REFORM MOVEMENT BACKS IRAQ WITHDRAWAL

the statement that the movement’s leadership wishes to have ratified today at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the URJ’s board of trustees. [ED. IT HAS NOW BEEN RATIFIED].

In case its thirteen pages are a little turgid for you, let me summarize: We were opposed to this from the start, even though you could make a “just war” case for deposing Saddam. In 2005 we said it was time to leave. We are upset about the “surge.” We want President Bush to announce a timetable for withdrawal. And, of course, we must ensure that the cost of the war does not fall only on the poor and future generations.

The URJ, a religious organization, justifies taking this expressly political position, replete with policy suggestions, on rather thin grounds: in a Gallup Poll which the organization cites, 77 percent of the 303 Jews polled agreed that “the war is a mistake.” And what of the significant minority of Jews affiliated with Reform congregations who disagree with these views?

Republican Jewish Coalition leader Adam Cohen argues forcefully that this is an illegitimate use of power by Reform leaders putting politics ahead of religion.

Given that there is no end in sight to the global war on terror, and given that Jews—even peace-loving Reform Jews—are a targeted population in this war, the URJ’s statement sends a message of utter lack of seriousness to both allies and enemies.

In case it’s still unclear why a religious movement believes so fervently that the world awaits its evaluation of the war and of U.S. policy and strategy, the URJ’s website helpfully includes a long essay: “Why Advocacy Is Central to Reform Judaism.” And no, it doesn’t come out and admit, “because politics is more fun than spiritual self-improvement.”