JANUARY 16 • 2020 | 15

Jews in the D

continued on page 16

T

hough news of deplorable condi-
tions for immigrants and asylum
seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border
has been overshadowed recently by reports
of presidential impeachment and direct
U.S. conflict with Iran, the situation still
receives attention from humanitarian
groups fighting for rights to be recognized.
Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny of Temple Israel
joined 19 rabbis, cantors and activists from
across the country on a human rights del-
egation to the U.S.-Mexico border where
they observed U.S. immigration policies.

Led by representatives of HIAS (for-
merly the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society)
and T’
ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human
Rights, the delegates spent four days in El
Paso, Texas, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and
neighboring communities late last year to
get a firsthand view of the immigrant situ-
ation on the border.
From Michigan, little can be done
to alleviate the human suffering taking
place at the border. Federal laws restrict
humanitarian and medical aid to reach the
thousands held in detention centers. Over

the summer, Temple Israel coordinated
humanitarian efforts with a Reform temple
in Albuquerque, N.M., by raising money
to buy clothing, food and other supplies,
such as disposable cell phones for asylum
seekers who had been dropped off in the
city with no resources as they await their
asylum hearings.
Then, around the High Holidays,
Temple Israel rabbis began to discuss the
opportunity for one of them to go on a
HIAS human rights delegation trip; it
worked best with Kaluzny’
s schedule. After
paperwork, she underwent a full back-
ground check as required by Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“
All my colleagues were very support-
ive of me participating on this trip,” she
said. “
And our members for months have
expressed their concern and their desire
to help the situation in whatever way they
can. Temple Israel members expect us as
clergy to do good things and, when I was
there, I represented them.”
Just before leaving, she gave a Shabbat
sermon announcing she was embarking
on the trip. Days later, she was at the U.S.-
Mexico border, her phone laden with text
messages of support and love for her and

Remember the

Stranger

Clergy trip to U.S.-Mexico border gives local rabbi
a view into the immigration situation.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

RABBI JENNIFER KALUZNY

The Leona Vicario
Shelter in Ciudad
Juarez, Mexico, just
across the border
from El Paso