fbpx Reconstructing Judaism Joins More than 375 Interfaith Groups Urging Biden to Expedite Refugee Efforts | Reconstructing Judaism

Reconstructing Judaism Joins More than 375 Interfaith Groups Urging Biden to Expedite Refugee Efforts

News

Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s March 16 speech to Congress, more than 375 Jewish and other faith-based groups and organizations urged President Joe Biden to take immediate steps to welcome refugees from Ukraine. Jewish Federations of North America spearheaded the March 18 letter. Click here to view the PDF of the letter and see the full list of organizations that signed on. 

Dear President Biden,

Thank you for your leadership in prioritizing humanitarian relief to support the people of Ukraine and granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians currently in the United States. Given the continuing humanitarian emergency and new estimates for Ukrainian refugees reaching three million, the Jewish community and our faith partners across the United States urge you to take immediate steps to help Ukrainian civilians, including by expediting the resettlement of Ukrainians who are already in process to come to the United States thanks to their close family ties here.

The American Jewish community represented by the 146 Jewish Federations and 300 independent communities, including thousands of affiliated agencies and faith partners, has a long refugee history, with many in our community of Ukrainian descent or with close relatives and friends who are directly affected. In addition to our shared values, this history drives our commitment to supporting communities in need and welcoming those fleeing persecution.

When you extended the Lautenberg Amendment, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, you provided a lifeline for refugees fleeing religious persecution with family ties in the United States. The Lautenberg program is particularly meaningful for the Jewish community as it has helped 400,000 Jews flee the Soviet regime for the safety of the United States. There are currently 17,000 cases representing a variety of faiths in the application pipeline and we urge your administration to permit these individuals to finish their processing in the United States so they can escape the humanitarian crisis and reunite with their families in safety. 

We also ask that you admit Ukrainians with pending immigrant visa petitions as refugees, as has been done in the past for Iraqis and Haitians during crises in their communities. This step will allow these Ukrainians to reunite with their families in the United States rather than waiting for months, or even longer, overseas. We understand that any expedited processing should follow the appropriate vetting and security protocols. 

Our network of social service agencies, houses of worship, and community centers has been supporting refugees for over a century—beginning with Eastern European Jews fleeing the pogroms, and today those seeking refuge in the U.S. from across the globe. Our community stands ready to partner with your administration and work together, with our faith partners, to welcome and support these refugees arriving in the United States. 

During this time of crisis, we urge you to take these steps to reunite families without delay. Thank you for your consideration.

 

Related Resources

News and Blogs

Counting Every Vote

Many American Jews considering voting to be a mitzvah, a commandment. It is essential that every vote is counted so that every voice is heard and so that our full-throated democracy can flourish.

News

Key Tips For Talking With News Professionals: A Resource for Community Leaders

Positive media coverage can amplify your voice, inform the public about key issues and build further credibility for your community. At the same time, a negative story can negatively impact your community’s reputation. Here are key tips for speaking with journalists.

Article
News and Blogs

Fiddler on the Roof and Trump’s Executive Order

The rise in antisemitism is a real and growing threat, but the prospect of defining Judaism as a nationality is deeply problematic. The Reconstructionist notion of peoplehood sheds light on the weighty issues at stake.

News
News and Blogs

Reconstructing Pluralism through Conversation

Pluralism is dead. Long live pluralism.

News
News and Blogs

Let My People Stay: Jews Demand a Dream Act Now

Eighty-six Jewish activists, including six Reconstructionist rabbis, were arrested in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 17 in a bold act of civil disobedience in solidarity with more than 800,000 Dreamers.

News

Shofar Kavannah for Refugees

This ritual invokes the blast of the shofar to articulate the plight of refugees. It was created for use at High Holidays in response to the presidential travel ban.

Article

Judaism and Journalistic Ethics - Video with Transcript

Video and transcript of conversation on journalistic ethics and Jewish values

Video

Jewish Tradition and Journalistic Ethics Audio

Rabbi David Teutsch, Ph.D., discusses the role of the free press in the Jewish community and American society, and what Jewish values can teach us about journalistic ethics.

Spoken Audio
News and Blogs

Jewish Values and Journalistic Ethics

Rabbi David Teutsch, Ph.D., discusses the role of the free press in the Jewish community and American society, and what Jewish values can teach us about journalistic ethics.

News
News and Blogs

Politics From The Pulpit: Speaking Publicly About Repairing The World Together

Reconstructionist Judaism takes seriously our obligation to act together to address injustice and suffering. To do so, Rabbi Elliot Tepperman argues, our congregations need to be places where we can safely engage in political and ethical agitation and disagreement, while avoiding mere irritation.

News