Opposing Capital Punishment

We believe it to be the task of the Jew to bring our great spiritual and ethical heritage to bear upon the moral problems of contemporary society. One such problem which challenges all who seek to apply God’s will in the affairs of men, is the practice of capital punishment. We believe that in the light of modern scientific knowledge and concept of humanity, the resort to or continuation of capital punishment either by a state or by the national government is no longer morally justifiable.

We believe there is no crime for which the taking of human life by society is justified, and that it is the obligation of society to evolve other methods in dealing with crime. We pledge ourselves to join with like-minded Americans in trying to prevent crime by removal of its causes, and to foster modern methods of rehabilitation of the wrongdoer in the spirit of the Jewish tradition of tshuva (repentance).

We believe, further, that the practice of capital punishment serves no practical purpose. Experience in several states and nations has demonstrated that capital punishment is not effective as a deterrent to crime. Moreover, we believe that this practice debases our entire penal system and brutalizes the human spirit.

We appeal to our congregants and to our co-religionists, and to all who cherish God’s mercy and love, to join in efforts to eliminate this practice which lies as a stain upon civilization and our religious conscience.

Union of American Hebrew Congregations

Commission on Social Action

633 3rd Ave., 7th floor

New York, NY 10017