Rabbi's Blog

Shalom Chevrei Tifereth Israel,

There were a number of aspects of Tifereth Israel that particularly drew my attention when I was looking for a new rabbinic placement five years ago. One of those was a longstanding commitment to social action and social justice. The following is mentioned in the history on the TI website: “From the 1960s through the 1990s, with active lay leadership and the support of Rabbi Abramowitz and then Rabbi Ethan Seidel (hired in 1992), TI embraced a commitment to social justice and charitable projects. The Social Action Committee, begun in the late 1960s, worked to address concerns in the greater Washington community such as feeding the homeless, visiting shut-ins, conducting food and clothing collections, and tutoring children from the neighborhood school, Shepherd Elementary.”

Beyond supporting individuals through social action programs, TI has been a voice for social justice as well. Issues of importance have focused on the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement and support of the LGBTQ community. Today we face an issue that also rests at the core of the TI community: supporting immigrants. Again from the history: “In the fall of 1916, six recent immigrants from Russia, Poland and Austria met at 2328 Ontario Road, NW, to create a congregation that would become Tifereth Israel.”

At a recent Board of Directors meeting, the TI Board unanimously passed a resolution affirming our congregation's commitment to the respectful, fair, and compassionate treatment of immigrants. The resolution was proposed by TI participants in SEA Change DMV (a network of synagogues committed to social justice of which TI is a member, https://www.seachangedmv.org/) and the TI Social Action Committee  This decision reflects our deep-seated Jewish values and our congregation's history of supporting immigrant families.

As articulated in the resolution:

• We are guided by the Torah's repeated emphasis on welcoming the stranger, remembering our own history as migrants in Egypt (Leviticus 19:33-34).
• We recognize that many of our members, families, and staff are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, and that their stories are integral to our community.
• We acknowledge the increasing precarity and danger faced by immigrants due to anti-immigrant sentiment.

Therefore, the Board of Directors of Tifereth Israel, representing over 340 families, has resolved:

• To stand in solidarity with immigrants facing uncertainty and fear.
• To work to preserve due process and prevent racial profiling.
• To actively support immigrant families and individuals facing discrimination.
• To encourage TI Board, staff, and congregants to take necessary and appropriate actions consistent with the resolution.
• To support the clergy in their actions in support of immigrants’ rights, recognizing the freedom of the pulpit.

This resolution is a testament to our commitment to tzedek (justice), chesed (loving-kindness), and hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests). We believe that it is our moral and ethical responsibility to extend compassion and support to those who are vulnerable and marginalized.

We encourage you to read the full text of the resolution, which is available by clicking here.

We invite you to join us in the following ways
1. Educate—yourselves, your friends and your immigrant neighbors about rights that all residents of the United States share, regardless of their immigration status. The National Immigration Law Center provides a good “know your rights” overview:  https://www.nilc.org/resources/know-your-rights-what-to-do-if-arrested-detained-immigration/

2. Support—provide financial support, volunteer your time and skills, and offer encouragement to immigrants who may be experiencing various kinds of hardships

Connect with organizations such as CASA, KIND, AYUDA, Identity and LAYC .

3. Advocate—protest against unjust detentions and deportations, advocate for policies that keep families together, and help immigrants access benefits and services for which they are eligible 
Organizations doing this work include CASA, the Congregation Action Network, WIN, and JUFJ.

There are already efforts underway at TI including our direct support for Afghan refugee families and translation for immigrants needing help with forms and applications.  To learn more about ongoing work and help us decide how to build on that work to carry out the commitment expressed in this resolution, please attend the next Social Action Committee meeting on May 14, at 7:30 pm. 

I am proud to be part of a congregation that translates our Jewish values into meaningful action.

l’Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

 

Tifereth Israel Congregation
7701 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20012
202-882-1605 | info@tifereth-israel.org

​​​​​​​www.tifereth-israel.org ​​​​​​​