Over 1000 U.S. Rabbis Sign Letter Urging Congress to Reject Iran Nuclear
Deal
TEXT OF LETTER-PETITION FROM 1000 US RABBIS
Zionist Organization of America Thursday, August 27, 2015

We, the undersigned rabbis, write as a unified voice across religious
denominations to express our concerns with the proposed nuclear agreement
with Iran.

For more than 20 months, our communities have kept keen eyes on the nuclear
negotiations overseas. As our diplomats from Washington worked tirelessly to
reach a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear challenge-we have hoped,
and believed, that a good deal was possible.

Unfortunately, that hope is not yet realized.

We have weighed the various implications of supporting-or opposing-this
agreement. Together, we are deeply troubled by the proposed deal, and
believe this agreement will harm the short-term and long-term interests of
both the United States and our allies, particularly Israel.

Collectively, we feel we must do better.

If this agreement is implemented, Iran will receive as much as 150 billion
dollars, without any commitment to changing its nefarious behavior.

The Iranian regime denies basic human rights to its citizens, publicly calls
for America's downfall and Israel's annihilation, and openly denies the
Holocaust. This dangerous regime-the leading state sponsor of
terrorism-could now be given the financial freedom to sow even more violence
throughout the world.

But what do we get in return?

Even after flooding Iran with an influx of funds, this deal will not subject
Iran to an airtight, comprehensive inspections structure-granting the regime
the means to violate the agreement and develop a covert nuclear program.

The deal would also lift key arms embargos, so that in eight years Iran will
be given international legitimacy to arm terror groups with conventional
weapons and ballistic missiles.

The agreement also entitles Iran to develop advanced centrifuges after 10
years-all-but paving Iran's path to a nuclear weapons capability with
virtually zero "breakout time."

We fear the world we will leave our children if this deal is approved. And
we fear having to someday bear the responsibility for Iran becoming
wealthier, further empowered and better equipped to produce nuclear bombs
when we had the chance to stop it.

For these reasons, we agree with the assessments of leaders and experts in
the United States, along with virtually all Israeli voices across the
political spectrum, that we can, and must, do better.

We call upon our Senators and Representatives to consider the dangers that
this agreement poses to the United States and our allies, and to vote in
opposition to this deal.

Furthermore, we strongly support and heed the call to action of many Jewish
organizations to express our collective opposition to this dangerous
agreement.

At this historic moment, with so much at stake, we have a critical
responsibility to shape the world we pass on to our children. With no less
than the safety of future generations hanging in the balance, we must insist
on a better deal.

We hope and pray that God will assist us in ushering in for the entire world
a time promised by Isaiah (2:4) when "nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they engage in war anymore," when peace will prevail.
Until then, we simply cannot afford to empower and enrich a regime that
continues to lift its sword without mercy towards so many who stand for
good, freedom and peace.

If you are an ordained U.S. Rabbi and would like to sign the petition please
click here.
http://bit.ly/1JAkEyp

About the ZOA

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is the oldest and one of the
largest pro-Israel organizations in the United States. With offices around
the country and in Israel, the ZOA educates the public, elected officials,
the media, and college/high school students about the truth of the ongoing
Arab war against Israel. The ZOA works to strengthen U.S.- Israel relations
through educational activities, public affairs programs and our work on
Capitol Hill, and to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias in the media,
in textbooks, in schools and on college campuses. Under the leadership of
such presidents as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, Rabbi Abba Hillel
Silver, and current President Morton A. Klein, the ZOA has been - and
continues to be - on the front lines of Jewish activism. www.zoa.org. For
more information contact Mort Klein 212-481-1500.