Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, is a co-sponsor of the J Street conference, Driving Change, Securing Peace, to be held in Washington D.C. from October 25-28. All RHR-NA donors are entitled to a 20% discount on conference registration. We hope that hundreds of our donors and supporters will attend this important conference. To register with the RHR-NA discount, click here. For more information about the conference, click here.

In the months since President Obama issued his critical Executive Order that ensures lawful interrogations, it has been clear that the campaign to end U.S.-sponsored is not over. Much work still needs to be done to fully understand what has happened since 9/11 and to prevent the United States from ever using torture again. Read on for a statement from RHR-NA about why we must still continue to work to bring about an end to torture.

On June 11, senior religious leaders held a public witness in front of the White House to continue the call on President Obama to create a Commission of Inquiry to investigate American participation in torture since 9/11. Hundreds of activists gathered for an interfaith rally. Following the meeting, over 30 religious leaders (including Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster of RHR-NA and Rabbi Steve Gutow of the JCPA) met with a high level delegation of senior White House staff to discuss our call for the Commission. Read a report from Rabbi Kahn-Troster or click here to read a report from NRCAT.

Following the June 11 religious witness outside the White House, 33 senior religious leaders, including RHR-NA Director of Education Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, will participate in a meeting with senior White House officials to discuss the need for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate American torture policy since 9/11. Read on for the press release from NRCAT.

RHR Executive Director Rabbi Arik Ascherman begins his Spring 2009 educational and fund raising tour of the U.S. on May 31st.  Arik will be speaking in a variety of settings, and we have posted his schedule here.

Read a summary of Rabbi Brian Walt's remarks during an NRCAT press conference about a recent survey about the religious community's support for the use of torture. The complete recording of the conference can be downloaded from here.

RHR-NA and B'Tselem have written to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asking her to support the Goldstone Commission.

This June, communities across the country will observe Torture Awareness Month. We ask you to take action in your community to both remember all those around the world who have been victims of torture and to call for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate actions taken by the United States since 9/11 towards detainees. Read on for resources information from RHR-NA, TAASC, and NRCAT.

RHR-NA is seeking an Executive Director. Click here to download the job description and position qualifications.

Learn how you can respond to the President's release of four new "Torture Memos." Call for a Commission of Inquiry and read analysis of the decision to make the memos public.

Brit Tzedek v'Shalom is inviting you to take action by writing to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on the issue of settlements in the Occupied Territories.

On March 11, 2009 Rabbis for Human Rights – North America sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton a letter in support of her recent statements that the proposed Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem was “unhelpful to the peace process” and “not in keeping with the obligations entered into under the 'road map.'"  The letter is published here.

As a country, we must put into place safeguards to ensure that torture never happens again. To do this, we need to understand what has happened since 9/11, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Rabbis for Human Rights-North America has joined with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture to call for an impartial, nonpartisan, and independent "Commission of Inquiry" to investigate U.S.-sponsored torture policies and practices. Endorse their statement and read an article from Salon about the views of various experts on why a Commission needs to be truly independent. Also, important analysis from Gary Kamiya and Dahlia Lithwick. Learn more.

Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and K'vod Habriot: A Jewish Human Rights Network are sending a letter of appreciation to President Obama for his Executive Order on Ensuring Lawful Interrogations. Learn how you can add your name to the letter.