SEPTEMBER 6, 2022, WASHINGTON - On behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Keshet, and 108 additional Jewish organizations, the following letter was shared in support of the Respect for Marriage Act (S. 4556):
Dear Senator,
On behalf of the 110 undersigned national, state, and local Jewish organizations, we write to express our support for the Respect for Marriage Act (S.4556). Driven by our Jewish values, we are committed to supporting laws that protect the civil rights and individual liberties of all people. The Respect for Marriage Act would codify three landmark Supreme Court cases, Obergefell v. Hodges; Windsor v. United States; and Loving v. Virginia, and therefore the basic rights of same-sex and interracial marriage. We urge Congress to swiftly pass this important bill.
Jewish tradition teaches that all people are created b'tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image, and are worthy of dignity and respect. As organizations grounded in Jewish values and beliefs, we have an ethical and moral responsibility to fight for a society that ensures the humanity of all people. Every person is entitled to marry who they love - regardless of sexual orientation or race.
Indeed, support for same-sex marriage protections extends across the faith community, and throughout the country. A majority of all faith groups - including 77 percent of Jews, 57 percent of mainline Protestants, and 57 percent of Catholics support same sex marriage. This view is shared by seven in ten Americans - including 83 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of independents, and 55 percent of Republicans.
Additionally, the Respect for Marriage Act would ensure that all federal benefits are available to married couples regardless of the state in which they live. Congress has a responsibility to pursue economic equity for all, regardless of geographical location, and include historically marginalized groups in this pursuit.
The right to marry who one loves is a matter of human dignity. Our faith teaches us that kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, we are all responsible for each other, and therefore must take action to create a community for which we all can take pride.
As Jewish organizations, we believe firmly that all people deserve the right to marry who they love, regardless of sexual orientation or race. We urge Congress to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.
Sincerely,
Union for Reform Judaism
Keshet
ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
ADL Austin Region
ADL Florida
ADL New England
ADL New York/New Jersey
ADL San Diego
ADL Southeast
ADL Southwest
ADL Texoma
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Ameinu
American Conference of Cantors
American Jewish World Service
Avodah
Aytzim
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Beth Chayim Chadashim
B’nai B’rith Connect
California Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-CA)
Carolina Jews for Justice
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Coastal Roots Farm
Columbia Jewish Congregation
Congregation Agudas Achim, Austin Texas
Congregation Har HaShem, Boulder, CO
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Congregation Sha'ar Zahav
Florida Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-FL)
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America
Havurat Shalom, Andover MA
IKAR
Illinois Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-IL)
J Street
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Jewish Community Action
Jewish Community Center of Asheville
Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund
Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Jewish Community Relations Council of Broward County
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin. Sonoma, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Jewish Emergent Network
Jewish Family Service Houston
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans
Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Network, LLC (JTEEN)
Jewish Women International
Jewish Youth Climate Movement
Jews for a Secular Democracy
Jews United for Justice (JUFJ)
Jewtina y Co.
JQY (Jewish Queer Youth)
JYCA (Jewish Youth for Community Action)
Kane Street Synagogue
Lab/Shul
Makom Shelanu
Malkhut: progressive Jewish spirituality in Queens
Massachusetts Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-MA)
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Men of Reform Judaism
Milwaukee Jewish Federation
Mishkan Chicago
Moving Traditions
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women New York
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
New Israel Fund
New Jersey Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-NJ)
New York Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-NY)
Ohio Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-OH)
Peninsula Jewish Community Center
Pennsylvania Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-PA)
Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Romemu
SAJ-Judaism that Stands for All
Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School
Shalom Austin
Sixth Circle Consulting
Society for Humanistic Judaism
St. Paul Jewish Federation
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
TBE
Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael
Temple Beth El (Tacoma)
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton
Temple Emanu-El of Westfield
Temple Kol Emeth
Temple Ohabei Shalom
Temple Shir Tikva
Texas Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-TX)
The Shalom Center
The Temple - Atlanta GA
The Workers Circle
Tivnu: Building Justice
Tribe 12
Tzedek Georgia
USY
Women of Reform Judaism
