2023 -- S 1096

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND PROCLAIMING JUNE 23 TO JUNE 25, 2023, TO BE "DAYS OF

RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEN OF REFORM JUDAISM"

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, Miller, Kallman, Bell, F. Lombardi, Picard, Tikoian,
Lombardo, Gu, and Lauria

     Date Introduced: June 06, 2023

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ) was founded in 1923 as the North American

Federation of Temple Brotherhoods to advance the values of charity and justice, repairing the

world, and performing acts of kindness and compassion; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout its history, MRJ has supported local synagogue brotherhoods to

"engage in projects and activities that provide meaningful services to their congregations; to

sponsor and promote vitally important nationwide community-building projects"; and

     WHEREAS, MRJ has inspired its members to be involved in not only their local Temple,

but also with the food pantry, the Union for Reform Judaism, and those organizations which

promote justice and equal opportunities for all; and

     WHEREAS, MRJ has funded Reform on Campus Grants to support numerous initiatives,

including the expansion of a Jewish library at Hampshire College, a special Shabbat featuring

issues surrounding breast cancer at Ohio State University; and the donation of textbooks to

rabbinical and cantorial students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; and

     WHEREAS, The MRJ recently began a collaboration with the Federation of Jewish

Men's Clubs (FJMC), its counterpart among synagogues that practice Conservative Judaism; and

     WHEREAS, At a joint MRJ/FJMC Convention last year, the presidents of each

movement made a joint statement protesting certain decisions by the Israeli government to

question the legitimacy of non-Orthodox Jews and to renege on the Western Wall agreement,

declaring these decisions a departure from the founding ideals of the State of Israel; and

     WHEREAS, MRJ continues to express its members' values by joining numerous lawsuits

as an Amicus Curiae in court cases in which others espouse antisemitism or try to suppress voter

rights, limit LGBTQIA+ rights or reproductive rights; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims June 23 to

June 25, to be "Days of Recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Men of Reform Judaism",

and recognizes MRJ's past and ongoing contributions and positive impacts upon its individual

members, its local Temples, Temple Beth El of Providence, and the world at large; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Rabbi Preston D. Neimeiser, Temple Beth El.

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