Zioness Statement: Families Belong Together
Like all people of moral conscience, we are sickened and horrified by the images of young children confined to cages and prison-like cells along our Southern border. We wholeheartedly oppose this administration’s heartless and morally reprehensible immigration policy agenda, which stands contrary to our values as Americans and as Zionists.
America is a nation of immigrants, founded on the belief that humans have inalienable rights. Throughout history Americans have fought to ensure that these rights extend to all people in our country and beyond.
As Jews, we understand the importance of treating all people with dignity and kindness. For two millennia, the Jewish people were forced to wander, exiled from countries again and again, forced to abandon our heritage, subject to laws designating Jews as second-class citizens, terrorized by pogroms, and targeted for extermination and genocide.
Zionism is rooted in the knowledge and understanding of this history.
Zioness calls on all officials to do all that is in their power to protect migrant families and live up to American values. We call on President Donald Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to end all of these cruel policies and reunite these families. We call on all federal leaders to swiftly enact compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform.
The United States of America should not stand for hate, for ripping apart families, for children crying out for their parents. We should welcome the stranger, and we repeat the words written in Exodus 22:20:
וְגֵ֥ר לֹא־תוֹנֶ֖ה וְלֹ֣א תִלְחָצֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם.
“You shall not wrong nor oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”