Union for Reform Judaism Calls for Divestment from Iran Campaign Specifically Targets Iranian Energy Sector
September 10, 2007—NEW YORK—The Union for Reform Judaism’s Executive Committee unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the targeted divestment from companies that have at least $20 million invested in Iran's energy sector. The Union is now calling on its congregations and their members to advocate on a grassroots level for the targeted divestment by states, municipalities, universities and mutual funds.
“The Reform Movement has long called for international arms control and addressed the dangers of nuclear proliferation,” explained Robert Heller, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Union for Reform Judaism. “Our tradition commands us to ‘seek peace and pursue it’ and we must do so in every way we know how. While diplomatic efforts should continue to be pursued, it is time to support targeted divestment in Iran.”
“The prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons capability poses a serious concern to the United States, Canada, Israel and the international community,” said Jane Wishner, chair of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. “In that 50% of Iran’s national budget and 80% of its hard currency is derived from oil production, in addition to the fact that it does not have the refinery capacity to fulfill its own needs, we have a unique opportunity to make an impact on Iran’s foreign policy by narrowly focusing our divestment efforts on Iran’s energy sector.”
The Resolution, co-sponsored by the Commission on Social Action and Association of Reform Zionists of America, is available online at www.urj.org/docs/reso. For more information on targeted divestment from Iran please visit www.rac.org/Iran.
The Union for Reform Judaism (formerly the Union of American Hebrew Congregations) is the central body of Reform Judaism in North America, uniting 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues. Union services include camps, music and book publishing, outreach to unaffiliated and intermarried Jews, educational programs, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C
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