#mensch: WWHD

#mensch: WWHD

Them versus us: The Jewish siege mantra.

I propose another paradigm in regard to the 60,000 refugees who have come to us asking for compassion and justice: They are us.  When organizations like Im Titrtzu take a page from the xenophobe handbook and blame the strangers among us, refugees mostly from Darfur and Eritrea, for the poverty of South Tel Aviv, it is they — the members of Im Tirzu — who threaten Israel’s “Jewish character”.

Im tirtzu, ein zu agada is a prayerful inspiration for us as Jews, and for our obligation to others: “Once I have witnessed the redemption of the Jews, my people, I wish also to assist in the redemption of the Africans.” Theodor Hertzl

But the organization Im Tirzu is turning those words into a hammer with which to quash the prayers and longings of others.

Let’s instead stand up and be the justice-seeking, compassionate, creative and inventive people we are called to be. It’s not “either-us or them” it’s “and”. When we recite Hallel, which is sometimes called the Egyptian Hallel because it relates to our exodus from Egypt, we call out joyfully, From the narrowness (of Egypt) I call to God. From the expanse, God answers me.

Let’s seek the expanse.