A Jewish call to action: our community responsibility in protecting our neighbors

This week marks one year since Donald Trump was re-elected to the U.S. presidency. Since returning to office, he has worked to quickly erode our democracy.

In just these past 10 months, Trump has led our country on a historic descent into harm, havoc and authoritarianism. Congress has abdicated its duty to the Constitution, complicit in allowing unprecedented damage: sweeping health care cuts, soaring costs and the normalization of a police state that terrorizes our neighbors.

Trump has improperly deployed the National Guard — and even the Marines — into major cities to “police crime,” a task that is not the job of our armed forces. In some cases, those deployments have incited violence against peaceful protesters.

Further, Trump has turned Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, into a militarized secret police force. ICE is abducting anyone perceived to be undocumented, unconstitutionally sending them to detention centers — or worse, deporting them to countries they’ve never been to and have no connection with all without notice or record.

We’ve seen physical assaults of women and minors at the federal courthouse in Manhattan. Verified reports confirm that detainees are being denied due process and basic humane treatment.

Here in the Bronx, the sight of masked ICE agents patrolling our neighborhoods has become disturbingly common.

Earlier this year, an Ellis Preparatory High School student — with asylum status — was taken by ICE during a mandatory court check-in. He was the first New York City public school student detained by this administration. Arresting a vulnerable young person who was following the rules for a routine immigration hearing is especially cruel. And I refuse to stand by in silence.

The Jewish value “Lo Ta’amod Al Dam Re’echa” — “Do not stand idly by your neighbor’s blood” — calls us to action when our neighbors are unjustly targeted. That value carries deep meaning for me as a Jewish American, New Yorker, mother and educator.

I know many feel powerless. But you are not alone. We have a voice, and we have agency.

Please join me at Riverdale Temple on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. for a rapid response training, an educational session on how to take community action to protect the vulnerable during or after ICE activity.

Though this is a Jewish call to action, Riverdale Temple is a safe, welcoming space with open minds and open hearts. Everyone in the community is welcome.

Morgan Evers

Community advocate, teacher and congregant of Riverdale Temple