By Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz

As you are aware, the situation in Springfield has been quite tenuous over the past several weeks. All of us should be deeply concerned by what is happening in our backyard. Springfield residents are facing bomb threats and gatherings of neo-Nazis and White supremacists.

Jewish values teach us to treat all people with dignity and uphold principles of compassion, justice, and welcoming of strangers. History has shown us the dangerous path that devaluing or generalizing people based on their cultural origins can lead to.

It is essential for the Jewish community to speak out against hatred directed at any minority group. I was proud to see the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton sent a letter of support to the Haitian community center and appreciate many of my colleagues asking for ways to offer support.

I had the opportunity on Sunday, Sept. 22 to participate in a prayer gathering in Springfield alongside diverse clergy from across Ohio and beyond. I wore a tallit (prayer shawl) once donned by Rabbi Irving Bloom, of blessed memory, in honor of our congregation’s historical commitment to social justice. These were my words:

I want to begin with a verse from Proverbs 31:9:

“Open your mouth, judge righteously, and champion the cause of those in need and subject to oppression.”

I stand here today because, as a Jew, my faith demands that of me. It is our responsibility to speak out against the xenophobic lies and misconceptions that threaten our neighbors. Haitian migrants, like all people, are created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of God. When fear and prejudice dictate our actions toward others, we fragment our world further, moving us further from the world as it is meant to be.

In the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, we are commanded to protect, guard, and love the stranger no less than 36 times. This is not simply a suggestion; it is a moral obligation rooted in empathy and shared history. Leviticus 19:34 teaches, “The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were migrants in the land of Egypt: I the Lord am your God.”

So today, we have come to speak up for the dignity of all people, regardless of where they come from or what they have endured. And so we pray:

Oh God, we thank You for bringing us together today to work towards repairing our world. Thank You for reminding us that being created in Your image means diversity, not uniformity. Grant us the courage to stand up for the dignity of all, transcending fear and suspicion, and resisting the urge to turn away from those in need.

Inspire us to engage in acts of justice and compassion, working together to build a better future in Springfield alongside our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Thank you, Adoshem (Lord), for the opportunity to stand here this afternoon with my partners in faith. Though we come from diverse backgrounds, we are united in our commitment to a God of compassion, who calls us to protect the most vulnerable among us. May our gathering today foster understanding and kindness among us.

Keyn yehi ratzon, may it be Your will. Amen.

In times like these, our voices and actions matter. We must stand together in solidarity, offering not only our prayers but also tangible support to those facing hatred and fear. Let us continue to live out the values of justice and compassion that our tradition calls us to uphold. Whether through advocacy, patronage, or simply reaching out to those in need, every gesture of support makes a difference. Together, we can help bring healing and hope to our neighbors in Springfield.

Karen Bodney-Halasz is senior rabbi of Temple Israel in Dayton.

To read the complete November 2024 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.