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