It was a very important moment in USA history; the birth of the Immigrant movement. It did not pay off, but it started something. I looked for Jewish groups working with the immigrant communities, and found: Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (www.JFREJ.org). This group and Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps, The Jewish FundS for Justice and The Workmen's Circle/ Arbeter Ring, co sponsored a Forum, a panel discussion designed to answer audience questions about the growing immigrant rights movement, the historical context of immigrant struggles and ways to take action and speak up as Jews. Panelists included Raquel Batista, Director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, Congregation Rodeph Sholom and Ariella Rotramel, an active JFREJ Member and Graduate Student, Women's and Gender Studies, Rutgers University. Jon Moscow, JFREJ Board Member, will moderate. The event was free and open to the public.
“Since biblical times, we Jews have been immigrants, and since biblical times, we have been in pursuit of a society which is just,” said panelist Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, “ For both these reasons, it is incumbent upon us to understand immigration as it plays out today.” Dara Silverman, JFREJ Director explained, “This forum will address how the immigrant rights movement is building, what comes next and how Jews, with a strong immigrant history, can take on a critical role in defending the rights of immigrants today.” Nationally, the immigration debate rages. Proposed new laws threaten civil liberties, immigrant rights and our relations with other countries and put pressure on labor standards and worker rights. “JFREJ has been working in support of immigrant rights for over 10 years. From our work with the Chinese Staff and Workers Association fighting for back wages, fighting for police attacks on immigrants like Amadou Diallo, to our ongoing work for Domestic Workers’ rights, JFREJ has been and is there,” stated Dara Silverman, JFREJ Director.
The photographs below belong to the massive Immigrant rally in NYC:
