Social Justice Core Positions

Core Position on Antisemitism

Temple Beth El stands against all forms of antisemitism, including hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against a Jewish individual or the Jewish people as a whole.  Acts of antisemitism are a direct attack against our identity and our right to exist as Jews. We will work towards a future free from discrimination against the Jewish people. 

Inspired by our values

• “All of Israel is responsible one for another” inspires us to confront antisemitism wherever it manifests. 
• “Justice, justice you shall pursue” inspires us to stand up and demand justice for Jews around the world.
• “You must not remain indifferent” inspires us not to turn a blind eye on any vulnerable Jewish community.

Acting on our Jewish Teachings

“And this [promise] is what has stood by our ancestors and us; for it was not only one man who rose up to destroy us: in every single generation people rise up to destroy us.” Passover Haggadah

Antisemitism is both a historical and contemporary concern. We will work not only to combat historical prejudice against Jews, but to defend ourselves in our time against those who would seek to do us harm. 

“Mordecai had this message delivered to Esther: ‘Do not imagine that you, of all the Jews, will escape with your life by being in the king’s palace. On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.’ Esther 4:13-14 

Just as Queen Esther summoned her bravery and recognized her unique opportunity to defend and protect our people, we will use our unique talents and resources in our time to do the same.

“Jews cannot fight antisemitism alone. The victim cannot cure the crime. The hated cannot cure the hate. It would be the greatest mistake for Jews to believe that they can fight it alone. The only people who can successfully combat antisemitism are those active in the cultures that harbour it.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z”l, in Future Tense, pp. 108-109

Combating antisemitism is a communal responsibility. We will work to cultivate meaningful partnerships that serve to benefit and protect our community. 

Partner Organizations

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
• American Jewish Committee (AJC)
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum

Core Position on Immigration

Temple Beth El believes in dignity, honor and humane treatment of all immigrants and refugees, regardless of their origin. As a people, we have wandered the desert in Canaan, were strangers in Egypt, and sought refuge after the Holocaust. We made our way back to Israel, the land of milk and honey, and to America, the land of opportunity. We are compelled to help others just as others helped us along our journey to redemption. 

Inspired by our values

• “You shall love the stranger” inspires us to hold in our hearts the welfare of immigrants.

• “Justice, justice you shall pursue” inspires us to advocate for clear immigration policies that are justly enforced.

• “You must not remain indifferent” inspires us to respond to the mistreatment of the most vulnerable.

Acting on our Jewish Teachings

“You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:20 

“When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them. The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the Eternal am your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34 

These two teachings remind us of our collective historical experience as a people in a foreign land, oppressed by Pharaoh, and our command to meet those foreign in our community with love and humanity. 

“Rav Huna the son of Rav Yehoshua said: It is quite clear to me that the residents of one town can prevent the resident of another town [from setting up in competition in this town], but not, however, if he pays taxes to that town; and that the resident of an alley cannot prevent another resident of the same alley [from setting up in competition in his alley].” Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 21b 

Rav Huna teaches us that while communities are justified in setting borders, they are also commanded to welcome those who wish to integrate themselves as neighbors. 

“God gathered the dust [of the first human] from the four corners of the world – red, black, white and green. Red is the blood, black is the entrails and green for the body. Why from the four corners of the earth? So that if one comes from the east to the west and arrives at the end of his life as he neared departing from the world, the land will not say to him, “The dust of your body isn’t mine. Go back to where you were created.” Rather, every place a person goes, a part of him is from there and a part of him is returning there.” Yalkut Shimoni 13 

This medieval rabbinic teaching reminds us of the divine connection between all human beings, regardless of their place of birth or the color of their skin, reinforcing our responsibility to treat all with dignity and respect. 

Partner Organizations

• HIAS (Originally founded to assist Jews fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe, today HIAS works around the world to assist displaced people of all backgrounds)
• Faith in Public Life
• Caridad Center Free Clinic
• Florida Immigration Coalition
• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC)

Core Position on LGBTQ+ Rights

Temple Beth El welcomes all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals and families to engage fully in the richness of Jewish life. We will respect and advocate for their freedom, safety, and inclusion, free from discrimination and harm.

Inspired by our values

• “All of Israel is responsible one for another” inspires us to show our concern for the LGBTQ+ members of our Jewish community.

• “Justice, justice you shall pursue” inspires us to defend the rights of all LGBTQ+ people.

• “You must not remain indifferent” inspires us not to ignore the plight of this historically marginalized community. 

Acting on our Jewish Teachings

“And God created humankind in the divine image.” Genesis 1:27 

Even before gender was introduced to humanity, our divine origin was established, teaching us to appreciate the holiness of every human being. 

“And for the sake of peace among people, that one should not say to his or her fellow, ‘My parent is greater than yours;’ and that heretics should not say, ‘There are many powers in Heaven.’ Again, to declare the greatness of the Holy One, blessed be God, for one stamps out many coins with one die, and they are all alike, but the King, the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be God, stamped each person with the seal of Adam, and not one of them is like his or her fellow. Therefore, each and every one is obliged to say, ‘For my sake the world was created.’” Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 

One of the beauties of humanity is the diversity with which God created us. Each and every individual, regardless of who they love or how they identify, contributes to a diversity of humanity that we ought to celebrate. 

“Rabbi Yirmiyah ben Elazar said, “when the Eternal created Adam initially, he was created as both genders; thus is it written, “male and female did God create them.” Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said, when the Eternal created Adam initially, God created him with two faces, one on each side, and then God split him along the middle, forming two backs.” Bereshit Rabbah 8:1 

This midrash, responding to Genesis 1:27, suggests that humanity was formed inclusive of all genders, and later divided. We learn from this not to privilege one gender expression over another, but to see all as the result of the way in which humanity was created. 

Partner Organizations

• Keshet/For LGBTQ+ Equality in Jewish Life
• Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center
• A Wider Bridge

Core Position on Child Protection

Temple Beth El is committed to improving the welfare of vulnerable children and teens, helping them to reach their fullest potential and share their divine spark with the world. Protecting children and youth from abuse or neglect is a duty that all of us share. Every child deserves physical and spiritual health, educational opportunities and a sense of worth and identity.  

Core Position on Economic Insecurity

Temple Beth El believes that helping those living in poverty or with economic insecurity is a matter of responsibility, righteousness, and justice. Economic insecurity disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and hinders their ability to access basic needs and opportunities which can provide advancement via education, jobs or the ability to access healthcare. 

The Giving Tree of Temple Beth El has long worked to help those in need in our community. We will continue that important work and advocate for long-term systemic change. 

Core Position on Environmental Protection

Temple Beth El is committed to protecting our natural resources, and preserving our beloved Florida coastline, fresh air, and natural ecosystem. We will take action to prevent climate change and its effects and help those most impacted by climate crises. 

Core Position on Gun Violence Prevention

Temple Beth El unequivocally supports commonsense solutions to end the tragedy of gun violence in our communities and our nation. While respecting our rights to defend and protect ourselves, our tradition calls upon us to minimize violence wherever possible. 

Core Position on Protecting Democracy

Temple Beth El supports the constitutional civil right to vote. We believe that all citizens’ voices should be heard and counted and that it is essential to uphold the pillars of our representative democracy. 

Core Position on Racial Equity

Temple Beth El believes in the rights of all races to live free from discrimination. We will follow in the footsteps of the American Jewish community during the Civil Rights Movement to advance the civil rights of all racial minorities and work towards equity for all.  

Core Position on Reproductive Freedom

Temple Beth El believes that the decision to keep or terminate a pregnancy should be made between a woman, her partner, her doctor and her religious beliefs. Access to abortion care is a fundamental human right that our Jewish tradition protects. Limits on abortion accesses, grounded in religious teachings, are a threat to religious freedom, for Jews and others. 

Core Position on Separation of Church and State (Religious Freedom)

Temple Beth El believes firmly in the right of all Americans to practice religion freely and to not have others’ beliefs imposed upon them or their children.  We are opposed to the movement to infuse religious beliefs into public school education, public policies, or into public spaces.   

Core Position on Women’s Rights

Temple Beth El unequivocally supports women’s full and equal participation in society and, in Jewish life, in America, Israel, and abroad. We stand opposed to discrimination against women, responding to generations of gender-based discrimination. Further, gender-based violence is rooted in unjust power relations, structures, and social and cultural norms, and as a result, worldwide, women are disproportionately harmed by gender-based violence.   

Core Position on Zionism

Temple Beth El is proudly Zionist and unequivocally supports the State of Israel as an inseparable part of our Jewish identity and heritage.  

Zionism, the movement for national self-determination of the Jewish people in our ancient and historic homeland, and Ahavat Yisrael, love of the people, land, and State of Israel, play an integral role in our Jewish identity and our Temple’s mission, consistent with our history of supporting Israel.