"You Shall Strengthen Them": A Rabbinic Letter on the Poor (1999)

(Published by the Joint Social Action Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism)/p>

WHEREAS, "YOU SHALL STRENGTHEN THEM:" A RABBINIC LETTER ON THE POOR has clarified our tradition's teachings on the responsibilities of organized society toward those less fortunate; and

WHEREAS, that teaching makes clear that the poor are not to be "blamed" or held "guilty" for their situation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism joins the Rabbinical Assembly in adopting the following positions regarding efforts now before the U.S. Congress to include:

The restoration of full food stamp benefits to legal immigrants; and
Support legislation that require the Federal Government to provide transitional safety nets, in particular Food Stamps and Medicaid, to eligible families making the transition from welfare to work; and
Support an expansion of the low income housing tax credit and increased funding for rental assistance vouchers and the production of affordable housing units; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism join with The Rabbinical Assembly to create and disseminate teaching materials to educate our lay people as to the rich and humane teachings of our tradition; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (in conjunction with the Rabbinical Assembly) create programming suggestions for our member congregations to work on the local, state and federal levels to address the needs of the poor consistent with Rabbi Dorff's eloquent exposition in "You Shall Strengthen Them:" A Rabbinic Letter on the Poor.