Introducing Coalition for Jewish Values – A Much-Needed Breath of Fresh Air

The voices of those purporting to speak for Judaism and Jews often take positions that embody the antithesis of authentic Torah values. It is immensely frustrating, does a disservice to the divine mandate that is the essential role of the Jewish people, and therefore requires the consistent and fearless articulation of a genuine Torah message for the public.

A bold new organization, Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), was founded by a broad-based cadre of rabbinic figures who perceived this problem and proposed CJV as the solution. CJV unabashedly addresses the burning issues of the day with press-releases that are promptly composed and broadcast during each relevant news cycle – usually literally within a few hours of a breaking story – so that CJV’s voice is heard and the Torah’s position is in the forefront of public discourse. CJV also publishes longer pieces that address various policy matters from a Torah perspective.

CJV has thus far issued very important press releases regarding the nomination of David Friedman for the position of US Ambassador to the State of Israel, as well as regarding attempts by the Reform movement to interfere with Israeli anti-BDS legislation. These press releases were carried on multiple major media sites and have been invoked by important parties at the heart of the discussion. CJV statements about transgender issues and about irresponsible “Orthodox” voices, which do not represent the vast majority of Orthodox Jews, were well-received by those waiting for a rabbinic organization to clarify the issues and state the truth, without hesitation, compromise or political correctness.

Earlier this week, Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Director of CJV, represented CJV in a debate-discussion with Reform leader Rabbi Eric Yoffie. CJV’s rapid rise to prominence made it the perfect address for Jewish Broadcasting Service to contact for this program.

CJV’s Rabbinic Board consists of nationally-known rabbinic personalities, who serve as CJV’s Senior Rabbinic Fellows. The CJV Rabbinic Board is supported by the CJV Rabbinic Circle, which is a group of Orthodox rabbis who lend concurrence and gravitas to the statements issued by the Rabbinic Board. The Rabbinic Circle is still accepting new members who qualify.

Please follow the CJV website for new press releases and op-eds, and feel free to post comments and share ideas. CJV welcomes new voices and looks forward to continued rapid growth as a major and exciting voice in the discourse.

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18 Responses

  1. dr.bill says:

    when i saw the three rabbis in the picture and assumed they were agreeing to something substantive, i thought it definitely must be close to the coming of moshiach.  but then i read on and alas we are probably going to spend more time before he comes.

  2. Bob Miller says:

    This is a good idea because it’s always good to state the truth in public.  So refreshing nowadays in view of all the fake news and fake fake news.   As to its practical impact:

    1.  Politicians will react to this group in proportion to its perceived effect on votes for them.

    2.  Jews in general, those who are listening anyway,  will get better a perspective on vital issues.

    And Moshiach may surprise Dr. Bill.

     

  3. Bob Miller says:

    (corrected)
    This is a good idea because it’s always good to state the truth in public.  So refreshing nowadays in view of all the fake news and fake fake news.   As to its practical impact:
    1.  Politicians will react to this group in proportion to its perceived effect on votes for them.
    2.  Jews in general, those who are listening anyway,  will get a better perspective on vital issues.
    And Moshiach may surprise Dr. Bill.

  4. mycroft says:

    As much as Yahadus does not equal liberalism it does not equal conservatism.

    • Vadsiode says:

      So it stands for nothing?

      • mycroft says:

        No Yahadus stands for a lot it just does not equal either the GOP platform or the Democratic platform.

        It is wrong to pretend by either side, it is a fair criticism of many liberal Jews that their beliefs may equal the more liberal views of society rather than just Torah viewpoints, but it is just as fair criticism that some traditional Jews act as if their beliefs equal the more conservative viewpoints of society. Neither equal Yahadus.

      • Steve Brizel says:

        The real question remains which is in the greatest interest of our community. That can be done easily. Just ask which  is more amemable to a  Torah viewpoint or a deviationist POV that claims that Jewish values equal the progressive agenda.

      • mycroft says:

        Not obvious, there is a Torah interest in how we deal with our less fortunate. Torah does not equal a libertarian viewpoint. Torah does not equal belief that powerful have no responsibility to less fortunate.

        there have been Rabbonim throughout the ages who have held more liberal viewpoints and those with more conservative viewpoints.

      • Steve Brizel says:

        One should equate what was the liberal agenda prior to the 1970s with the progressive agenda of today. One should note that FDR the father of the liberal agenda shed no tears for the Holocaust and would have opposed the creation of the State of Israel.

      • Steve Brizel says:

        Add the word “not” before equate in my last post

  5. Bracha says:

    As a frum woman, I am always concerned when people claim that what they are saying is “the” Jewish perspective on any issue as this implies that there is only one legitimate way to understand an given issue – which is rarely the case in Jewish thought. In addition “conservative Jews” scare me since I don’t think Judaism is political – there are things from both democrats and republicans that fit with Yiddishkeit (and do not!) For that reason, I am a little concerned about what this group is trying to do (despite their great intentions!). To gain more legitimacy for their efforts, it would make sense to reach out to those who have a history of looking at, and explaining issues in a nuanced, balanced, and sensitive way. Some people who come to mind off the top of my head are Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz and Allison Goldberg from JITC, who has done an amazing job of this. Rabbi Adlerstein would be a good addition as well since he is able to explain things in a more nuanced and diplomatic way (he even gave a talk on this at the AJOP convention a few years back). If I felt that these people would play a key role in insuring that a clear values-based message that was also nuanced and sensitive would be produced I would be happy to support such an organization.

    • dr.bill says:

      you mentioned a more nuanced mode of expression; a clearly needed element most often missing from public discourse.

      a second, equally critical element, is when to address an issue, and when to let it lie.  one may see something as wanting, but in the broader scheme of things,  perhaps it is still better to disregard than to address.  in the world of corporate management where i spent most of my time, the greatest errors resulted from not maintaining focus on what is critical and leaving other matters either alone or to others to address.

      • mycroft says:

        You’re second element agrees with the Rav. I once heard him say about someone in a complimentary way- he knows when to fight and when not to fight.

      • Steve Brizel says:

        How does your experience in the risk avoiding corporate atmosphere in the US compare with the Israeli start up entrepreneurial environment?

      • dr.bill says:

        they don’t compare.  a start-up is inherently risky; most fail. corporations take risks, but in a very different and less complete way. however, having worked with a number of successful israeli start-ups as they transition to adulthood, lessons on customer focus and operational quality have to be grafted on;  there established corporate processes need not be reinvented

  6. Bracha says:

    Oops. Allison Josephs

  7. Yossi says:

    This isn’t an article; it’s an advertisement. And while it may be important, it shouldn’t be presented as anything other than what it is.

  8. Ben Waxman says:

    How is this group different from TORA?

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