FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2018
Reform Jewish Movement Mourns Loss of Senator John McCain
WASHINGTON – In response to the death of Senator John McCain, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement:
"Our prayers are with the McCain family at this moment of profound loss. Throughout a lifetime of public service, Senator John McCain embodied the values of sacrifice and selflessness. He was a tireless champion of the issues and principles that he held dear, from reforming the broken campaign finance system, to the effort to bar the use of torture by U.S. authorities, to his pivotal vote just last year to save the Affordable Care Act. On those issues and others including combatting climate change and strengthening US-Israel relations, we were honored to work with him. And when we engaged him around areas of disagreement, Sen. McCain was always honest and straightforward."
"His leadership in the Senate and among his fellow POWs during more than five years of captivity in Vietnam serves as an inspiration to countless Americans. Senator McCain has left an indelible imprint on the nation. May his memory be for a blessing."
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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.
Media Contact:
Jenna Galper: jgalper@rac.org, 202-387-2800
