On Refugees and Immigrants
On Refugees and Immigrants
Read the Conservative/Masorti statement.
Find out about local programs to aid refugees
Dear Members,
Two weeks ago we began reading the Book of Exodus, and never before has the opening of the Book felt so real. Never before has the rise of the new Pharaoh—who feared outsiders and those with dissenting opinions—felt so relevant. And, more optimistically, never before has its message of struggle, resistance, and confidence of belief felt more edifying. We are the descendants of the Israelites who fled famine in Canaan and saw Egypt as a land of opportunity. Yet as the generations passed and the memory of Joseph fades, the Israelites' story culminates in slavery.
But this did not happen overnight, nor was a regime change the sole reason for this drastic descent. We have to believe, as one participant in the original This American Shabbat pointed out, it had to have been due, at least in part, to ordinary Egyptians' indifference. A regime change spurred the descent and provided the legality for it, but the citizens who lived next door to the Israelite sojourners sowed their fate; Jewish history is a history of non‑Jewish neighbors turning a blind eye.
We have inherited the tradition of those who were expelled from Spain and told they were no longer welcome. And we are the children, grandchildren, friends, or quite possibly ourselves, the Survivors of the Holocaust, which too began with indifference. If we are to learn one thing from the Torah, if there is one truth from the Book of Exodus, it is that we were once strangers in a strange land. And now Jews, more than any other people, are better equipped to see those who have been forced into vulnerable positions. We must now fully sink our teeth into the book that chronicles our swift decay from normalcy to slavery, and we must stand up and say No. That we inherit the heart of Moses, who despite physical limitations and emotional fears spoke to and for his fellow Israelites and, more importantly, spoke to their master—he knew the truth of the story before it was written and, now, so do we.
I was at O'Hare Airport Sunday night. I was scared to go. Is it my place? How will I be perceived wearing my kippah? Am I going as David or as Rabbi Minkus of Congregation Rodfei Zedek? Involving myself, even on the periphery is not something that comes naturally or with much ease. But now, as is often the case with the Torah, which was written in a different time for a different audience, it has demonstrated its eternal flame of guidance and sanctity. I am new to using my voice to speak to power—I am not used to being the one who feels more secure than many others, and I am sure I am not alone. Let us help each other recognize the ways we can stand up for what it means to be American and how we live out the essence of what it means to be a Jew. We need to ensure that, as actively as we can, we are always demanding justice; and let's do it as a community, as the Congregation "Pursuers of Justice".
I am proud that Rodfei Zedek is a member of United Synagogue and that I am a member the Rabbinical Assembly and graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary, who, along with many others, have condemned President Trump's travel ban.
These are uncertain times, when it seems like that uncertainty and fear may increase before it subsides. Let us all lean in rather than sitting back.
January 31, 2017
Fri, August 12 2022
15 Av 5782
Upcoming Events
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Saturday ,
AugAugust 13 , 2022
Saturday, Aug 13th 9:15a to 11:45a
Join us in person or over Zoom for our Masorti minyan. -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 20 , 2022
Saturday, Aug 20th 9:15a to 11:30a
This is our egalitarian, participatory service with a full Torah and Haftarah reading, and will meet without technology. -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 20 , 2022
Saturday, Aug 20th 8:00p to 9:30p
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Sunday ,
AugAugust 28 , 2022
Sunday, Aug 28th 9:45a to 11:30a
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, many of us feel an urgent need to support reproductive health care, but we’re not sure what we can do, or how to plug into existing networks that are working to protect abortion access. KAM Isaiah Israel and Congregation Rodfei Zedek are co-sponsoring a program at KAMII to help us find ways to take action for reproductive justice. Hear from speakers from organizations including Planned Parenthood of Illinois, the Chicago Abortion Fund and Men 4 Choice. Help Assemble post-procedure kits for the Chicago Abortion Fund, and find out where donations are most needed, how to sign up as volunteers and what the most urgent needs are to keep abortion safe and legal in Illinois. This event is open to the entire community, so please join us and share with others! Childcare will be provided in a separate room and light refreshments will be served. More details about the program and our speakers will be coming soon. Register here -
Tuesday ,
AugAugust 30 , 2022
Tuesday, Aug 30th 7:00p to 8:30p
Given the recent rise in anti-Semitic attacks, it is imperative that our community is prepared in the event of an attack. This training, provided by the Jewish United Fund's Security Director Daniel Godsel, will help us understand what we need to do in an active threat situation. The training utilizes a video that demonstrates the principles of run, hide, fight, as well as general situational awareness. There will also ensure time for questions at the end.