Happy Passover!
As is our custom, I share with you the timeless teachings of Leviticus 19:33-34, which has guided the Jewish People for over four thousand years. It may not be the message you hear from others, but it is our message and what we live by. Today it is more important than ever that our message be heard:
“When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall live him as yourself, for you were migrants in the land of Egypt; I the LORD and
your G-d.”
This is what we believe, and no one is changing our minds.
Some religions require their adherents to oppose freedom of choice for women, or marriage equality, or acceptance of transgenders, or stem cell research.
Our religion compels us to oppose mistreatment of immigrants and to support them in every possible way. So when someone attacks our views on immigrants, they are not attacking a political viewpoint, they are attacking who we are as a People.
Memo to those who hate us because of who we are, especially because we must love the immigrant: we’ve been around a lot longer than you and we’ll be here long after you’re gone. Just think about that for a moment.
Zissen Pesach!
For we were once strangers in a strange land.