We gather at Passover to retell the foundational story of the Jewish People; a story of an oppressed people fleeing a life of hardship for freedom and safety in a new land.
Thirty-six times, the Torah, Judaism’s holiest text, references that freedom journey as a reminder that we are called not only to have empathy for the ger (stranger, sojourner, refugee, asylee, immigrant, or migrant), but also to take action to ensure that person is cared for in our communities. We are explicitly commanded, “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:9).” We know the heart of the stranger because we were once strangers, too. The Jewish people’s origin story is heard in the universal story of the refugee, and we are committed to keep this memory alive through welcoming and protecting those who come to our communities.
Download There are No Strangers, our Passover Seder supplement affirming support for immigrants and refugees.
