Reform Movement Responds to U.S.-Led Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure
More than four decades of Iranian leaders have expressed their ongoing commitment to attacking the United States, Israel, and the Jewish people, directly and through proxies. From the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut to the 1994 bombing of the Jewish AMIA center in Buenos Aries; from supporting Hezbollah to arming and funding Hamas and the massacre of October 7, 2023, as well as the Houthis in Yemen, Iran has made a practice of death and destruction. Throughout, the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran has struck fear in hearts around the world. Now, thanks to the decisive actions taken over the last week by Israel and the U.S., the overarching threat of a nuclear Iran has been diminished.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump acted boldly to ensure Iran will not soon have a nuclear weapon. One need not agree with the policies of the current Israeli or U.S. governments to express genuine gratitude for this dramatic intervention.
At the same time, while Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure has been significantly weakened, their nuclear knowledge can never be eliminated. That is why the pursuit of a long-term agreement that ensures Iran’s nuclear program poses no threat is so vital.
Let us be clear: military action should always be a last resort. Israelis have suffered greatly, losing their lives and homes to Iranian missiles. Innocent Iranian civilians who were already victims of a repressive regime have suffered deeply in the last week. And we fear that, in the coming days, more lives will be lost to reprisals and counter-reprisals. We are greatly concerned about the danger to U.S. citizens and institutions wherever they find themselves, at home or abroad. And U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East are especially at risk and deserve our prayers. We should also harbor no illusions about the threat levels against Jews and Jewish institutions, which were already at alarmingly high levels. Now, Jewish communities worldwide are more vulnerable.
This should be a moment of gratitude for the bold and courageous military actions of Israel and the U.S. against Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons, but it is not a time for celebration given the challenges and uncertainties before us, the loss of innocent lives, the ongoing fate of the hostages in Gaza, and the urgent humanitarian crisis there. We must not lose focus on securing the release of the hostages, ending the war, and dramatically increasing humanitarian aid to civilians in desperate need.
Inspired by the prophet Micah we pray for the day “when all will sit under their vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:4)
May that day come swiftly and in our time.
Union for Reform Judaism
Shelley Niceley Groff (she/her)
North American Board Chair
Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him)
President
American Conference of Cantors
Cantor Seth Warner (he/him)
President
Rachel Roth (she/her)
Chief Operating Officer
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi David Lyon (he/him)
President
Rabbi Hara Person (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer