Modern Day Genocides (1995)

WHEREAS, this year we observed the 50th Anniversary of the successful end of World War II - the most dangerous threat to freedom, democracy, and human rights in modern history - closing the chapter on the Holocaust, which destroyed one-third of our people for no other reason than their heritage; and

WHEREAS, we also observe the 50th anniversary of the founding on the United Nations created in large part to prevent such human tragedies; and WHEREAS, we are also observing the 50th anniversary of the convening of the Nuremburg Trials, which established the principal that the crime of genocide was punishable in a court of justice by severe sanctions; and

WHEREAS, we have unfortunately seen evidence in recent years that certain governments and military authorities have practiced genocide on the basis of ethnic and religious groupings; and

WHEREAS, the most current examples of such heinous practices have taken place in Rwanda and under various constituent governments arising from the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the form of "ethnic cleansing" and unspeakable atrocities committed on civilians based primarily on their ethnic and religious orientations;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that THE UNITED SYNGAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM:

1. Condemns such practices from the depth of Jewish tradition, as inherently inhumane and uncivilized and because they desecrate the memory of our own martyred millions; and
2. Calls upon our affiliated congregations and all religious denominations to condemn such crimes; and
3. Calls upon its affiliated congregations to petition our national governments to use all diplomatic channels and efforts through multi-national governments to use all diplomatic channels and efforts through multi-nation security organizations to condemn such practices and have the perpetrators brought to trial before appropriate international tribunals to answer for their crimes.