How often do liberal and evangelical Christians, Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews all agree about something? Recently, representatives from these groups agreed on the following: Children should not be forcibly separated from their parents.
In response to the immoral decision by the Department of Justice, with the full support of the White House. to wrest thousands of children away from their parents in an attempt to deter asylum seekers, religious groups across the ideological spectrum have issued intense opposition.
The following appeared in a statement signed by the Anti-Defamation League as well as leading Jewish organizations that include the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly:
“As Jews, we understand the plight of being an immigrant fleeing violence and oppression. We believe that the United States is a nation of immigrants and how we treat the stranger reflects on the moral values and ideals of this nation.
“Many of these migrant families are seeking asylum in the United States to escape violence in Central America. Taking children away from their families is unconscionable. Such practices inflict unnecessary trauma on parents and children, many of whom have already suffered traumatic experiences. This added trauma negatively impacts physical and mental health, including increasing the risk of early death.”
Perhaps you have heard the recorded sounds of small children crying for their parents or perhaps you have seen pictures. This is not a time for silence, not a time for careful contemplation, not a time to weigh pros and cons.
There may be room for reasonable debate about a variety of issues pertaining to immigration, but not about the forced separation of parents and children as a deterrence tactic. It is immoral and un-American. And Jews, who know the perils of such actions first-hand, should be at the forefront of protest and condemnation.
If you would like to make your opinion known, I encourage you to sign this petition circulated by the ADL.
We who have historic and personal memories of the separation of children and parents. We who are forever grateful to the brave souls of our faith and other faiths who took steps throughout our history to rescue children and restore them to their parents. We who annually recite the words anticipating the time when Elijah will turn the hearts of the parents to the children and the hearts of the children to the parents.
We can’t sit this one out. We must step up and speak out. Children are crying out to us and we must answer. As Jews, as Americans, as human beings, we must answer their cry.
Shared with the Temple Israel of Great Neck Community on June 20, 2018
In response to the immoral decision by the Department of Justice, with the full support of the White House. to wrest thousands of children away from their parents in an attempt to deter asylum seekers, religious groups across the ideological spectrum have issued intense opposition.
The following appeared in a statement signed by the Anti-Defamation League as well as leading Jewish organizations that include the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly:
“As Jews, we understand the plight of being an immigrant fleeing violence and oppression. We believe that the United States is a nation of immigrants and how we treat the stranger reflects on the moral values and ideals of this nation.
“Many of these migrant families are seeking asylum in the United States to escape violence in Central America. Taking children away from their families is unconscionable. Such practices inflict unnecessary trauma on parents and children, many of whom have already suffered traumatic experiences. This added trauma negatively impacts physical and mental health, including increasing the risk of early death.”
Perhaps you have heard the recorded sounds of small children crying for their parents or perhaps you have seen pictures. This is not a time for silence, not a time for careful contemplation, not a time to weigh pros and cons.
There may be room for reasonable debate about a variety of issues pertaining to immigration, but not about the forced separation of parents and children as a deterrence tactic. It is immoral and un-American. And Jews, who know the perils of such actions first-hand, should be at the forefront of protest and condemnation.
If you would like to make your opinion known, I encourage you to sign this petition circulated by the ADL.
We who have historic and personal memories of the separation of children and parents. We who are forever grateful to the brave souls of our faith and other faiths who took steps throughout our history to rescue children and restore them to their parents. We who annually recite the words anticipating the time when Elijah will turn the hearts of the parents to the children and the hearts of the children to the parents.
We can’t sit this one out. We must step up and speak out. Children are crying out to us and we must answer. As Jews, as Americans, as human beings, we must answer their cry.
Shared with the Temple Israel of Great Neck Community on June 20, 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment