The Faithful Fight Toolkit: Welcoming the Stranger

May 1, 2025
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Tamara Upfal

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.”

This toolkit is part of the Faithful Fight series, developed in partnership with the Horizons Project. This toolkit is part of the Faithful Fight series, developed in partnership with the Horizons Project.

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:

Shutting down refugee resettlement programs.
An unconstitutional attempt to end birthright citizenship.
The end of long standing policies to identify houses of worship, schools, and hospitals as “sensitive locations” that are safe from ICE raids and other immigration enforcement.
Executive orders targeting nonprofits that help immigrants.
Threats to prosecute people for sharing constitutionally-protected “know your rights” information.
Mass deportations – including to the controversial detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

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

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.

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

Use your moral voice to speak out in favor of immigrants and refugees

Many religious denominations have rich resources and traditions related to welcoming strangers. We can make a difference by drawing upon these resources to make moral arguments in favor of humane immigration policies, and in joining together across faith traditions to call for a more welcoming America. Use your voice to share your perspective with others and mobilize your community. Write an op-ed for your local paper on why supporting immigrants and refugees matters to you. Give a sermon to your congregation on why you feel compelled, as a person of faith, to act during this pivotal moment.

Donate to organizations supporting refugees

Reach out to your local refugee resettlement agency or any other organizations serving newly arrived migrants to see whether they need in-kind goods or donations. With the defunding of the refugee resettlement organizations, these organizations are relying more than ever on private donations to fill the gap. These agencies include HIAS, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Global Refuge, Islamic Relief, World Relief, and others.

Work with local leaders to “Stand Up for Welcoming”

Local communities have an important role to play in making immigrants feel welcome. Welcoming America’s Four Practical Actions for Local Leaders includes:

Set shared values to guide local decision-making.
Convene a multi-sector welcoming network.
Create a “Welcoming Fund” to finance local response.
Inspire local support.

You can join with local government officials and leaders across sectors to create a welcoming community. For practical steps, visit WelcomingAmerica.org

Help your neighbors know their rights

Many congregations have wondered what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows up at their congregation. Individuals are also asking what rights their immigrant neighbors have when approached by authorities. While each individual congregation should consult their own legal counsel on best practices, the RAC has published a guide, “What to do when ICE knocks on your congregation door,” with links to resources from various religious communities.

Volunteer

Partner

Offer Support

Reflect

Consider this classic Jewish teaching Yalkut Shimoni 13:2 on Genesis (adapted):

God gathered dust [to create the first human] from the four corners of the world… Why from the four corners of the earth? So that if one comes from the east to the west… as they near departing from the world, it will not be said to them, “This land is not the dust of your body, it’s of mine. Go back to where you were created!” Rather, every place that a person walks, from there they were created and from there they will return.

Reflect on your own, with a partner, or in a group, and consider the following:

How does this passage compel us to welcome immigrants and refugees, seeing them as part of our shared humanity, regardless of their place of origin?

What feelings or thoughts does this passage evoke for you?

What are the places that you have walked and how have they shaped you? What about the places that generations before you have walked?

How might this passage help us think about the belonging of immigrants and refugees, who may be displaced from their countries of origin?

What does it say about the rights of immigrants and refugees to be accepted and to claim a place in society?

Explore all toolkits in the Faithful Fight series.

These toolkits bring together strategies from religious leaders across denominations to help communities mobilize against authoritarian actions.
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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.

Learn more about Tamara Upfal