Welcoming the stranger, or immigrant, is a core part of Jewish tradition, mentioned 36 times in the Torah. Leviticus commands, “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (19:33-34). Our own people’s history as “strangers” reminds us of the many struggles faced by immigrants today and we affirm our commitment to create the same opportunities for today’s immigrants that were so valuable to our own community not so many years ago. In the words of HIAS, the world’s oldest refugee protection agency, “We used to help refugees because they were Jewish; now we help refugees because we are Jewish.”

Our Jewish tradition also explicitly models what it means to welcome as opposed to simply permit one to enter. We read in Genesis that not only did Abraham and Sarah allow three guests to enter their tent but they ran towards them and prepared them a meal, modeling the spirit with which we should embrace those seeking refuge. The rabbis teach that Abraham and Sarah’s tent was open on all sides. To welcome is not to simply admit someone, but to meet them with open arms.

In the United States today, the value of welcoming the stranger is under threat – and our neighbors are facing unprecedented attacks from the federal government. This multifaceted attack has included: 

The frequency and intensity of these attacks are designed to overwhelm us and make us feel powerless. But we are not powerless. We are pushing back – and protecting our neighbors.

An interfaith response

An interfaith response

Americans of different religious beliefs and political ideologies are joining together to protect immigrants and to defend the rule of law. Earlier this year, a multi-faith group of leaders – including major Catholic, Lutheran, Evangelical, Jewish, and Muslim organizations – joined together to say, “We stand united as people of faith in our commitments to welcome the stranger and to care for the most vulnerable – commitments rooted in our common understanding of our Creator’s love for all and call to serve our neighbors.”

Statements are important, but they are only the beginning. Faith leaders and organizations across the country are working together with a broad coalition to take concrete actions, including: 

  • A renewed sanctuary movement that provides protection to individuals who may be targeted for deportation. 
  • A lawsuit joined by 27 faith denominations and associations to challenge the rescission of a longstanding “sensitive locations” policy that strictly limited ICE from immigration enforcement actions in houses of worship.
  • Organized lobbying and outreach efforts to tell Congress to protect refugees, asylees, and immigrants including:
    • Holding the administration accountable to respecting the rule of law by following court orders and upholding legislation passed by Congress to protect those fleeing persecution and violence.
    • Robustly funding efforts to strengthen communities welcoming immigrants and refugees and rejecting efforts to expand funding for detention, deportation, and border militarization.
    • Urging the administration to respect religious communities’ right to welcome immigrants.
  • Providing material support to refugee resettlement nonprofits and immigrant-serving organizations.

A new kind of faithful witness

We stand united as people of faith in our commitments to welcome the stranger and to care for the most vulnerable – commitments rooted in our common understanding of our Creator’s love for all and call to serve our neighbors.

  

Toolkit for welcoming the stranger

Toolkit for welcoming the stranger

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About the Author

Tamara Upfal

Legislative Assistant, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism

Tamara Upfal serves as a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, where her portfolio includes immigration justice and refugee rights, separation of church and state, and international religious freedom.

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