40 rabbis tour migrant centers in Tijuana, urge U.S. welcome immigrants
This week, nearly 40 rabbis from across the country toured migrant centers in Tijuana as a part of a delegation to the U.S.-Mexico border. A growing number of asylum seekers have found temporary shelter and social services in Tijuana as they try to seek asylum in the United States. Organized by HIAS, the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees, in partnership with Jewish Family Service of San Diego and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights the delegates heard about the desperate situation at the border and how the Trump administration’s erosion of the asylum system is impacting migrants.
“We are in a really devastating moment right now in which our asylum system and refugee resettlement program are under constant attack in the United States,” said Rabbi Rachel Grant Meyer, education director for community engagement at HIAS. “These policies are just cruel, and they fly in the face of a long American tradition of welcoming immigrants and thousands of years of Jewish history. We wanted to carry that history across the border with us to say to those on the other side we want you in our country.”
At the centers, which help hundreds of people every day, the delegation met with individuals waiting for the chance to enter the United States. Many migrants have to wait at least a month before they are able to present a plea for asylum at the border. Other migrants wait because of other processing issues and many have been separated from family in the United States. The centers provide beds, food, medical care, psychosocial services and job skills training, particularly to the men who have been deported but are trying to stay close to their families remaining in the United States.
“Family separation is happening all the time,” said Rabbi Jill Borodin of Temple Beth Shalom in Seattle. “Not just with the more than 2000 kids that were forcibly separated at the border when their parents applied for asylum. It also happens with the deportation of people living in the U.S. with American spouses and children, who are getting deported with no warning, picked up at work, on in the middle of the night, or through raids. They stay close to the border, but they often have no legal path to be reunited with their families.”
“We are seeing so many barriers to accessing legal protection right now in the border region,” explained Liz Sweet, HIAS’ general counsel, who accompanied the delegation. HIAS’ legal program is working to support migrants fleeing violence, whether they are escaping gender-based violence, gang violence or familial abuse, and to defend the rights of refugees upon their arrival to the United States.
Rabbi Grant Meyer spoke to those on the other side of the border: “We are committed, as a Jewish people, to making sure that the doors of our country stay open and that you are able to seek safety in our country once again.” — From T’Ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
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Americans for Peace Now urges President Trump to intervene with Israel to protect Bedouin settlement
Americans for Peace Now (APN) condemns Israeli actions toward Bedouin communities in the West Bank, including Khan al-Ahmar. Israeli authorities have demolished structures in Abu Nuwar and moved in bulldozers to Khan al-Ahmar in preparation for demolishing that community. The Israeli government plans to forcibly transfer the Bedouin members of the Jahalin tribe to Al Jabel, a village near the garbage dump in Abu Dis.
These moves are not only violation of Palestinian human rights; they are also a deliberate move by Israel’s right-wing government to harm prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Bedouin communities slated for demolition are located in an area east of Jerusalem known as E1. In order for a future Palestinian state to have contiguity, it must include E1. While emptying this region of Bedouin communities, the Israeli government is paving the way for building an extension of the nearby settlement of Kfar Adumim.
Hagit Ofran, Co-director of the Settlement Watch project of Peace Now, APN’s sister organization in Israel said, “They’re destroying Khan al-Ahmar because [the Israeli government] didn’t give them building permits. Now it turns out that the Israeli government has no problem with issuing permits for this land – just not to Palestinians.”
Unlike Europe’s assertive reaction to the planned Khan al-Ahmar demolition, the Trump administration is silent. Previous administrations, Democratic and Republican, recognized that E1 is strategically vital to a future Palestinian state and stressed that expanding settlements there would cross a red line. The lack of American commitment to a two-state solution under President Trump and the administration’s continued complicity in the Israeli settlement enterprise make the destruction of these Bedouin communities possible and jeopardize prospects for peace.
Now, the Trump administration has a last chance to intervene. Last night, an Israeli Supreme Court Justice issued a temporary injunction that prevents Israeli authorities from evicting and demolishing Khan al-Ahmar until a July 11 hearing, when the state must respond to a legal appeal.
APN calls on the Trump administration to take immediate action to prevent these demolitions. We also call on fellow American Jewish organizations to act urgently, raising their voices in a similar appeal. — –From Americans for Peace Now
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Apartment house for Haredi lone soldiers opened in Jerusalem
A new apartment building for Haredi lone soldiers was inaugurated Wednesday night in Jerusalem.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister Michael Oren (Kulanu), Jerusalem municipal councilor and mayoral candidate Moshe Leon, representatives of the Ministry of Defense, philanthropist Mr. David Hager, Nahal Haredi Organization rabbis, and Nahal Haredi founder Brigadier General (Res.) Yehudah Duvdevani.
The new apartment building is one of a network of residences operated by Nahal Haredi Organization (Nahal Haredi). These residences offer Haredi lone soldiers a place to call home and feeling of warmth and acceptance throughout the period of their military service.
Renovations on the apartments were made possible thanks to the generous gift of Jewish American businessman and philanthropist Robert Zarnegin. Zarnegin, who owns the five-star luxury Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles, was personally involved in the attractive modern design of the freshly-renovated building.
Addressing the public debate surrounding the Haredi “Draft Law”, Duvdevani said, “We want to see a boy who’s drafted into the army return home to his parents, Haredi and with a vocation in hand. A person who is learning for real should continue learning! We’re all for it! We were the first to say it at the very start, and today, even MKs from the opposition are repeating our message.”
“But those who aren’t really learning – and there are more than a few – should enlist, be a mentch (Yiddish for good person – ed.), start a family, and remain part of the Haredi sector while integrating positively into society with a profession.” — From Nahal Haredi
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Appeal made in behalf of 15-year-old Ronell Tabadies, a cancer patient
The Israel Childen Cancer Center has issued a fundraising appeal in behalf of 15-year-old Ronelle Tabadies who suffers from a cancerous tumor near her brain stem. Treatment in Israel as well as at Duke University in North Carolina were unsuccessful combating the tumor.
Doctors conducting experimental treatments in Georgia and Texas both said Ronelle’s case was hopeless. Unwilling to give up, the Israel Children Cancer Centers organization has arranged for treatment in Switzerland, which will cost over $150,000. Information about Israel Children Cancer Centers may be found via https://www.israelcancer.org/. — From Israel Children Cancer Centers
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Jewish Democratic Council of America seeks paid interns to work in Washington D.C.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America says it is seeking paid interns to work in its Washington D.C. office. The organization gave this description.
Description:
Serve as an integral part of a growing team at the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) as a fall intern and have a rewarding, meaningful, and impactful fall internship experience furthering Jewish and Democratic values.
- The JDCA is a newly-created political organization serving as the voice of Jewish Democrats representing a socially-liberal, pro-Israel platform.
- The mission of the organization is to support candidates and elected officials who embrace and represent such positions and values, and further policy priorities of the Jewish Democratic community.
- JDCA maintains a commitment to positive change through information sharing, issue advocacy, trainings and briefings, rapid response and research, messaging and other activities to support elected officials and candidates.
- Interns will be an integral part of the JDCA staff and community, and will have a diverse range of opportunities unique to a new political organization.
Responsibilities:
- Assist the Executive Director with day-to-day operations and planning.
- Help to develop advocacy materials on a range of political and policy issues.
- Conduct political research, draft memos and background documents.
- Help to plan events and engagement with Board members, candidates, elected officials, congressional staff, organizations, students, and campaigns.
Compensation:
- This is a paid internship; stipend will be made available.
Please contact JDCA at info@jewishdems.org for more information on how to apply. –From Jewish Democratic Council of America
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U.S. State Department mentors Arab teen girls in computer science
Twenty-eight teenage girls from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia will participate in the U.S. Department of State’s TechGirls exchange program from July 8–August 1, 2018. During their three weeks in the United States, participants will strengthen and develop technical skills, form invaluable networks, and establish relationships with mentors that will influence their future tech careers.
The TechGirls initiative empowers girls around the world to become leaders in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The TechGirls will stay with host families for one weekend in Southern Virginia to experience life with an American family.
The exchange’s centerpiece will be an eight-day, interactive Java coding camp hosted and implemented by the Department of Computer Science Training at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA that will include five competitively-selected American peer participants from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia.
Following the coding camp, the teens will participate in a two-day program on campus conducted by the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED). The Virginia Tech programming will be complemented by Washington, D.C.-based activities including leadership clinics, action planning workshops, community service opportunities, and a day of job shadowing with top tech companies in the area. Top leaders in the tech industry from the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa, including TechWomen program alumnae, will mentor the girls throughout the program.
The State Department and program partner Legacy International have teamed up with many public and private sector partners for this year’s TechGirls program, including AT&T, Echo & Co, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), iStrategy Labs, Islamic Relief, Nokia, NPR, Relief International, Synoptos, and TechChange.
TechGirls exchange alumnae, now totaling 158, have utilized the program’s lessons to train more than 3,100 peers in their home countries. The achievements of these alumnae and the talent of the incoming class contribute to the U.S. global commitment to grow the global economy and advance the rights of women and girls around the world, as well as STEM education. – From U.S. State Department
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National Museum of American Jewish History sponsors institute on teaching Jewish history
The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) will welcome teachers from across the country to its third annual National Educators Institute, The Art and Science of Teaching Jewish History in America, from Sunday, July 8 through Wednesday, July 11. The first-of-its-kind Institute is a professional development program designed to empower secondary-level Jewish day school and Hebrew school teachers to transform—and often initiate—the teaching of American Jewish history in their classrooms by utilizing the trove of artifacts and resources available at NMAJH.
The Institute is made possible by a grant from the New York-based Covenant Foundation, which honors organizations delivering the highest excellence in Jewish education. “The Covenant Foundation grant represents a strong endorsement of the Museum’s ability to provide the very best in Jewish education,” says Ivy Barsky, NMAJH CEO and Gwen Goodman Director. “We are very grateful for the Foundation’s generous award, one that affirms the positive, national impact of our educational initiatives.”
“As a leading institution creatively teaching, interpreting, and inspiring dialogue about the American Jewish experience, NMAJH is dedicated to bringing the educational lessons based on the Museum’s collection and content to classrooms across the country,” says NMAJH’s Senior Manager of Education & Interpretation, Ronit Lusky. “Through the Institute, we are spearheading the effort to provide teachers with valuable tools for teaching and inspiring students to understand and identify themselves within the larger arc of American Jewish history.”
This year’s Institute includes 25 participants from 14 states—California, Colorado, Michigan, Arizona, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Texas—representing secondary-level teachers (grades 5-12) from both Jewish day schools and Hebrew schools. Direction will be provided by Ronit Lusky (NMAJH) and leading scholars of Jewish history and education Dr. Benjamin M. Jacobs (George Washington University) and Dr. Jonathan Krasner (Brandeis University). Additional notable faculty includes preeminent scholars of American Jewish history, including NMAJH’s Chief Historian Dr. Jonathan Sarna (Brandeis University), Dr. Beth Wenger (University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Pamela Nadell (American University), and Dr. Lila Corwin Berman (Temple University). Notable speakers also include Valerie Weisler, founder and CEO of the Validation Project, and Rabbi Dr. Lance Sussman (Keneseth Israel, Elkins Park, PA). – From National Museum of American Jewish History
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Shoah filmmaker Claude Lanzmann mourned
(Wikipedia photo)
The World Jewish Congress mourns the death of Claude Lanzmann, the French filmmaker whose seminal documentary Shoah in 1985 changed the world’s perception and awareness of the Holocaust.
WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said: “Claude Lanzmann’s Shoah was a monumental contribution to the historical memory of the Holocaust, creating an unprecedented awareness and understanding of the atrocities of the killing machines and the Nazi attempt to exterminate European Jewry.
“Lanzmann was a relentless truth-seeker and master filmmaker who took pains to open the eyes of the world to the greatest crime of contemporary history, and to ensure that its memory never be buried,” Lauder said.
“As the years pass, and the number of survivors among us wanes, Shoah will continue to serve as a critical testimony to the horrors of the Holocaust for future generations to bear witness and remember,” Lauder said.
In 2015, Lanzmann participated in a conference in Jerusalem on the Allied Response to the Holocaust, organized by the World Jewish Congress’ Israel Council on Foreign Relations, where he introduced his film “The Karski Report.”
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Preceding culled from news releases sent to editor@sdjewishworld.com