Do not remain indifferent! Caring for the strangers in our midst

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Tori Luecking

In Leviticus 19:34 we read: “The stranger (sometimes translated as “the foreigner”) who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am Adonai your God.”  We cannot remain indifferent to the plight of these members of our community.

Over 36 times our Torah tells us to honor, love and care for the stranger.  The Union for Reform Judaism and the Religious Action Center have called upon Reform congregations to do all that we can to help those

struggling within our nation’s broken and unjust immigration system.

Last Friday evening during Tzedek (Justice) Shabbat, Reverend Rebecca Turner spoke to us about Alex Garcia and her congregation’s decision to provide him sanctuary after he received deportation orders from ICE.  We encourage everyone who could not attend services to watch Rev. Turner’s powerful and moving remarks.

To watch her sermon from Shabbat Services, click the video below.

To See Reverend Turner’s Sermon, fast-forward the video to the 49 minute mark.

2/8/19 | 6 PM – Erev Shabbat – Friday Evening Shabbat Service from Congregation Shaare Emeth on Vimeo.

Then, on Tuesday, we learned that Ilsa Guzman, mother of three, was taken into custody by ICE agents here in St. Louis and is set to be deported to Honduras within the week.

Read the full story from CBS News here:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-arrests-iilsa-guzman-married-mother-of-3-during-routine-check-in-deportation-honduras/

Here are some actions that we can take.

1. For the most up-to-date information on Ilsa Guzman, follow this Facebook page:  Facebook
2. Make a donation that will directly help Alex Garcia and his family, http://www.maplewooducc.org/donate.html.
3. Join Rabbi Goldstein at the St. Louis Interfaith Committee on Latin America’s ICE Accompaniment Training on Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 6-8pm at St. Anselm’s Parish on South Mason Rd. Details here: https://stl-ifcla.org/events/2019/2/27/ice-accompaniment-program-training.

Questions?  Contact Rabbi Andrea Goldstein at [email protected]