We Encourage Members of Congress to Attend the Speech by
Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog
July 17, 2023
The Minnesota Rabbinical Association is the largest rabbinic organization representing the Jewish community throughout Minnesota. As a diverse group with different theological and political understandings, we are able to find common ground on issues that speak to the best of who the Jewish people are and aspire to be. In that regard, we are thrilled that a leading voice for Israeli democracy, President Isaac Herzog, has been invited to appear before a Joint Session of Congress. We call on all of our elected members of Congress to honor the right of the Jewish people to self-determination by attending this session of Congress. We are all pained by the attempts of the current coalition to lessen democratic safeguards inside the State of Israel. This anti-democratic trend is infecting healthy democracies across the world, including inside America. However, our belief in the importance of supporting those Israelis fighting to ensure dignity for Jews and Arabs alike inside the State of Israel will be enhanced by President Herzog’s speech before Congress. We ask that those members of Congress who might be tempted to boycott this speech, instead attend and gain greater understanding about the historic aspirations of the Jewish people to return to our foundational homeland.
Signed by the following members of the Minnesota Rabbinical Association:
Rabbi Esther Adler
Rabbi Morris Allen, statement author
Rabbi Norman Cohen
Rabbi Alexander Davis
Rabbi Avram Ettedgui
Rabbi Yosi Gordon
Rabbi Jennifer Hartman
Rabbi Justin Held
Rabbi Hayyim Herring
Rabbi Harold Kravitz
Rabbi Lynn Liberman, MRA co-chair
Rabbi David Locketz
Rabbi Tamar Magill-Grimm, MRA co-chair
Rabbi Tobias Divack Moss
Rabbi Cathy Nemiroff
Rabbi David Steinberg
Rabbi Avi Olitzky
Rabbi Debra Rappaport, MRA co-chair
Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein
Rabbi Rachel Rubeinstein
Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker
Rabbi Sharon Stiefel
Rabbi Aaron Weininger
Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman