FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2022
Conference of Presidents Outraged by Humanitarian Tragedy in Ukraine:
Supports Global Response to Humanitarian Crisis
New York, NY – Dianne Lob, Chair, William Daroff, CEO, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chair, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, issued the following statement:
"The humanitarian conditions surrounding the situation in Ukraine are now at a crisis level. The Conference of Presidents is deeply engaged in coordination and discussion with key government officials and Jewish and humanitarian organizational leaders regarding aid to the affected populations. Our community is committed to providing aid to those in Ukraine as well as those who have succeeded in crossing into the adjacent nations, including Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Moldova. We commend countries that have opened their borders to those who seek refuge. We also encourage the United States to permit Jews and other minorities to immigrate under the provisions of the Lautenberg Amendment.
"We mourn the many victims of this unnecessary and deadly conflict. We urge a swift and peaceful lasting resolution to the crisis. The international community must take deliberate action to safeguard civilians and civilian institutions. We commend the United States government, the Government of Israel, and the many nations across the globe that are providing support, relief, and assistance to those in need. The humanitarian toll on the civilian population is of utmost concern. The Jewish community, which has a deep, albeit troubled historic connection to the country, has thrived in recent years, but is now at great risk.
"An inalienable duty exists for all to ensure the protection of historical sites of immeasurable value - such as the site of the Babyn Yar Massacre in Kyiv, Europe’s single largest mass grave of victims of the Holocaust, and the grounds of its Jewish cemetery, which were damaged yesterday in a missile attack.
"We encourage all parties, and particularly the Russian Federation, to refrain from historical revisionism that trivializes and distorts the reality of the Holocaust. In this dire hour, we unite to call out crimes against humanity and to demand accountability and the utmost respect by international institutions.”
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The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is the recognized central coordinating body representing 53 diverse national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern.
