A MESSAGE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY T he Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, also known as the "Orthodox Union," rep- resenting hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Jews, and the Rabbinical Council of America, representing over 1,000 Orthodox rabbis serving world Jewry, are highly critical of the statement recently released by a Jewish orga- nization whose name is easily confused with that of the Orthodox Union. While we acknowledge divisions with non-Orthodox movements on core theological issues, we consider them disagreements within the fam- ily. We also repudiate the erroneously reported implication that Conservative and Reform Jews are not Jews by virtue of their religious affiliation. , Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 333 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10001 e-mail: feedback@ou.org Such statements reflect negatively on our efforts to project an Orthodoxy of inclusion. We deal with the deep religious disagree- ments in a constructive communal manner rather than in a public display which, while achieving headlines, pains the Jewish soul. We consider the statement particularly inap- propriate in light of the risks currently facing the Jews of Israel and other communities world- wide that cry out for Jewish unity. We must never lose sight of the fact that we are one peo- ple. To publicly and recklessly emphasize that which divides us harms the Jewish community. We call upon all responsible leaders to speak in the spirit of ahavat Yisrael, love of all Jews, so that despite the issues on which we differ, we remain united. Rabbinical Council of America 305 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10001 RC71 k`Ott‘ \1 eb16177 h ‘ RnbbInicrit Counctl of Americo Mandell I. Ganchrow,'M.D. - President Rabbi Raphael B. Butler -Executive Vice President Marcel Weber - Chairman, Board of Directors Dr. Marcos Katz - Chairman, Board of Governors Morry Weiss - Vice Chairman, Board of Directors Jay L. Schottenstein - Vice Chairman, Board of Governors Sol Teichman - Vice Chairman, Board of Governors "/‘ ‘ Rabbi Rafael G. Grossman - President Rabbi Steven M. Dworken - Executive Vice President Rabbi Jacob S. Rubenstein - First Vice President Rabbi Kenneth Hain - Vice President Rabbi Barry Freundel - Vice President Rabbi Myron E. Rakowitz - Vice President Rabbi Elazar R. Muskin - Vice President In an endeavor to reduce tensions within the Jewish community, THE AVI CHAI FOUNDATION has, as a public service, provided funding to enable you to read this message. AVI CHAI is a private foundation devoted to promoting Jewish commitment and encour- aging mutual understanding and sensitivity among Jews of different religious backgrounds and levels of observance.