Blog

About five years ago, my husband and I volunteered for a simple task: driving several undocumented residents who were budding activists to a meeting hosted by Cosecha Massachusetts to build support for their campaign for "Licencias Para Todos" (Licenses for Everyone) in Massachusetts.

I remember my visit to Pittsburgh, to the Tree of Life and Dor Hadash Synagogue just hours after the tragic massacre, the worst incident of violence against Jews in American history. It was also weeks before the 2018 midterm elections.

How will you celebrate Hispanic Heritage after the month ends on October 15th?

When I lived in South Korea, my Korean family celebrated and taught me about Chuseok, the Korean fall festival holiday. During Chuseok, many Koreans travel back to their hometowns, spend time with their families, and cook and eat a lot of traditional foods. Chuseok is often referred to as "Korean Thanksgiving," but I think Chuseok more strongly resembles Sukkot.

The following blog post is adapted from a prayer shared by Legislative Assistant Rachel Klein at the #1YearAfterDelRio March and Vigil for Haitian Migrants and Asylum Seekers on September 23, 2022.

As we enter the Days of Awe, we engage in reflection and introspection. We confess our sins. We ask forgiveness of those we have wronged. And we pray that when the Book of Life is closed, we are inscribed for a good year.

I have long wondered: what must Isaac have been thinking as his father bound him and laid him across the altar? Isaac must have realized his father had lied to him - did Isaac cry out? Did Isaac see his father pick up the knife?

Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection and celebration of the past year and the year to come. As we reflect on 5782, we celebrate the legislative victories from this past year.

Hispanic Heritage Month is particularly important for me this year as I feel more connected to my Hispanic, Latino identity than I have in the past.