Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Freedom for Ethiopian Jewry

Adopted by the 102nd Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, June, 1991

WHEREAS, concerns of the Beta Yisrael have been uppermost on our minds during the period of crisis and war in Ethiopia, and

WHEREAS, Rabbis David Ibn abu Zimri, Esriel Hildesheimer, Ovadia Yosef, and

Solomon B. Freehof have all fully declared Jews from Ethiopia to be benei berit , and

WHEREAS, Operation Solomon, the stunning, momentous, and dramatic airlift of over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews succeeded brilliantly, preceded by Operations Moses and Sheba, and

WHEREAS, the State of Israel and advocacy groups such as the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry, the American Association for Ethiopian Jews, and the American Rabbinic Network of Ethiopian Jews have worked diligently to fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim , redemption of the captives,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis commend the President of the United States, the State of Israel and its President, Prime Minister and Knesset members, and all involved in the airlift of Ethiopian Jews of May 24-25, for this dramatic act of freedom for our people, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we seek the full integration into the religious, social, cultural, and educational life for these brothers and sisters of our people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the institutions of Reform Judaism in Israel be commended for their efforts at social integration and kelita and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if there are Jews still languishing in Addis Ababa, the Gondar Province, or other locations in Ethiopia, efforts to secure their freedom continue with the support of the world Jewish community.