Reform Jewish Leader Deeply Disappointed by Vote to Confirm Senator Sessions as Attorney General

For Immediate Release
February 8, 2017

Contact: Max Rosenblum
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org

Press Release from the Religious Action Center

WASHINGTON – In response to the Senate’s vote to confirm Senator Jeff Sessions as the next U.S. Attorney General, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the wider Reform Movement:

We are deeply disappointed by the Senate’s vote today to confirm Senator Jeff Sessions as the next U.S. Attorney General. As a Movement that has worked for civil rights for over 50 years, we opposed Senator Sessions’ nomination because his record in public life displays an insufficient commitment to advancing voting rights, criminal justice reform, immigration reform, LGBTQ equality, women’s rights and religious liberty, all issues for which we would expect any Attorney General to be a champion.

In this critical moment, we are reminded of our mandate as Reform Jews "to do righteousness and justice" (Genesis 18:19). Especially in light of the administration’s recent actions, it is essential that we have a Department of Justice that is fully committed to civil rights and equal protection. As Senator Sessions assumes his role as Attorney General, we remain hopeful that he will enforce the law in a way that protects all people, regardless of regardless of race, class, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or national origin.

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.