The DREAM Act

Last Friday night at Temple (September 16, 2011), we helped launch a national initiative to draw attention to a piece of legislation known as the DREAM Act.  Over 220 DREAM Act events will be taking place in congregations of all denominations across the country; 10 are planned for NC.

As you will see in my remarks and those by my colleague, Reverend David Fraccaro (of the Faith Action International House), the DREAM Act will help to close a particularly unjust element of US immigration law.  For those of us who are citizens, this might seem like a faraway issue, more theoretical and definitely less urgent than matters of the economy and jobs.  However, for the youth affected by this, for those who face detention or deportation, there is nothing more pressing.

See here: http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=2314&pge_prg_id=9499&pge_id=2924 for a detailed briefing on immigration, including the DREAM Act, from the Reform movement's Religious Action Center.  See here: http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/ for additional information from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition including ways that you can have your opinion heard on this subject.

Finally, I will be on a press call this coming Friday at 11 AM (eastern time) together with other clergy and supporters of the DREAM Act (including one DREAM student).  If you would like more information on this, please be in touch.  I understand that there will be a way to hear the call after it has taken place.  As soon as I find this out, I will post it to this blog.

DREAM Shabbat

Remarks by Rabbi Andy Koren

Temple Emanuel, Greensboro, NC

Friday, September 16, 2011

Why do matters of immigration concern us as Jews?  Why should we, at this time that we are preparing for the High Holidays, pause to take up this issue?

I have often felt that the Torah is a document dedicated to the experience of the immigrant, the wanderer, the one who is seen as the outsider and the stranger.  39 times the Torah commands us that we must treat strangers well.  This is not just mentioned – but commanded – more than any other provision in all of the Torah.  Commanded because, left to our own, we would not welcome outsiders.  We would scorn them, treat them wrong.  So, time and again, like a skipping record, the Torah says to us – be kind to strangers, to outsiders, to immigrants.  And why?  Because you were once the outsiders, enslaved by Pharaoh in the land of Egypt.  You of all people should know better.

But our attention is drawn on immigration not only because of ancient Egypt or because of the Holocaust and World War II.  Modern Israel exists because for far too long we were displaced from places that we called home.  Spain, England, France, Portugal, Russia, Poland, Iran, Iraq, countries across the globe.  Perhaps for this reason, Israel has been a haven for people from all over the world, Jew and non-Jew.  Israel has one of the most liberal immigration policies of all of the world's democracies.

When it comes to our own country, to the United State of America, the picture is much more confusing.  We know that our country is a land of immigrants.  Yet, listening to some of the political voices in our country, you might be led to believe otherwise.  The negativity, the myths have crowded out support from both sides of the aisle for what is truly necessary: Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  The Reform Movement of Judaism, guided by our social action arm – the Religious Action Center – has been at the forefront of this effort for many years running.  We are not new voices on this and it is important, especially in these days of economic uncertainty, that we do not follow the voices that say that we should shut our doors.  When those voices last sounded, the gates of this country were closed when our people needed them the most, seeking refuge as they were during the Holocaust.

Truly, comprehensive immigration reform is needed now.  But in absence of that, what steps might be taken?

Tonight we are focusing on closing a particularly unjust element of our country's immigration policy.  Most Americans know very little about how immigration works – or doesn't work.  That is why we are highlighting the DREAM Act tonight.  This Sabbath, DREAM Shabbat, is part of a national effort, beginning here and in other congregations across many religious spectrums tonight.  We want the world to know that the religious voice on this issue is firm.

Here are the details:

Each year, approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools.  Many of them were brought to the United States as children.  When they apply for college or to serve in our country's military, they are told “sorry, we're sending you back to where you came from.”  Think of that.  They may have only lived there a few months or a few years.  They have no life there, no ties.  The only place that they know is here.

The bipartisan Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (H.R.1842/S.952), also known by its acronym the DREAM Act, addresses the lose-lose situation faced by these ambitious young people, who have grown up here, stayed in school, and been law-abiding contributors to our communities. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented youth conditional legal status and eventual citizenship provided that they pass background checks, prove to be of good moral character, graduate from high school, and go on to attend college or join the military.

When I was in Washington with high school students in early 2010, they chose to lobby on this issue.  According to a recent poll, 70% of likely voters are supportive of the DREAM Act, including 60% of Republicans. In fact, this bill should already be law. As Congress was concluding its business this earlier this year, the bill passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and received a bipartisan majority vote in the Senate, only to fail because of a filibuster.

Tonight, we are honored to have with us Revered David Fraccaro.  David is new to our area, however, he directs an organization which has long been a close ally of our congregation.  David runs the Faith Action International House which is located on

Greene Street

just a few houses up the block from Temple’s Historic Campus.  David’s work is dedicated to two things: providing services for immigrants in our community and advocating for immigrants rights.  He will speak in more detail about this.  Then, he will introduce two people who will tell their personal stories.  As much as we might say or pray tonight, this issue affects them personally and in ways that should open our eyes and hearts and move us to action.

Reverend David Fraccaro (http://faihouse.org/) sent out a note to his email list which includes many of the points that he spoke about on Friday night.  Here is that note:

 

Dear Friends and Supporters of FaithAction International House,

I had the wonderful experience of speaking alongside 3 young members of the North Carolina Dream Team at a Dream Sabbath service at Temple Emanuel this past Friday evening.  I was deeply moved by their personal experiences, especially their resilience and courage to come out of the shadows, "undocumented, unafraid, and unashamed."  Their movement is inspiring undocumented, as well as documented youth from across the country to speak out about needed changes in our immigration law.  

Their stories reminded me of my recent visit to the International Civil Rights Museum, and the four A&T students who courageously began the sit-in movement that spread across the South in the 1960's.  The continued struggles of the civil rights movement and the immigrant rights movement are intimately linked.  As Martin Luther King wrote in a letter to Caesar Chavez, head of the United Immigrant Farm Workers Movement before he was assassinated, Our separate struggles are really one.  A struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity.  

Taking part in the moving service at Temple Emanuel, I was reminded of another young immigrant, who moved from Russia because of religious and political persecution to the Lower East Side Tenements of NYC in 1888.  Despite debilitating poverty and consistent anti-immigrant, anti-Jewish sentiments, he rose to become one of America's most beloved songwriters.  One of his most famous songs, an American anthem post 9/11, came from a hopeful phrase that his resilient mother would frequently say in the midst of struggle - God Bless America.  Imagine if we had made the mistake of detaining and deporting Irving Berlin.  

When we embrace our new diversity, and allow it to flourish we become a better nation.  I have no doubt the spirited and talented young men and women from the NC Dream Team will continue to make tremendous contributions to this country, especially at a time when we need brave new voices and ideas to move us forward.  Passing the DREAM Act is in the best interest of all Americans.  

Please consider learning more , and joining other "Dreamers" in taking the first essential step toward larger immigration reform.  

And please also see below for more opportunities for community building this week from our diverse community partners including: Participating in a justice campaign for members of El Buen Pastor Church, speaking out together in a rally to keep the landfill closed, and joining the Nepalese and Bhutanese communities of the Triad for the United Dashain Festival!

Peace,

Rev. David Fraccaro

FaithAction International House