Proposal for NFTY Action Theme 2007-2008
Kach et HaKoach – Reclaim the Power of Humanity: NFTY Acts to Confront Irrational Fear and Oppression
Background: In response to disheartening times, Franklin D. Roosevelt said “There is nothing to fear but fear itself,” yet all too often we allow fear to blind our eyes and cloud our judgment. We approach individuals and situations with preconceived biases that result in unwarrantedly lashing out with discrimination against imagined threats. With this Action Theme, NFTY refuses to take anything for granted, instead recognizing and addressing the imperfections of the world and ourselves. We are part of the problem, but we are also its solution.
WHEREAS, in response to perceived threats, our society tends to enter into a state of irrational fear, including fear of the unknown, fear of leaders, and even fear of our fellow citizens, based upon premature assumptions, and;
WHEREAS, pressures exerted by the media, politicians, and society at large affect the way we interact with people, and;
WHEREAS, this discrimination already has its roots in our society and at times has manifested itself violently as in the case of Matthew Shepard, and;
WHEREAS, the Anti-Defamation League claims that the reported 7,163 hate crime incidents in 2005 is “clearly incomplete” and no where near the actual total, and;
WHEREAS, we, as individuals, have been both victims and perpetrators of personal and societal fears, biases, and discriminatory actions, and;
WHEREAS, those fears and biases influence our relationships with others and shape a society of hatred and corruption, and;
WHEREAS, when we look within ourselves to confront our biases and treat all equally and with respect, we affirm the Jewish value of Kibud Habriot, the dignity of all people, and;
WHEREAS, we are commanded to pursue justice and to be a light unto the nations, forcing us to confront issues such as this, and;
WHEREAS, the way to confront the fear and prejudice in the world is to look around and question discrimination and our complicity in it, and;
WHEREAS, as Reform Jews we have a responsibility to act in response to such stimuli in the world to provide greater understanding and compassion and to reject blanket fear and bigotry and love the stranger, as extolled in Ex. 23:9, and;
WHEREAS, one of NFTY’s core values is Hitpatchut: Personal Growth and Ethics and that that value is a prerequisite to approaching NFTY's other values, and;
WHEREAS, Hillel taught “Don’t judge your fellow human until you are in that person's place” and that “in a place where there are no humans, strive to be a person”, and;
WHEREAS, only that by realizing that we, as Reform Jews, are not exempt from the same problems which we seek to remedy can we produce a foundation for tackling injustice in the world, and;
WHEREAS, problems are solved by understanding them and the world is understood by questioning it, therefore;
LET IT BE RESOLVED that the NFTY Action Theme of 2007-2008 be Kach et HaKoach – Reclaim the Power of Humanity: NFTY Acts to Confront Irrational Fear and Oppression, and;
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that NFTY strongly urge its members, all arms of the Reform movement, and the URJ to challenge discrimination and fear on a personal, local, national, and global level through appropriate action and introspection, and;
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that NFTY take action that includes but is not limited to the following: participating in and running programs designed to question the world, take action, and promote advocacy about injustice and our personal involvement; coordinating letter-writing campaigns to officials; organizing projects that address these issues; forming and participating in anti-prejudice groups and rallies; organizing and participating in dialogue designed to mend internal and external inequities; writing petitions; supporting programs dedicated to opening our eyes to ourselves, and;
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that NFTY take further action in response to bigotry and fear by celebrating holidays including Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Aseret Yemei Teshuva; studying all aspects of intolerance; organizing benefits, inviting speakers, running programs, and working alongside organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, and the Jewish Community Relations Council, and;
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that NFTY will educate and encourage action regarding legislation that can be construed to create or contribute to a culture of fear and distrust, and;
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that NFTY encourage its members to appropriately respond to unjust words, proposals, and actions by public authorities and private citizens which result in fear and in the maltreatment of any person or group of people by taking a firm stand in conscious, moral, Jewish opposition and strength to further foster understanding and social justice.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessica Goodman, NFTY-NAR SAVP 5766-5767
Mookie Kideckel, NFTY-NEL SAVP 5766-5767
*David Gross, NFTY-TOR SAVP 5766-5767
Co-signed:
Ivy Cohen, NFTY-NAR President 5766-5767
Adam Farber, NFTY-NAR PVP 5766-5767
Rachel Warzala, NFTY-GER SAVP 5766-5767
Eric Frenkil, NFTY-MAR SAVP 5766-5767
Shalla Yudelevich, NFTY-MV SAVP 5766-5767
Rachel Finn, NFTY-NE SAVP 5766-5767
Laura Lohnes, NFTY-SO SAVP 5766-5767
Benji Michaels, NFTY-TOR RCVP 5766-5767
Lisa Paquette, NFTY-NAR New York City MVP 5766-5767
Edward Goldfarb, NFTY-NAR CVP 5766-5767
Sonia Wilk, NFTY-STR CVP 5766-5767
Shelley Halman, NFTY-MI FVP 5766-5767
