NEW YORK — Today, T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization that represents over 2,000 rabbis and cantors and their communities in North America, released the following statement in reaction to the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as thousands of at-risk citizens are trying to flee the Taliban-controlled country.
Rabbi Nancy Wiener, board co-chair of T’ruah, released the following statement:
“As the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan grows, making in-country refugee processing impossible, the United States has a moral obligation to evacuate as many at-risk Afghans as possible. We cannot turn our backs on those Afghans who have served as interpreters and contractors for the U.S. over the last two decades. Nor can we in good conscience abandon other groups whose lives are now at risk, including human rights workers, journalists and religious minorities.
“We proudly stand with our partners in calling for the Biden administration to get Afghans to the U.S. or other third countries for expedited processing of Special Immigrant Visa applications. We thank President Biden for instituting plans to accelerate their evacuation, however we know much more needs to be done in order to ensure a speedy and inclusive process.
“The Torah teaches the obligation to extend love and care to people from outside our home society: ‘you shall love this person as yourself, for you were gerim [foreigners] in the land of Egypt.’ (Leviticus 19:34). As Jewish leaders, we understand the importance of a just, transparent and timely system for refugees to gain legal entry into the United States. We know too well the pain of fleeing from countries where we are no longer safe and the tragic results of the U.S. closing its borders to Jews in 1924.
“Article 14 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees that ‘everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.’ We call on the White House to evacuate those who are facing imminent danger to protect this sacred human right.”
About T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of more than 2,000 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
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[description] => Jewish history has taught us that fascism arrives slowly, through the steady erosion of liberties. And we have learned that those who attack other minorities will eventually come to attack us. To our great dismay, we learned this truth again when, during the last election campaign, antisemitism rose to the fore, along with racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, and homophobia. These are not Jewish nor American values, and T’ruah is more committed than ever to defending the human rights of all people as precious creations of the divine.
Now more than ever, your voice is urgently needed to counter the rising tide of intolerance and hatred of minorities in our country. Click below to sign the pledge to hold Trump accountable for upholding human rights and civil liberties.
If you are a rabbi or cantor, sign here.
If you are a lay member of the Jewish community, sign here.
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-Deuteronomy 10:19
Most immigrants to the U.S. come seeking safety, freedom, and a better life, just as many of our families did. Jewish texts, history, traditions, and values compel us to welcome them with dignity and compassion.
But our country’s policies towards immigrants remain far from our shared vision. While the Trump Administration’s dangerous policies were blatantly rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white supremacy, President Biden has not made the improvements our communities have demanded.
The United States must follow international human rights law when it comes to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. Our government must also recognize and redress the systemic racism that permeates our immigration system, discriminating against immigrants of color.
In the fight for true immigrant justice and relief, we need all hands on deck.
Our work includes:
- Organizing clergy through our BIMA Campaign (Building Immigration Momentum & Action), encouraging rabbis and cantors to recognize how they can use their platform to change the narrative around immigration for the better
- Human rights delegations to the southern border for clergy, with our partners at HIAS
- Coalition work through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Working with the All In For Registry campaign to update our immigration laws to allow millions of longtime undocumented US residents a path to permanent legal status
- Advocating to Congress and the federal government for a more humane immigration system that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees with dignity, provides legitimate pathways to citizenship for more of our neighbors, and reduces reliance on detention and deportation.
*In the Torah, the word "ger" refers to a person who came from elsewhere, but is now a long-term or permanent resident of their new community.
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T’ruah’s sanctuary network, Mikdash, is made up of over 70 member communities. We work as part of an interfaith network to mobilize synagogues and other Jewish communities to protect those facing deportation or other immigration challenges. By becoming part of the Mikdash network, communities pledge to take concrete actions, which may include legal support, housing, financial help, and other assistance for our friends and neighbors.
The New Sanctuary Movement — a coalition of hundreds of immigrant and faith-based organizations — works to protect and defend immigrants in the United States, especially those at risk for arrest and deportation. At T'ruah, we believe we have a moral obligation to join in their struggle, honoring the biblical injunction to "welcome the stranger" as well as the memory of Jewish refugees around the world.
With our help, Jewish communities across the United States are joining with others to take action to support and protect the vulnerable.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about becoming a sanctuary community, please contact us at office@truah.org.
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Now more than ever, your voice is urgently needed to counter the rising tide of intolerance and hatred of minorities in our country. Click below to sign the pledge to hold Trump accountable for upholding human rights and civil liberties.
If you are a rabbi or cantor, sign here.
If you are a lay member of the Jewish community, sign here.
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-Deuteronomy 10:19
Most immigrants to the U.S. come seeking safety, freedom, and a better life, just as many of our families did. Jewish texts, history, traditions, and values compel us to welcome them with dignity and compassion.
But our country’s policies towards immigrants remain far from our shared vision. While the Trump Administration’s dangerous policies were blatantly rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white supremacy, President Biden has not made the improvements our communities have demanded.
The United States must follow international human rights law when it comes to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. Our government must also recognize and redress the systemic racism that permeates our immigration system, discriminating against immigrants of color.
In the fight for true immigrant justice and relief, we need all hands on deck.
Our work includes:
- Organizing clergy through our BIMA Campaign (Building Immigration Momentum & Action), encouraging rabbis and cantors to recognize how they can use their platform to change the narrative around immigration for the better
- Human rights delegations to the southern border for clergy, with our partners at HIAS
- Coalition work through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Working with the All In For Registry campaign to update our immigration laws to allow millions of longtime undocumented US residents a path to permanent legal status
- Advocating to Congress and the federal government for a more humane immigration system that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees with dignity, provides legitimate pathways to citizenship for more of our neighbors, and reduces reliance on detention and deportation.
*In the Torah, the word "ger" refers to a person who came from elsewhere, but is now a long-term or permanent resident of their new community.
Partners:
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The New Sanctuary Movement — a coalition of hundreds of immigrant and faith-based organizations — works to protect and defend immigrants in the United States, especially those at risk for arrest and deportation. At T'ruah, we believe we have a moral obligation to join in their struggle, honoring the biblical injunction to "welcome the stranger" as well as the memory of Jewish refugees around the world.
With our help, Jewish communities across the United States are joining with others to take action to support and protect the vulnerable.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about becoming a sanctuary community, please contact us at office@truah.org.
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Now more than ever, your voice is urgently needed to counter the rising tide of intolerance and hatred of minorities in our country. Click below to sign the pledge to hold Trump accountable for upholding human rights and civil liberties.
If you are a rabbi or cantor, sign here.
If you are a lay member of the Jewish community, sign here.
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-Deuteronomy 10:19
Most immigrants to the U.S. come seeking safety, freedom, and a better life, just as many of our families did. Jewish texts, history, traditions, and values compel us to welcome them with dignity and compassion.
But our country’s policies towards immigrants remain far from our shared vision. While the Trump Administration’s dangerous policies were blatantly rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white supremacy, President Biden has not made the improvements our communities have demanded.
The United States must follow international human rights law when it comes to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. Our government must also recognize and redress the systemic racism that permeates our immigration system, discriminating against immigrants of color.
In the fight for true immigrant justice and relief, we need all hands on deck.
Our work includes:
- Organizing clergy through our BIMA Campaign (Building Immigration Momentum & Action), encouraging rabbis and cantors to recognize how they can use their platform to change the narrative around immigration for the better
- Human rights delegations to the southern border for clergy, with our partners at HIAS
- Coalition work through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Working with the All In For Registry campaign to update our immigration laws to allow millions of longtime undocumented US residents a path to permanent legal status
- Advocating to Congress and the federal government for a more humane immigration system that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees with dignity, provides legitimate pathways to citizenship for more of our neighbors, and reduces reliance on detention and deportation.
*In the Torah, the word "ger" refers to a person who came from elsewhere, but is now a long-term or permanent resident of their new community.
Partners:
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The New Sanctuary Movement — a coalition of hundreds of immigrant and faith-based organizations — works to protect and defend immigrants in the United States, especially those at risk for arrest and deportation. At T'ruah, we believe we have a moral obligation to join in their struggle, honoring the biblical injunction to "welcome the stranger" as well as the memory of Jewish refugees around the world.
With our help, Jewish communities across the United States are joining with others to take action to support and protect the vulnerable.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about becoming a sanctuary community, please contact us at office@truah.org.
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Now more than ever, your voice is urgently needed to counter the rising tide of intolerance and hatred of minorities in our country. Click below to sign the pledge to hold Trump accountable for upholding human rights and civil liberties.
If you are a rabbi or cantor, sign here.
If you are a lay member of the Jewish community, sign here.
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-Deuteronomy 10:19
Most immigrants to the U.S. come seeking safety, freedom, and a better life, just as many of our families did. Jewish texts, history, traditions, and values compel us to welcome them with dignity and compassion.
But our country’s policies towards immigrants remain far from our shared vision. While the Trump Administration’s dangerous policies were blatantly rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white supremacy, President Biden has not made the improvements our communities have demanded.
The United States must follow international human rights law when it comes to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. Our government must also recognize and redress the systemic racism that permeates our immigration system, discriminating against immigrants of color.
In the fight for true immigrant justice and relief, we need all hands on deck.
Our work includes:
- Organizing clergy through our BIMA Campaign (Building Immigration Momentum & Action), encouraging rabbis and cantors to recognize how they can use their platform to change the narrative around immigration for the better
- Human rights delegations to the southern border for clergy, with our partners at HIAS
- Coalition work through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Working with the All In For Registry campaign to update our immigration laws to allow millions of longtime undocumented US residents a path to permanent legal status
- Advocating to Congress and the federal government for a more humane immigration system that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees with dignity, provides legitimate pathways to citizenship for more of our neighbors, and reduces reliance on detention and deportation.
*In the Torah, the word "ger" refers to a person who came from elsewhere, but is now a long-term or permanent resident of their new community.
Partners:
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The New Sanctuary Movement — a coalition of hundreds of immigrant and faith-based organizations — works to protect and defend immigrants in the United States, especially those at risk for arrest and deportation. At T'ruah, we believe we have a moral obligation to join in their struggle, honoring the biblical injunction to "welcome the stranger" as well as the memory of Jewish refugees around the world.
With our help, Jewish communities across the United States are joining with others to take action to support and protect the vulnerable.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about becoming a sanctuary community, please contact us at office@truah.org.
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