WASHINGTON (JTA) — An interdenominational statement called on American Jews "to make Iran a matter of the highest urgency."
The joint statement from nine rabbinic and congregation groups, representing the four Jewish movements, urged the U.S. government to "take the lead in increasing economic and diplomatic pressure on the Iranian regime." It also said that "for too long," the United States has "not "taken action" and "not modeled forceful leadership to the rest of the world."
The statement provides "Eight Actions to Stop a Nuclear Iran," including mobilizing communities, advocating with elected officials, discussing the issue with interfaith partners, and displaying signage at institutions and synagogues urging the prevention of a nuclear Iran.
Signatories include the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, the National Council of Young Israel, the Rabbinical Assembly, the Rabbinical Council of America, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
The effort was coordinated by Rabbi Joel Meyers, the executive vice president emeritus of the Rabbinical Assembly, through the Interagency Taskforce on Iran — led by the Conference of Presidents, United Jewish Communities, Jewish Council for Public Affairs and NCSJ.
