Harachaman, Compassionate One.
God who knows the heart of the stranger, who commands us to protect gerim– the immigrants and refugees among us.
God, You have seen this story before. A leader concerned only with his own profit and glory scapegoats a foreign minority, and persecutes them for his own gain. You remember This is the story of Pharaoh in Egypt – how You saw our ancestors’ enslavement and heard their cry, and brought about their liberation.
Grant strength to those marching on the streets of Minnesota and across the country, as they stand up against ICE to protect our neighbors.
Grant safety to the immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees among us, and to all those targeted by the cruelty of this government.
Grant us the fortitude of Moses, who refused any freedom that didn’t include everyone– who responded to Pharaoh’s offer to let the men go free by insisting that the men, women, and children must all go free together. Give us the courage not to let ourselves be divided– let us fight together for the safety of everyone in this country– adults and children, U.S. and foreign born, people of all races, faiths, and backgrounds.
Please God, remind us of the weight of our actions. As Jews, our communities know that immigration policy is a matter of life and death. So many of our families are alive today because this country’s doors were open before 1924. Too many of our relatives died when those doors remained closed to our people trying to flee Nazi Germany.
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר ה’
Thus said God to Pharaoh:
עַד־מָתַ֣י מֵאַ֔נְתָּ לֵעָנֹ֖ת מִפָּנָ֑י
“How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?”
God, with signs and wonders You humbled Pharaoh because he believed himself to be a god. He believed that he could do as he pleased, to enrich himself while oppressing those most vulnerable. But You, God, are the one who stands with the vulnerable, with the stranger, with the immigrants. You bring low the arrogant and lift up the lowly.
In the words of Your Torah:,
וְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.
Today, we, faith leaders and people of faith are taking Your words and Your commandments to the street, in Minnesota and across the country, to show that we won’t stand by as our neighbors are kidnapped from their homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Bless the works of our hands, and grant us success. Spread your shelter of peace and safety over us, over our neighbors and our communities, over all the people of these United States, and over all who dwell on this earth.