June 29, 2000 To: Officers, Rabbis, Synagogue Leadership From:
Richard B. Stone, Chairman Re: 13 Arrested Iranian Jews—Update Immediate
Action Requested
As
was previously reported, the show trial of the 13
arrested Iranian Jews in Shiraz has ended.
We expect that a verdict will be announced this coming Shabbat
morning, July 1, 2000. We
want to thank all our members for their enthusiastic response to the
petition drive. We are
asking our leaders and constituents to continue responding to the
petition if you have not already done so by visiting our website at www.ou.org
and clicking on the banner at the top of the page.
Those who would like to circulate the petition in their
synagogues to gather more signatures are encouraged to do so.
Please send the petitions to us at the OU/IPA, 11 Broadway, 14th
floor, NY, NY 10004. The
aim is to gather as many signatures as possible that will be delivered
to Iran. Many
public activities including prayer vigils and public signing ceremonies of
the petition have taken place. Members
of US Congress have signed the petition as well as the City Council
members of New York City and Los Angeles and interfaith leaders.
Diplomatic efforts around the world are still continuing as are
legislative initiatives in the United States and abroad.
We applaud Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Congressman
Anthony Weiner (D-NY) for the Congressional resolution and the efforts in
the Agricultural Committee on behalf of the issue of human rights in Iran
and the 13. On
Sunday, July 2, 2000, a press conference coordinated by the Conference of
Presidents will take place at 10:00am in front of the Iranian Mission to
the United Nations at 41st Street and Third Avenue that will
deal with reactions to the verdict. We
urge you to attend and will continue to keep you informed as to any new
developments that will take place. In the meantime, we request our member synagogues to continue their prayers and recitations of Tehillim on behalf of the 13 arrested Iranian Jews. We pray that all your efforts on their behalf will be reflected in the verdict. Tizku
LeMitzvot
The Institute for Public Affairs of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America is the non-partisan public policy research and advocacy center created to represent and mobilize the world's largest Orthodox Jewish community.
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