Purpose

1. The purpose of this policy is to recommit to one of our essential congregational focuses, that of social justice. As a synagogue, we find meaning and purpose in our willingness to stand for principles of justice. We are commanded in the Torah, “Lo ta’amod b’dam reiecha – Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor,” (Leviticus 19:16) and “Lo tuchal l’hitalem – You may not remain indifferent.” (Deuteronomy 22:3) As people of faith, we find reason to bring our values into the public arena.

2. We are a congregation with a membership diverse in its background, points of view, and opinions. We celebrate the spectrum of opinion that resides within our community and wish to preserve our commitment to the individual while at the same time embrace the power of a unified congregational voice calling for justice.

3. In the same spirit of the rabbis who composed the Talmud and took effort to preserve both minority and majority opinions, we value and respect the opinions of all who call Temple Isaiah home. To that end, when the time comes for the Temple community to take a stand on a matter of public policy, we strive to be inclusive of the voices of all of our members in coming to a decision.

4. Within our congregation, we strive to stand for justice when we encounter injustice in our community and in the world. As we educate our children about the importance of tikkun olam – the repair of the world – we endeavor to make real our own commitment as a synagogue to stand up when injustice rears its head.

Guidelines for Considering an Issue for Congregational Action

1. What makes an issue worthy of action? Many issues are important to individual members of the Temple Isaiah community. Some situations, however, bring our community together and can be influenced by our collective response. This policy provides a process for using our voice as a community to effect change.

2. The following criteria should be considered for Temple Isaiah to take a public stand on an issue

   1. The issue must have Jewish values and Jewish relevance.

      1. Tikkun Olam—there is a prophetic tradition of social action and taking care of the world. How would taking a stand on a specific issue lead to the betterment of society (broadly and/or narrowly defined)? Are there Jewish text-based precedents?

      2. What is the relevance of this issue to the Temple Isaiah community?

   2. Issues should be related to public policy. A Temple Isaiah position is not limited by geography and may have local, regional, national and/or global relevance.

   3. Temple Isaiah’s endorsement should have a definable, intentional objective. The following are potential objectives and should be addressed, in addition to others as necessary, in order for an issue to be considered:

      1. Raise awareness

      2. Provide opportunities for engagement

      3. Provide opportunities for change

      4. Raise solidarity around an issue

      5. Provide opportunities for a specific action

   4. Temple Isaiah’s endorsement should not jeopardize our nonprofit tax status under the I.R.S. or State of Massachusetts tax code, which precludes us from engaging in activities on behalf of a candidate for office or a political party.

   5. It is in the congregation’s interest to avoid proposals that are either too obvious to merit discussion, or so controversial that they might invite schism.

3. One Congregation---Many Opinions (Diverse opinions yield better decisions)

   1. When considering an issue for congregational action, efforts should be undertaken to seek members’ input and to inform the community about the proposal. The level of communication will depend on the nature of the specific issue but might include: educational forums, articles in temple newsletters, congregational email, or a letter to the congregation. There should also be ways for the congregation to give feedback to those who are proposing or deciding whether the congregation takes a public stand.

   2. The goal of this process is to be both inclusive and conclusive, and to come to a decision as a community. While the majority Board opinion will determine action, we will be mindful of our tradition of forbearance to act on controversial matters until there is near consensus at the Board level. Minority opinions are beneficial to this process and all communication should demonstrate respect for individuals and their ideas. Disagreement, however, does not preclude action. Documentation of minority opinions is important as situations can change and the majority and minority opinions may need to be revisited at a later date for reconsideration. Additionally, similar issues may arise which would benefit from a documented precedent.

   3. Dissenting opinions may be included in a communication to the congregation based on Talmudic and democratic traditions. Prior to bringing an issue to the Board, the originators must consider publicly accepted opposing opinions to identify potential controversy and generate a thoughtful response to diverse points of view. The minority opinion(s) will be included in committee’s recommendations to the Board and in the official written record.

Steps in the Process

1. When does this formal process apply?

   1. This formal process will be used to determine whether Temple Isaiah will take a public position (e.g., a press release attributing a given position as one taken by Temple Isaiah). This process is not intended to prevent Committees or Auxiliaries from taking other actions, consistent with their mission, provided that such activities do not contradict a formal stand that Temple Isaiah has taken. For example, a committee could organize a group to work on an issue upon which the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) has taken a position, as long as it was clear that this was a URJ position and not a Temple Isaiah position. In these cases, Committee oversight is provided by the respective Temple VP, who ensures communications with the Executive Committee, Rabbis and Temple Board, as appropriate.

2. How does an issue become an official stand or policy?

   1. The standard process will begin at the Committee level. (In many cases this will be the Social Action Committee, but depending on the subject matter, others such as Education or Worship might be the starting point.) Education about the issue is an important part of the process at every level, leading to informed decision-making and providing a basis for action if the proposal is adopted. The initiator should include appropriate educational material, which should accompany the request as it progresses through the approval hierarchy.

   2. Either the committee itself will surface an issue, or a congregant will bring an issue to the committee through its Chair.

   3. After consideration, the committee either approves the proposal and refers it to the VP for its Cluster, or rejects it.

   4. After consultation with the sponsoring committee, the VP refers the proposal to the Executive Committee.

   5. The Executive Committee either approves the proposal and refers it to the Board for a vote, or rejects it.

   6. The Board either approves the proposal, at which time it becomes the official policy of Temple Isaiah; rejects it, or refers it to the Congregation as described below in section III.C.2.

   7. If the proposal is rejected or not acted upon in reasonable time at any level, its sponsor may appeal directly to a VP, the President, or the Senior Rabbi for presentation at the Executive Committee.

   8. The Executive Committee or Board may choose to reject a stand and specify that temple action on the matter is not appropriate. Alternatively, the Executive Committee or Board may decide that while no public stand should (or need) be taken, the sponsoring committee remains free to take actions on its own.

   9. Consultation with the Senior Rabbi, or with another clergy member if the Senior Rabbi has delegated authority on such matters, is strongly recommended prior to presentation to a Cluster VP. Consultation with the President is also strongly recommended prior to the VP’s presentation at the Executive Committee.

   10. Any clergy member may bring an issue directly to the Executive Committee, without first going through a committee.

3. Exceptions Regarding Timeliness

   1. The above-described process is designed for matters of moderate urgency. It is recognized, though, that some issues are both broad and persistent, while others are of high urgency. An example of the former: “Temple Isaiah is committed to a two-state solution in the Middle East.” An example of the latter: We learn that neo-Nazi demonstrators are arriving in one of our communities in a few days.

   2. In the case of persistent issues, the board may bring the proposed policy to a Congregational Meeting for discussion and adoption.

   3. In the case of urgent issues, when the standard process would prevent us from acting in time to influence the outcome, the President and the Senior Rabbi, in consultation with the Executive Committee if at all possible, may act immediately if they have a good-faith belief that the Board would have agreed given the opportunity.

4. Who Takes the Stand?

   1. Only the Board may declare Temple Isaiah’s stand on an issue, except for the urgency exception above.

   2. No committees or other Temple Isaiah groups can take a public stand without the approval of the Board.

      1. In most cases, these groups may not take any public stand unless the Board itself has done so. The general public cannot be expected to grasp the difference between “Temple Isaiah supports…” and “The Temple Isaiah Social Action Committee supports…”

      2. The Board respects the autonomy of the Auxiliaries--the Temple Isaiah Sisterhood, Temple Isaiah Brotherhood and LEFTY--and understands that the auxiliaries may wish to take a stand in their own name. To do so, they must communicate their intentions to the Board—and receive a response from the Board—prior to taking any such action. The Auxiliaries will not take a public stand in their own name, if the Board decides that such action would not be in the best interests of the Temple.

   3. Clergy may take a stand on any issue in their own names, without consultation. In cases where the Board has not done the same, they should take every available opportunity to characterize their Temple Isaiah affiliation as “for identification only,” as is traditional.

5. Formal Process:

   1. In an effort to avoid red tape, we will avoid having special forms and specific documentation requirements. Every proposal should be presented in written form – electronically if possible – and address the guidelines discussed in Section 2 of this policy. Decisions at each level should be documented in the minutes of the decision-making body.

   2. Appeals may be in any form – email, phone, etc. – but a record should be kept of the conversation and its outcome and submitted to the President.

   3. While it is not expected that the volume or contentiousness of policy proposals will be high enough to warrant a more formal process, we will consider one in the future should it prove necessary.

Once a Policy Position is Adopted What Actions Should Follow?

1. Once the Temple Isaiah Board has voted to take a stand on a particular issue the Board should communicate the position to the greater Isaiah congregation. Any broadly-held minority position presented in Board deliberations should also be shared with our member households.

2. The Board should also communicate the policy position to the larger community outside our walls through press releases to various news organizations, civic organizations and religious communities, as appropriate.

3. The Board should assign the issue to the appropriate committee for formulation and execution of an action plan. While the action plan will vary depending on the particular issue, some actions might include:

   1. Education

      1. Speakers, films, panels, public forums, classes, workshops, sermons

      2. Informational articles and handouts

   2. Building and participating in broader coalitions

   3. Grass-roots organizing

   4. Direct action such as:

      1. Providing services for needy individuals or groups

      2. Participation in rallies, marches, protests or demonstrations

      3. Public canvassing for electoral action (non-partisan)

      4. Lobbying & advocacy

   5. Fund-raising