A Message from Rabbi Bellows

January 25, 2026/7 Sh’vat 5786

Friends,

Yesterday, I watched a press conference held by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in which he said: “I just saw a video of more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents and shooting him to death. How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” I have asked myself that same question for weeks, if not months, and you might have as well. I am so angry and saddened by what is happening in Minneapolis and around the country.

Historically, the Jewish community has risen up against injustice and harm to the stranger. Indeed, the commandment to “welcome the stranger” is repeated in the Torah more than any other mitzvah—appearing 36 times. This repetition serves as a constant reminder that our faith is inextricably linked to the protection of the vulnerable.

Among the many sources from which to draw strength and courage during dark times such as these is Rabbi Joachim Prinz (1902–1988). A Berlin-based rabbi who fled Nazi Germany in 1937 after being expelled by the government, Prinz brought his firsthand experience with state-sponsored oppression to the United States. He became a tireless advocate for the Civil Rights Movement, famously speaking at the March on Washington just moments before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Rabbi Prinz argued that in the face of injustice, the most urgent problem is not hatred, but silence. He famously spoke of “neighborly apathy,” declaring that silence in the face of suffering is the ultimate sin. As we witness the heartbreaking violence in our own streets today, his message serves as both a mirror and a compass.

We cannot afford the luxury of looking away or remaining silent while our neighbors suffer. Taking inspiration from the 36 calls in our Torah to care for the stranger, we must transform our anger and sadness into a sustained commitment to justice. To honor the legacy of those who came before us, we must raise our voices now—not just to ask when the violence will end, but to demand a future where every resident can live without fear.

May we gain strength from the couragous men and women who came before us. May each of us engage in acts of Tikkun, repair as we fight to welcome the stranger among us.

Rabbi Lisa Bellows

JEWISH CROSS-DENOMINATIONAL STATEMENT AGAINST VIOLENT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT