Recent resolutions of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly
Robert
now available on line.
Resolution on Aliyah and Strengthening Our Presence in Israel
Resolution on Behalf of Missing Israeli Soldiers
Resolution on Conversions and Pluralism in Israel
Resolution on Election Reform
Resolution on Energy and the Environment
Resolution on International Criminal Court
Resolution on Jerusalem and the Temple Mount
Resolution on Resumption of Peace Negotiations Between Israelis and
Palestineans
Resolution on Support for Denominational Education in Ontario
Resolution on Support for Mercaz Olami Electoral Campaigns
Resolution in Support of the International Year of the Volunteer
Resolution on United Nations Commission on Human Rights
http://www.rabassembly.org/info/index.html
Shalom,
Robert Kaiser
Joseph Hertzlinger
>Recent resolutions of the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly
>are now available on line.
>Resolution on Energy and the Environment
From the Resolution:
|WHEREAS the gifts of God's creation are to be conserved over time for
|God's children and by depleting energy sources, and causing global
|warming, fouling the air with pollution, and poisoning the land with
|radioactive waste, we diminish our children's and grandchildren's
|health and well-being.
How are we "poisoning the land with radioactive waste"?
Is radioactive waste that harmful? I'm beginning to wonder if we have
fallen victim to OPEC disinformation.
|THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly support the
|development of a comprehensive national energy policy that increases
|United States energy independence by reducing dependence upon fossil
|fuels, particularly oil from the Middle East, through energy
|efficiency and the development of environmentally clean, affordable
|alternative energy sources and technologies. This should include
|significant increases in vehicle fuel economy standards, research and
|development of energy efficient automobiles and the building and
|increased use of energy efficient mass transit; and
How about: "BE IT RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly will not make
recommendations in fields we know nothing about"?
For one thing, the best way to reduce "dependence" on fossil fuels
(nuclear energy) is blocked by same regulators they want to give more
power.
|BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly support an energy
|policy that does not seek to increase energy independence by drilling
|for oil or gas in environmentally sensitive areas, particularly those
|that are unique natural areas or critical habitats for threatened
|species; and
This is certainly not "good for the Jews."
Are you sure OPEC didn't have a hand in this?
Henry Goodman
"Joseph Hertzlinger" <jher...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:9jqq9m$9io$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net...
> On 26 Jul 2001 17:16:01 GMT, Robert <rkai...@email.msn.com> wrote:
>
> >Recent resolutions of the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly
> >are now available on line.
>
> >Resolution on Energy and the Environment
>
> From the Resolution:
>
> |WHEREAS the gifts of God's creation are to be conserved over time for
> |God's children and by depleting energy sources, and causing global
> |warming, fouling the air with pollution, and poisoning the land with
> |radioactive waste, we diminish our children's and grandchildren's
> |health and well-being.
>
> How are we "poisoning the land with radioactive waste"?
>
> Is radioactive waste that harmful? I'm beginning to wonder if we have
> fallen victim to OPEC disinformation.
>
> |THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly support the
> |development of a comprehensive national energy policy that increases
> |United States energy independence by reducing dependence upon fossil
> |fuels, particularly oil from the Middle East, through energy
> |efficiency and the development of environmentally clean, affordable
> |alternative energy sources and technologies. This should include
> |significant increases in vehicle fuel economy standards, research and
> |development of energy efficient automobiles and the building and
> |increased use of energy efficient mass transit; and
>
> How about: "BE IT RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly will not make
> recommendations in fields we know nothing about"?
>
How about if they repealed they strange permission to drive on Shabbat. That
would save fossil fuels.
--
Henry Goodman
henry....@virgin.net
GAN EDEN WINES
Joe, I couldn't agree more. Just like certain west coast cities'
(Berkeley's, in particular, but a lot of others) city councils making
resolutions concerning US foreign policy, while they have no hope to truly
have any influence on US Foreign policy. Except that you're correct that
sometimes these people resolve two or more different, mutually exclusive
things (your example of no nuke, more energy, less dependence on fossil
fuels). Well meaning people do not always (should that be rarely?) work
these things out logically prior to commenting on things about which they
know little or nothing. Greenpeace's new campaign against genetically
engineered food, for instance. Society generally mandates that we feed the
hungry, with less dependence upon potentially toxic pesticides or energy
wasting fertilizers, and when scientists figure out a method of balancing
these priorities, people who know little or nothing about science balk at
it, because someone, somewhere may have an allergy to something. Fools!
Like people never had to deal with allergies before. No peanuts on
airplanes because 0.0000001 % of the population might be allergic to
peanuts? It's been a pet peeve of mine since I was old enough to think.
It's fine for Jewish groups to make resolutions, but for things over which
they have some control. Like resolving that thrice-a-day davening is a
proper thing for the group to work towards, or resolving to have a campaign
to make one's members keep kosher, or any number of other things which may
not even have much, if anything, to do with Judaism (resolving, for example,
to try to make community service a requirement of bar/bas mitzvah within
affiliates to that organization-- something for which I do not agree, but it
is in the realm of things which a group could actually have some influence
within the organization).
Sometimes, people get drunk with their own sense of importance. Please note
that it almost always seems to happen to well meaning people who wish to
make a difference in the world. They don't realize that if they fixed the
problems which they could actually do something about, the world would be
better.
Craig Winchell
GAN EDEN Wines
"Joseph Hertzlinger" <jher...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:9jqq9m$9io$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net...
Thomas Crescenzi
definite political bias. I wonder if the RA grants observer status to the
Democratic Party. And of course they want to reduce dependence on oil,
"especially from the Middle East". They don't want to be financing the
Arabs. The RA unfortunately has a habit of believing that the whole body of
the Conservative movement is made up of liberals and Zionists. Instead of
alienating the small percentage of the movement who are not, they should
simply stay out of politics altogether.
Yitzchak Moran
>
> On 26 Jul 2001 17:16:01 GMT, Robert <rkai...@email.msn.com> wrote:
>
> >Recent resolutions of the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly
> >are now available on line.
>
> >Resolution on Energy and the Environment
>
> From the Resolution:
>
> |WHEREAS the gifts of God's creation are to be conserved over time for
> |God's children and by depleting energy sources, and causing global
> |warming, fouling the air with pollution, and poisoning the land with
> |radioactive waste, we diminish our children's and grandchildren's
> |health and well-being.
>
> How are we "poisoning the land with radioactive waste"?
>
> Is radioactive waste that harmful? I'm beginning to wonder if we have
> fallen victim to OPEC disinformation.
Yes and no. Some of the byproducts of nuclear power generation are
incredibly toxic and harmful, as well as some of the other, non-radioactive
by-products (e.g., many nuclear power plants are built near water sources,
to use the water for cooling and steam generation; frequently plants
dump the water back into the water source down-stream. This water is
frequently hotter than the local ecosystem can withstand. Additionally,
if the plant uses additives to the water to increase its cooling
efficiency, these additives can end up in the environment as well.
While this problem has gotten better since the seventies, it does
still exist.).
The radioactive by-products are immensely toxic, of course. In addition,
they usually need to be transported a long way for storage, often by
rail. This also poses problems. Finally, the civilian nuclear power
industry does not have the greatest record for safety, quality, and
reliability with their plants.
So anywho, while I think the RA might better spend it's time on other
issues, I don't think they're totally off the wall here. (And before
anyone asks, no, I'm not against nuclear power at all; my Dad was
the engineer on submarines, for crying out loud.)
--
Yitzchak Moran | "...for what reason was the School of Hillel entitled
Professional Dad | to have the law determined according to their rulings?
from the Home Office | Because they were kindly and humble, and because they
dou...@earthlink.net | studied their own rulings and those of Shammai..."
Herman Rubin
Joseph Hertzlinger <jher...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>On 26 Jul 2001 17:16:01 GMT, Robert <rkai...@email.msn.com> wrote:
>>Recent resolutions of the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly
>>are now available on line.
>>Resolution on Energy and the Environment
>From the Resolution:
>|WHEREAS the gifts of God's creation are to be conserved over time for
>|God's children and by depleting energy sources, and causing global
>|warming, fouling the air with pollution, and poisoning the land with
>|radioactive waste, we diminish our children's and grandchildren's
>|health and well-being.
>How are we "poisoning the land with radioactive waste"?
>Is radioactive waste that harmful? I'm beginning to wonder if we have
>fallen victim to OPEC disinformation.
In my opinion, properly handled, it is as safe as anything.
In France, it is safer than in the US, because they use
reprocessing, which the US does not have to use, and would
even find uneconomical. However, this does a good job
with the worst of radioactive waste.
Even otherwise, it is questionable whether reasonably treated
radioactive waste is more dangerous than living a mile higher,
or flying in airplanes, from a nuclear exposure standpoint.
>|THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly support the
>|development of a comprehensive national energy policy that increases
>|United States energy independence by reducing dependence upon fossil
>|fuels, particularly oil from the Middle East, through energy
>|efficiency and the development of environmentally clean, affordable
>|alternative energy sources and technologies. This should include
>|significant increases in vehicle fuel economy standards, research and
>|development of energy efficient automobiles and the building and
>|increased use of energy efficient mass transit; and
>How about: "BE IT RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly will not make
>recommendations in fields we know nothing about"?
I have the same comments about actions of the CCAR. They
take their social agenda, and treat it like the Orthodox
treat halakhah. Especially American Reform acts like
"they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their
spears into pruning hooks", can be implemented almost now.
On the other hand, Joel reverses these.
>For one thing, the best way to reduce "dependence" on fossil fuels
>(nuclear energy) is blocked by same regulators they want to give more
>power.
Agreed. Nuclear energy, for millions of years, is available
NOW, not in the somewhat distant future.
>|BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly support an energy
>|policy that does not seek to increase energy independence by drilling
>|for oil or gas in environmentally sensitive areas, particularly those
>|that are unique natural areas or critical habitats for threatened
>|species; and
>This is certainly not "good for the Jews."
>Are you sure OPEC didn't have a hand in this?
No, I do not think OPEC had a hand in this. This is a
Western socialist attitude, believing the at least a
near Utopia can and should be reached. They are in
favor of impoverishing the rich in the belief that this
will make all rich.
--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399
hru...@stat.purdue.edu Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558
Joseph Bachman
I don't have any real problem with the general intent of the resolution,
but it seems to be rather irrelevant for rabbis to "resolve" to "support"
some generic political action when they could actually do more specific
things that are actually related to their professional expertise:
1) Provide references to specific sources within the Jewish tradition to
back up their assertion that "the gifts of God's creation are to be
conserved over time."
2) resolve to teach their congregants that living in dispersed,
auto-dependent Jewish "communities" unecessarily wastes valuable
energy reources. This would be a good opportunity to resolve to better
teach the limitations of the so-called Conservative "heter" to drive to
shul on Shabbat and point out that even under that opinion, not driving is
preferred.
3) resolve not to accept jobs (no matter how well-paying) at large
suburban congregations where everyone has to drive all over the place.
4) at the very least, resolve to work with the managements of their
congregations to significantly reduce energy use in their synaggoiue and
school buildings. (This has the advantage of also saving the congregation
money, some of which could be used for a bonus to the rabbi who
spearheaded the energy conservation drive.:-) )
As to nuclear waste, yeah, it's nasty stuff. If it weren't, they would
have had a high-level nuclear waste repository up and running years ago.
Personally, I'm skeptical that you can isolate anything, let alone highly
toxic, corrosive radwaste, from the environment for time periods
corresponding to the half-lives of these wastes.
But, I agree that rabbis should keep out of politics unless they can tie
the issue closely into Jewish sources, and even then, they should think
twice before making resolutions, and resolve to only do stuff that is
within their power.
Joe