Thousands of American Jews were shocked and horrified to hear of the riots aimed at African refugees and migrants in South Tel Aviv a few weeks ago. A few hundred Israelis, incited by lashon hara, evil speech, marched through immigrant neighborhoods, chanting racist slogans, smashing stores and even physically attacking innocents.
It goes without saying that these actions are unequivocally immoral, anti-Jewish, anti-Torah, and totally wrong. Millions of American Jews share this sentiment, yet the response of the American Jewish community has mostly been embarrassment, some words of reproach, and quiet handwringing. It's time to do more. It's time to give.
The question of how to deal with a rapid influx of thousands of legitimate asylum seekers fleeing genocide and ethnic violence, mixed with others who are not fleeing persecution but instead enter illegally while looking for work, is not easily answered. And let's be sure, the plight of these migrants is not Israel's fault. It is the fault of the corrupt and immoral dictators they are fleeing. And citizens of many countries along the way from Sudan and Eritrea to Israel have kidnapped, raped, shot and killed these immigrants.
But that does not absolve the State of Israel and the Jewish people of perhaps the most Jewish responsibility: the responsibility to care for the vulnerable in our midst. As the medieval commentator writes in his classic explanation of the 613 mitzvot, the Sefer Hachinuch on the mitzvah to love the stranger:
"We learn from this commandment to take pity on any person who is in a town or city that is not his native ground and site of the family of his ancestors. Let us not abuse him in any way, finding him alone, with those who would help him far away... The Torah demands us to have compassion on anyone who needs help."
The Israeli government has not found a way to address this problem in accordance with the Torah's teaching. Years of non-policy allowed the situation to grow and fester, with tens of thousands of immigrants living in limbo, not granted refugee status or work papers, or humanely sent to a safe place. As signers of the 1951/1967 UN Convention relating to refugees, Israel has a legal obligation to deal with this matter.
However, every day several organizations and hundreds of volunteers are working on the issue, stepping in where the government has been inactive, and providing safety, health care, refugee support, skills, food and more. Today, you can join in this effort.
If you believe in the Torah's value of loving and treating the stranger with kindness, compassion and decency, then join these organizations, today, by giving money to one of these groups. Whether it's five, five hundred, or five thousand dollars, this is the best way to make a difference for those of us in north America who share the Jewish value of rachamim, compassion.
I recently spent some time in Israel and met with some of the people involved, including refugees, doctors, activists and others. Based on my conversations and research, these are the organizations which are making a difference on the ground and which could really use your support. If I missed any, please contact me with the name, a short description and I will add them to the list. Find the organization that is addressing this problem in a way that speaks the most to you and make a meaningful donation. Now. The situation is urgent and they need your support.
Basic Social Services
The African Refugee Development Center seeks to ensure access to basic social services, and to facilitate refugee and asylum seeker integration, self-sufficiency and ownership in matters affecting their lives. The ARDC advocates for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and for a humane and fair Israeli asylum policy. It divides its work between individual counseling, humanitarian aid, education, community development, awareness raising and policy initiatives. Learn more here.
Legal Representation and Systemic Justice
The Hotline for Migrant Workers ((HMW), established in 1998, is a non-partisan, not for profit organization, dedicated to promoting the rights of undocumented migrant workers and refugees. Their staff and volunteers provide refugees and workers with humanitarian aid and para-legal representation while working to secure their release. Their legal department files precedent-setting suits on topics such as detention conditions, illegal detention, deportation to Egypt, judicial review and more. Learn more here.
Psychosocial Support
ASSAF's mission is to protect those entering Israel in search of asylum, strengthening their coping mechanisms so that they can face the daily economic, social, legal and emotional challenges facing them while facilitating their dignified existence. Since its inception, ASSAF has assisted hundreds of at-risk refugee individuals, women, children, unaccompanied minors and families seeking refuge and asylum in Israel in addition to facilitating community autonomy and empowerment, advocacy and tackling policy change. Learn more here.
Protecting Pregnant Mothers
"Hagar and Miriam" is a project that was set up for African asylum seeker and refugee women in Israel who are pregnant or who have recently given birth. The project allows these women to cope with their pregnancy and transition to motherhood in light of the difficulties of moving to a foreign country where they don't know the local language and where they have to find a way to support themselves while they acclimatize to the local culture. Learn more here.
Thanks to the holy work of these Israeli non-profits, we have the opportunity to fulfill our obligation to love the stranger and make a more merciful and just world.
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https://vimeo.com/45049568
The Germans have been good teachers, and we have been good students.
Documentary: https://vimeo.com/45049568
Petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/israeli-ambassador-to-the-us-and-all-us-consul-generals-tell-israel-implement-fair-policy-upholding-asylum-seekers-rights
Moreover, no matter how immigrant-friendly Israel may be, any nation has the right and the duty to police its borders. As is the case with America’s southern border, there are no easy or simple solutions–people who want to come will find a way to get in. But no nation can be expected to just simply accept such a situation, especially when it brings with it a rise in crime and other social pathologies. Though nothing justifies some of the unfortunate statements made against refugees, Israel has a right to ask those who arrive without permission to leave and to ensure that those illegals who keep coming are kept out.
It behooves any compassionate person to be deeply concerned for their welfare and to extend him or herself to aid them in any way possible.
Belittling the need or rationalizing why Israel or Israelis cannot help comes from a place of callousness and particularism if not outright racism. Of course we cannot sustain all of Africa; does that mean that we should physically abuse and verbally degrade those who are currently within our borders?
This is a situation which tests us as a civilization - are we so caught up in ourselves that we have no room to feel the pain of another?
I am working to keep a group of 15 african children cared for by one destitute refugee couple (mostly adopted children) from being put on the street. Their orphanage/kindergarten was attacked by Jews with a molotov cocktail. Can anyone deny the need for us Israelis to stand up for these people and assist and defend them?
Perhaps on a legal level our nation can absolve itself on technical grounds. But what kind of compassionate person would turn away from such a need, much less one claiming to be inspired by our holy Torah?
The parents who run the day care themselves are war refugees who lost many family members to war in africa and most of their party did not survive the arduous journey across sinai. They are the real heroes we are just helping them.
They are rea
By contrast, the few true refugees who make it to Israel have been received there and taken care of. And, this in addition to the millions of refugees - be it from North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe or Ethiopia - who have arrived in Israel since it was proclaimed in 1948. These people have been absorbed, housed, clothed, fed have been provided with medical care, education and work and are today productive members of Israeli society.
What some - due to lack of knowledge of reality, and lack of appreciation of the larger context - expect of tiny Israel to do is resolve the huge movement of many millions of Africans northward due to predicaments developed in Africa during the past many decades. Europe can't handle these waves, thus how can Israel - a country the size of Wales in the UK and Slovenia in continental Europe - do so...??
We're talking about 60,000 people (i.e., less than 1% of the population of Israel), not millions and millions.