The Movement for Reform Judaism is committed to actively campaigning against all violations of human rights. We will continue to speak up for those who, through violence and inequality, are denied the ability to speak out about their suffering. That is why, in the past year, our rabbis have been at the forefront of bringing to the world’s attention the shocking plight of the people living in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Over the years the Movement for Reform Judaism has been active, through its synagogues, rabbis and RSY-Netzer, in drawing the attention of the Jewish community and beyond to some of the worst cases of injustice, violence and inequality around the world, including in Darfur, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After the horrific experiences faced by the Jewish people, especially in the twentieth century, we very much take to heart the call of our Torah to ‘not stand idly by the blood of our neighbour’ (Leviticus 19:16).

As a Movement we are committed to raising consciousness about the plight of those around the world who, day in day out, live in fear for their lives. We work with national and international organisations both within the Jewish community and society at large to make a real difference. During the height of the crisis in Darfur we were an active campaigning voice within the media, our pulpits and our youth summer camps.

Several of our rabbis are involved with the work of Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR), a pressure group comprised of rabbis from all streams of Judaism. RHR campaigns on issues of inequality within Israel and the Occupied Territories. Since its inception in 1988, it has championed the cause of the poor in Israel, supported the rights of Israel’s minorities and Palestinians, worked to stop the abuse of foreign workers, endeavoured to guarantee the upkeep of Israel’s public health care system, promoted the equal status of women, helped Ethiopian Jews, battled trafficking in women, and a great deal more.

In the past year we have become increasingly concerned about the growing and complex crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In April 2007, the International Rescue Committee published a study placing the death toll in the DR Congo since 1998 at 5.4 million. This horrific figure is estimated to have continued rising at a rate of 45,000 mortalities a month. It is highly likely that well over seven million souls have perished as a direct result of the inter-regional violence, war crimes, corruption, acts of genocide and gang rape that have continued to torment the Congolese on a scale that defies comprehension.

Add to these shocking figures the millions of refugees, the poverty, disease and starvation and the devastation of human life becomes almost unimaginable. Our rabbis have led the way by drawing attention to this appalling situation.  As a Movement we continue to participate in the Save the Congo Interfaith Initiative and we have already brought this pressing crisis to the attention of the UK general public through our voice in the media.

Over the months and years ahead we will continue to lead the way on vital issues such as these because it is our duty as a Movement to help realise the prophetic vision of a time when there will be no more 'oppression of the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, nor the shedding of innocent blood' (Jeremiah 7:6).

'Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world' (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a).

Sources and Resources:

• To support the national campaign to bring a lasting peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo please visit the Save the Congo website.
• Download this report for more information on the situation in Darfur.
• Find out more about the work of Rabbis for Human Rights.