Health Care For Everyone

Last year, CBSRZ joined with other faith groups in Connecticut to work towards passing legislation that would create a health care system that can better serve all residents of our state. Please join us in this endeavor.

From the Union of Reform Judaism:

Judaism has always stressed the idea of universal access to health care, teaching, “Whoever is in pain, lead him to a physician” (Baba Kamma 46b). However, that command remains largely an aspiration today. 47 million Americans (16 percent of the population) do not have health insurance coverage, yet despite this, costs continue to rise. In fact every thirty seconds, an American files for bankruptcy after having health problems.

Union for Reform Judaism has consistently supported universal health care coverage Throughout its existence our Movement has argued for accessible, affordable, quality health care. Our tradition teaches us that human life is of infinite value and that the preservation of life supersedes almost all other considerations. The use of our wisdom to cure illnesses has been a central theme in Jewish thought and history. Providing health care is not just an obligation for the patient and the doctor, but for society as well. It is for this reason that Maimonides, a revered Jewish scholar, listed health care first on his list of the ten most important communal services that a city had to offer to its residents (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot De'ot IV: 23). Almost all self-governing Jewish communities throughout history set up systems to ensure that all their citizens had access to health care. Doctors were required to reduce their rates for poor patients, and when that was not sufficient, communal subsidies were established (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 249:16; Responsa Ramat Rahel of Rabbi Eliezer Waldernberg, sections 24-25.)

For more information http://urj.org/csa/projects/healthcare/

The healthcare4every1 Campaign is the statewide educational and advocacy campaign uniting residents, businesses, and organizations committed to quality, affordable health care for everyone.  Coordinated by the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, (http://www.universalhealthct.org)  the campaign seeks to build public and political support for the achievement of universal health care in Connecticut.

For more information and ways to get involved: www.healthcare4every1.org

There you can also download and read the coalition’s proposed health plan for Connecticut, called Sustinet.