POLICY & ENDORSEMENTS

We are often asked who speaks for ALEPH and whether ALEPH speaks for Jewish Renewal. This document was created to answer only the first question. This response recognizes that the projects and branches within ALEPH’s alliance operate with autonomy while sharing broad, unifying principles and high standards of ethical and fiscal accountability.

On the second question, while ALEPH serves Jewish Renewal through its projects, branches, staff, spiritual leaders, community leaders and resources, it realizes that no single organization can speak for the broad-based movement for Jewish Renewal.

ALEPH is at its core a spiritually based organization, committed to the renewal and flourishing of an engaged, dynamic Judaism. While it has a political vantage point, it does not and will not maintain democratic (representative/voting) mechanisms for identifying the consensus or majority will of its members.

ALEPH is a tikkun olam project. We see our purpose as helping the Jewish people to once again play our historic role in elevating human consciousness. Our work is directed by our mission and guiding principles.

Policy directives are issued only when deemed necessary to ensure that the work of ALEPH’s constituent programs and branches is consistent with our mission and principles. This need may arise when we expand the boundaries of our community, realize a need to protect the rights and integrity of our members in new ways and/or a need to promote the inclusion of those previously marginalized or disempowered in Jewish life. 

Examples of policies that we’ve deemed necessary in the past are:

Supporting GLBT rights

• Supporting the full and equal participation of women and including women’s experience and perspective in the renewal of Jewish ritual, spiritual practice, theology and communal life
• Supporting environmental protection
• Opposing anti-Semitism and all forms of racism
• Supporting mutually respectful interfaith dialogue and cooperation
• Supporting compassionate, respectful dialogue and meaningful engagement amongst all streams of Judaism
• Supporting peace in Israel and supporting the state of Israel without denigrating, dismissing or denying the human rights and right to self determination of Palestinians and Israelis

The policies we have already identified are integrated into the structure and practice of our projects and branches, serving as the foundation for decisions to endorse events, make public statements or sign petitions.

Additional endorsements made under this policy will be catalogued and filed for future reference. They are available from the Chief Operating Officer and are posted on the ALEPH web site. Time-specific endorsements are posted while active.

Organizations or individuals seeking ALEPH endorsements or co-sponsorships may email requests to ALEPH’s executive director, ExecDir@aleph.org or Chief Operating Officer Admin@aleph.org.