stern people across the globe. As Jews, our tradition teaches us that all human beings Scott Waxman are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the divine image. As a result, we stand in Past Chairs* opposition to any attempt to deny rights to the most vulnerable people, which, as …………………………………….. is now apparent, is the Commission’s true aim. NEW YORK 45 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018 As clergy, we denounce efforts to propose that there is a crisis or a “proliferation” T 212.792.2900 of human rights today. To be clear, this is not the case. Rather, human rights movements around the world – including those for women, girls, and the lesbian, 4700 N. Ravenswood Avenue gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community – benefit all Suite B people. We stand in support of their resounding calls for justice. We know from Chicago, IL 60640 T 312.579.3630 our own history that vulnerable people face stigma, violence, and discrimination simply because of their very identities. Our scriptures teach that we must love our LOS ANGELES 1 10495 Santa Monica Blvd. neighbors as we love ourselves – that we must stand up to injustice everywhere. Suite 110 Los Angeles, CA 90025 The divine is served only when all people have the opportunity to exercise their T 310.834.9588 rights and live a life of dignity. SAN FRANCISCO Unfortunately, the public views and records of individual Commissioners, and the 131 Steuart Street Suite 200 open meetings of the Commission itself, reject this divine mandate by asserting San Francisco, CA 94105 that there is a hierarchy of rights, with purported freedom of religion and T 415.593.3280 conscience at the top. As religious leaders, we firmly oppose this distinction. We WASHINGTON, D.C. object when supposed religious values are used to promote hate and 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 1200 Washington, D.C. 20036 1 Leviticus 19:18, Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 54b T 202.379.4300 [email protected] www.ajws.org discrimination against those in vulnerable communities, including denying access to reproductive rights and criminalizing people because of who they are or whom they love. As 302 Jewish leaders from across this nation, we call on you, Mr. Secretary, to immediately disband the Commission on Unalienable Rights. We urge the State Department to uphold and promote the dignity of vulnerable people around the world. We further demand that the Department cease undermining the ability of women, girls, and LGBTQI people to access their sexual and reproductive health and rights, including abortion services, through this Commission or any other avenue. As faith leaders, we denounce the Commission’s efforts to allow hate and discrimination to masquerade as moral and religious beliefs. Rather, it is our moral obligation to uphold human rights and speak out against injustice and oppression.

Sincerely,

The undersigned 302 Rabbis and Cantors Organizations listed for affiliation purposes only

Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder Rabbi Matia Angelou Atlanta, Georgia B'nai Or of Boston Boston, Massachusetts Rabbi Rachel Ackerman Temple Shalom Rabbi Melanie Aron Washington, District of Columbia Los Gatos, California

Rabbi Ruthie Adar Rabbi Guy Austrian San Leandro, California New York, New York

Rabbi David Adelson Cantor Elise Barber Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Springfield, Massachusetts Brooklyn, New York Rabbi George Barnard Rabbi Rachel Adler Cincinnati, Ohio Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Rabbi David Basior Los Angeles, California Kadima Reconstructionist Community Seattle, Washington Rabbi Sara Adler Ann Arbor, Rabbi Eliot Baskin Temple Emanuel Rabbi Daniel Alexander Denver, Colorado Congregation Beth Israel Charlottesville, Virginia Rabbi RBO Bat-Or Los Angeles, California Rabbi Mona Alfi Congregation B’nai Israel Rabbi David Dunn Bauer Sacramento, California Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Rabbi Katy Allen Cantor Chanin Becker Ma'yan Tikvah Tarrytown, New York Wayland, Massachusetts Cantor Marilyn Becker Cantor Sheri Allen Life Cycle Outreach Fort Worth, Texas Newton Centre, Massachusetts

Cantor Irena Altshul Rabbi Shelley Kovar Becker Temple Israel of the City of NY New York, New York New York, New York Rabbi Martin Beifield Rabbi Camille Shira Angel Richmond, Virginia University of San Francisco San Francisco, California Rabbi Alfred Benjamin Milton, Massachusetts

Rabbi Allen Bennett Rabbi Erin Boxt San Francisco, California Temple Beth El Knoxville, Tennessee Rabbi Marc Berkson Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun Rabbi Deborah Bravo River Hills, Wisconsin MakomNY Woodbury, New York Cantor Julie Berlin Temple Beth-El Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor San Antonio, Texas Congregation Shirat HaYam of Nantucket Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Joel Berman Temple Beth Emet Cantor Vera Broekhuysen Anaheim, California Temple Emanu-El Haverhill, Massachusetts Rabbi Marjorie Berman Temple Israel of Lehighton Rabbi Deborah Bronstein Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania Har HaShem Boulder, Colorado Rabbi Phyllis Berman Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Cantor Shoshana Brown Temple Beth El Rabbi Binyamin Biber Fall River, Massachusetts Humanist Chaplaincy at American University - Washington, DC Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik Silver Spring, Maryland Los Angeles, California

Rabbi Barry Block Cantor Scott Buckner Congregation B'nai Israel Israel Congregation of Manchester Little Rock, Arkansas Manchester Center, Vermont

Rabbi Rena Blumenthal Rabbi Daniel Burg New Paltz, New York Beth Am Synagogue Baltimore, Maryland Rabbi Lisa Bock Westlake Village, California Rabbi Melissa Buyer-Witman Temple Israel of the City of New York Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav New York, New York Multifaith Leadership Forum Denver, Colorado Rabbi Meredith Cahn Petaluma, California Rabbi Jill Borodin Congregation Beth Shalom Rabbi Debra Cantor Seattle, Washington B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom Bloomfield, Connecticut Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz Atlanta, Georgia

Rabbi Nina Cardin Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis Baltimore, Maryland Flower Mound, Texas

Rabbi Emeritus Steven Chester Rabbi Barry Diamond Temple Sinai Temple Adat Elohim Oakland, California Thousand Oaks, California

Rabbi Amy Cohen Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus Temple Beth Shalom Shir Tikvah Austin, Texas Homewood, Illinois

Rabbi Michael Tevya Cohen Rabbi Aderet Drucker Dallas, Texas The Den Collective Bethesda, Maryland Rabbi Hillel Cohn San Bernadino, California Rabbi Matthew Durbin Temple Beit HaYam Rabbi Karen Companez Palm City, Florida South Bend, Indiana Rabbi David Eber Rabbi David J. Cooper Jewish Reconstructionist Congegregation Kehilla Community Synagogue Evanston, Illinois Berkeley, California Rabbi Judith Edelstein Rabbi Mychal Copeland New York, New York Sha'ar Zahav San Francisco, California Rabbi Amy Eilberg Los Altos, California Rabbi Heidi Coretz Shir Tikvah Rabbi Emeritus Stephen J. Einstein Frisco, Texas Congregation B’nai Tzedek Fountain Valley, California Cantor Don Croll Beth El Binah Rabbi Diane Elliot Dallas, Texas Wholly Present El Sobrante, California Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz B'nai Abraham Rabbi Barat Ellman Livingston, New Jersey Brooklyn, New York

Rabbi Benjamin David Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell Adath Emanu-El Congregation Rodeph Shalom Mount Laurel, New Jersey Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rabbi Joshua Davidson Rabbi David Englander New York, New York Boca Raton, Florida

Rabbi Lewis Eron Rabbi Adam Fisher Cherry Hill, New Jersey Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Isaiah, Stony Brook, NY Rabbi Rachel Esserman Port Jefferson Station, New York Endwell, New York Rabbi Nancy Flam Rabbi Richard Ettelson Northampton, Massachusetts Murrieta, California Rabbi Karen Fox Rabbi Andrew Ettin Wilshire Boulevard Temple Temple Israel Los Angeles, California Salisbury, North Carolina Rabbi Scott Fox Rabbi Andrew Feig Indianapolis, Indiana Los Angeles, California Rabbi Allen I. Freehling Rabbi Michael Feinberg New Orleans, Louisiana Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition New York, New York Rabbi John Friedman Judea Reform Congregation Rabbi Samuel Feinsmith Durham, North Carolina Evanston, Illinois Rabbi Lev Friedman Rabbi Marla Feldman Azamra Minyan and Clergy team, Mishkan Women of Tefila, Brookline, MA New York, New York Waban, Massachusetts

Rabbi Avi Fine Rabbi Elyse Frishman Temple De Hirsch Sinai The Barnert Temple Bellevue, Washington Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

Rabbi Jeremy Fineberg Rabbi Pam Frydman Closter, New Jersey Congregation B'nai Emunah San Francisco, California Rabbi Steven Fineblum Temple Sinai of Cinnaminson Rabbi Gordon Fuller Cinnaminson, New Jersey Columbia, Maryland

Rabbi Brian Fink Rabbi Capers Funnye Marlene Meyerson Jewish Community Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Center Manhattan Congregation New York, New York Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi Aaron Gaber Congregation Brothers of Israel Newtown, Pennsylvania

Rabbi Wendi Geffen Rabbi Marvin Goodman Chicago, Illinois Foster City, California

Rabbi David Gelfand Rabbi Sara Goodman Temple Israel of the City of New York Santa Monica, California New York, New York Rabbi Mel Gottlieb Rabbi Laura Geller Los Angeles, California Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills Los Angeles, California Rabbi Andrea Gouze Temple Beth Emunah Rabbi Kim Geringer Providence, Rhode Island Short Hills, New Jersey Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann Rabbi Jordie Gerson SAJ-Judaism that Stands for All Greenwich Reform Synagogue New York, New York Riverside, Connecticut Rabbi Laurie Green Rabbi Carol Glass Kehila Chadasha Newton, Massachusetts Washington, District of Columbia

Rabbi Miriyam Glazer Rabbi C. Michelle Greenberg Ikar Falls Church, Virginia Los Angeles, California Rabbi Suzanne Griffel Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg Chicago, Illinois Malkhut Jackson Heights, New York Rabbi Nadya Gross Pardes Levavot Rabbi Megan GoldMarche Boulder, Colorado Silverstein Base Hillel Chicago, Illinois Rabbi Rachel Gross-Prinz New York, New York Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith Or Hadash Rabbi Eric Gurvis Broomfield, Colorado Sha'arei Shalom Sherborn, Massachusetts Rabbi Lizz Goldstein Congregation Ner Shalom Rabbi Debra Hachen Woodbridge, Virginia Walnut Creek, California

Rabbi Rafael Goldstein Rabbi Richard Hammerman Miami, Florida Congregation Bnai Israel Caldwell, New Jersey Cantor Lauren Goodlev Beth David Reform Congregation Rabbi Laura Harari Wynnewood, Pennsylvania Laguna Woods, California

Rabbi Maurice Harris Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill Glenside, Pennsylvania Tidewater Chavurah Virginia Beach, Virginia Rabbi Michael Harvey Temple Israel Rabbi Raachel Jurovics Battle Ground, Indiana Yavneh: A Jewish Renewal Community Raleigh, North Carolina Cantor Sara Hass Temple Israel Rabbi Bruce Kadden Long Beach, California Temple Beth El Tacoma, Washington Rabbi Jill Hausman Actors Temple, Cong. Ezrath Israel Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster New York, New York T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Teaneck, New Jersey Rabbi Corey Helfand Peninsula Sinai Congregation Rabbi Beth Kalisch Foster City, California Beth David Reform Congregation Gladwyne, Pennsylvania Rabbi Lauren Henderson Mishkan Chicago Rabbi Raphael Kanter Chicago, Illinois Tifereth Israel Congregation New Bedford, Massachusetts Rabbi Alan Henkin Beth Knesset Bamidbar Rabbi Shalom Kantor Lancaster, California West Bloomfield, Michigan

Rabbi Floyd Herman Rabbi Karen Kaplan Har Sinai Oheb Shalom Congregation Bnei Israel Baltimore, Maryland Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Rabbi Rachel Hertzman Rabbi Juliana Karol Montclair, New Jersey Congregation Rodeph Sholom New York, New York Rabbi Cynthia Hoffman Davis, California Rabbi Molly Karp New City, New York Rabbi Daniel Horwitz Beth Yeshurun Rabbi Nancy Kasten Houston, Texas Faith Commons Dallas, Texas Rabbi Jocee Hudson Temple Israel of Hollywood Rabbi Alan Katz Los Angeles, California Temple Sinai Rochester, New York Rabbi Alan Iser Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Rabbi Aurora Katz Cantor Marcia Lane Chevrei Tzedek Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Baltimore, Maryland Riverdale and Greenburgh Hebrew Center Bronx, New York Rabbi Rena Kieval Ohav Shalom Rabbi Michael Adam Latz Albany, New York Shir Tikvah Minneapolis, Minnesota Cantor Lisa Kipen-Hershenson Brookline, Massachusetts Rabbi David Lazar Or Hamidbar Rabbi Paul Kipnes Palm Springs, California Congregation Or Ami Tarzana, California Rabbi James Lebeau Lowell, Massachusetts Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman St. Paul, Minnesota Rabbi Darah Lerner Bangor, Maine Rabbi Jessica Kirschner San Carlos, California Rabbi Joshua Lesser Bet Haverim Rabbi David Klatzker Atlanta, Georgia Long Beach, California Rabbi Sarra Lev Rabbi Jason Klein Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Temple Israel Minneapolis, Minnesota Rabbi Daniel Levin Temple Beth El Rabbi Michael Knopf Boca Raton, Florida Temple Beth-El Richmond, Virginia Rabbi Moshe Levin Congregation Ner Tamid Rabbi Michael Kramer San Francisco, California Hockessin, Delaware Rabbi Adina Lewittes Rabbi Alex Kress Sha'ar Communities Los Angeles, California Closter, New Jersey

Rabbi Barry Krieger Rabbi Mordechai Liebling Greenland, New Hampshire Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rabbi Enid Lader Beth Israel - The West Temple Rabbi Seth Limmer Cleveland, Ohio Chicago Sinai Congregation Chicago, Illinois

Cantor Nancy Linder Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh Temple Beth David Temple Israel of Hollywood Westminster, California Los Angeles, California

Rabbi Emerita Ellen Lippmann Rabbi Jack Moline Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives Alexandria, Virginia Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Lee Moore Rabbi Sarah Mack Brattleboro Area Jewish Community Temple Beth-El Brattleboro, Vermont Providence, Rhode Island Cantor Baruch Morris Rabbi Sanford Marcus P’nai Or of Portland Columbia, South Carolina Portland, Oregon

Rabbi Janet Marder Rabbi Len Muroff Congregation Beth Am Los Angeles, California Los Altos Hills, California Rabbi Steven Nathan Cantor Michael McCloskey Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Temple Emeth Chesnut Hill, Massachusetts Rabbi Elana Nemitoff-Bresler Temple Israel Rabbi Michele Medwin Westport, Connecticut Monticello, New York Rabbi MJ Newman Rabbi Michael Mellen Stamford, Connecticut New York, New York Rabbi Kelly Onslow Rabbi Joseph Meszler Greenville, North Carolina Temple Sinai Sharon, Massachusetts Rabbi Saul Oresky Greenbelt, Maryland Rabbi Abby Michaleski Beth Israel Congregation Rabbi Salem Pearce Sicklerville, New Jersey New York, New York

Rabbi Brian Michelson Rabbi Barbara Penzner Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom Temple Hillel B'nai Torah Reading, Pennsylvania Boston, Massachusetts

Rabbi Joshua Minkin Rabbi Stacy Petersohn Temple Emanu-El of Canarsie Fremont, California Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Louis Polisson Wayland, Massachusetts

Rabbi Eve Posen Rabbi Neil Sandler Congregation Neveh Shalom Ahavath Achim Synagogue Portland, Oregon Atlanta, Georgia

Rabbi Sally J. Priesand Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb Ocean Township, New Jersey Adat Shalom Bethesda, Maryland Cantor Colman Reaboi Ahavas Achim Cantor Robert Scherr Westfield, Massachusetts Temple Israel of Natick Natick, Massachusetts Rabbi Esther Reed Highland Park, New Jersey Rabbi Simone Schicker Temple B'nai Israel Rabbi Victor Reinstein Kalamazoo, Michigan Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts Rabbi Chaim Schneider Rabbi Philip Rice Aptos, California Congregation Micah Brentwood, Tennessee Rabbi Elchanan 'Sunny' Schnitzer Bethesda Jewish Congregation Rabbi Debra Robbins Bethesda, Maryland Temple Emanu-El Dallas, Texas Rabbi Joel Schwab Bronx, New York Cantor Kathy Robbins Elijah Minyan Rabbi Judith Seid Carlsbad, California Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Pleasanton, California Cantor Annie Rose Ann Arbor, Michigan Rabbi Gerald Serotta Chevy Chase, Maryland Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein Shomrei Torah Rabbi Scott Shafrin Santa Rosa, California Kol Rinah St. Louis, Missouri Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Ahavath Achim Synagogue Rabbi Dean Shapiro Atlanta, Georgia Temple Emanuel of Tempe Tempe, Arizona Rabbi John Rosove Temple Israel of Hollywood Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin Los Angeles, California Wood River Jewish Community Ketchum, Idaho Rabbi Ruhi Rubenstein Temple Beth Israel Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky Eugene, Oregon East Setauket, New York

Rabbi David Siff Rabbi Marc Soloway Kol HaLev Congregation Bonai Shalom Boynton Beach, Florida Boulder, Colorado

Rabbi Becky Silverstein Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts Mount Zion Temple St. Paul, Minnesota Rabbi Michael Singer Brith Sholom Rabbi Jonathan Spira-Savett Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Temple Beth Abraham Nashua, New Hampshire Rabbi Suzanne Singer Temple Beth El Rabbi Benjamin Spratt Riverside, California Congregation Rodeph Sholom New York, New York Rabbi Chaim Singer-Frankes Los Angeles, California Rabbi Peter Stein Temple B'rith Kodesh Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman Rochester, New York Larchmont Temple Larchmont, New York Rabbi David E. S. Stein Culver City, California Rabbi Jonathan Slater Hastings-on-Hudson, New York Rabbi Naomi Steinberg Temple Beth El Rabbi Lynn Brody Slome Eureka, California Wilshire Boulevard Temple Los Angeles, California Rabbi Gil Steinlauf Kol Shalom Rabbi Dr. Amy Small Rockville, Maryland Ohavi Zedek Synagogue Burlington, Vermont Rabbi Kaya Stern-Kaufman Housatonic, Massachusetts Rabbi Lily Solochek Adas Yoshuron Synagogue Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman Rockland, Maine Shaare Emeth St. Louis, Missouri Rabbi Eric Solomon Beth Meyer Synagogue Rabbi James Stoloff Raleigh, North Carolina Temple Avodat Shalom Ridgewood, New Jersey Cantor Emeritus Robbie Solomon Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Rabbi Joshua Strom Hull, Massachusetts Congregation B'nai Yisrael Armonk, New York

Rabbi Robert Tabak Rabbi Burton Visotzky Melrose Park, Pennsylvania New York, New York

Rabbi Susan Talve Cantor Risa Wallach Central Reform Temple Beth El St. Louis, Missouri Union City, New Jersey

Rabbi Dov Taylor Rabbi Andrew Warmflash Chavurat Ki-tov Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre Woodstock, Vermont (HERJC) Hewlett, New York Rabbi Susan Tendler B'nai Zion Rabbi Pamela Wax Chattanooga, Tennessee White Plains, New York

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman Rabbi Elyse Wechterman Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Montclair, New Jersey Abington, Pennsylvania

Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp Rabbi Cheryl Weiner Temple Sholom Hollywood, Florida Cincinnati, Ohio Rabbi Nathan Weiner Rabbi David Teutsch Congregation Beth Tikvah Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Marlton, New Jersey Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rabbi Samuel Weintraub Rabbi Barbara Thiede Brooklyn, New York Temple Or Olam Concord, North Carolina Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub Brooklyn, New York Rabbi Michael Torop Temple Beth-El Rabbi Jeremy Weisblatt St. Petersburg, Florida Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cantor Rosalie Toubes Cantor Stephanie Weishaar Andover, Massachusetts Clarksburg, Maryland

Rabbi Gordon Tucker Rabbi Stephen Weisman Temple Israel Center Temple Solel White Plains, New York Bowie, Maryland

Rabbi Victor Urecki Rabbi Sarah Weissman B'nai Jacob Synagogue Redwood City, California Charleston, West Virginia Rabbi David Weizman Congregation Beth Shalom Clearwater, Florida

Rabbi Melissa Wenig Kol Ha Neshama Sarasota, Florida

Rabbi Josh Whinston Temple Beth Emeth Ann Arbor, Michigan

Rabbi David Wirtschafter Temple Adath Israel Lexington, Kentucky

Rabbi Joseph Wolf Havurah Shalom Portland, Oregon

Rabbi Michal Woll Congregation Shir Hadash Shorewood, Wisconsin

Rabbi Daniel Wolpe Flushing Fresh Meadows Jewish Congregation Fresh Meadows, New York

Rabbi Marina Yergin Temple Beth-El San Antonio, Texas

Rabbi Sara Zacharia New York, New York

Rabbi Lina Zerbarini Kehillath Shalom Synagogue Cold Spring Harbor, New York

Rabbi Ilana Zietman Washington, District of Columbia

Rabbi Michael Zimmerman

Kehillat Israel

Lansing, Michigan

Rabbi David Zucker

Aurora, Colorado