On Jan. 7, I returned home to Minneapolis from an eight-day trip to Israel, eager to share my takeaways about what it means to be a liberal Zionist in the aftermath of the longest and most devastating war in Israel’s history. I don’t sleep well on planes, so I spent nearly 17 hours writing multiple reflections to share with my community. When I landed at MSP and turned my phone off airplane mode, the first notification I received was about ICE’s deadly shooting of Renee Good z’’l. I knew immediately that all the work I had just done would have to wait. Minnesota, the state I’ve called home for the last 13 years, a state already suffering from increased unlawful ICE activity since mid-December, was now facing an acute crisis.
I had no choice but to show up — to stand with my neighbors and demand justice in the face of unconscionable horror being carried out by agents of the federal government. The abuses of power we have seen here in Minnesota expose dire concerns for the state of the rule of law in the United States of America. I am so proud that Minnesotans have been showing up, speaking out, supporting our neighbors – the response shows what we are capable of and the power we hold to support and protect one another.
When I attended my first “ICE OUT” protest and saw people holding signs about Gaza, I took a pause and a breath — and then went over to introduce myself. This is a time for coalition-building, not litmus tests.
I challenged myself and even felt a renewed possibility of hope for future bridge-building and dialogue efforts. I had several meaningful face-to-face conversations I would have otherwise never had, and have already created new relationships with local Muslim leaders. These connections could not be more welcome after over two years of struggle to expand the various multi-faith and dialogue initiatives I so deeply believe in.
I hope these new relationships blossom and turn into new opportunities to build working coalitions that are centered around shared values and commitments. But in order for that hope to be actualized, it is imperative that we also address the libels being put forward by a small number of anti-Zionist activists — and that are starting to creep into mainstream activism.
We must state firmly and clearly that Israel was not behind Operation Metro Surge, and to claim otherwise is a dangerous lie intended to paint Israel (and anyone who supports Israel) as evil.
False claims associating ICE agents with the IDF are dangerous and damaging, not only to Israelis and Diaspora Jews, but to American society and the Palestinian people. Vilifying Israel through conspiracies does nothing to help Palestinians. Instead, it makes the prospect of pursuing pathways to peace that much harder.
Beyond this, these claims also cause damage to the broader immigrant justice movement in America. They contribute to a dynamic where many Jews start to wonder if they need to check their care and concern for Israel at the door when standing up for American democracy. Many Jews—especially teens, college students, and young adults— feel there is a social penalty for supporting Israel in liberal American justice circles. My work takes me daily to college & university campuses where I observe the impact of these litmus tests on Jewish students. Unfortunately, the impact results in young people either opting out of justice work or participating while hiding their connection to Israel.
Neither of these options is acceptable.
This is why I always show up as my full self through my advocacy and activism. Instead of walking the other way, I approach those wearing keffiyas at ICE protests. When making grocery deliveries to my neighbors in hiding, I’ve told them about my recent trip to Israel and how my Jewish values guide the work I’m doing to support immigrants.
As we prepare to celebrate the holiday of Purim, we acknowledge that these challenges are not new to us in our time. Mordecai initially instructed Esther to hide her Jewish identity and the identity of her people as a form of protection in a dangerous and uncertain climate. Eventually, Esther realized that hiding her identity was doing nothing to protect her people; in fact, the opposite. She was now in a position of power – respected and supported by the King, who otherwise did not have personal relationships with the Jewish community. She realized that she could harness the goodwill she had built to appeal to the King, helping him understand that the Jews were not evil, as Haman had slanderously asserted. She was successful because the King knew her, trusted her, and embraced her for the fullness of her identity as a Jew.
Today, we call on ourselves to find the courage Esther exhibited to reveal her full self in an unfriendly environment. We must remember that we belong in the fullness of who we truly are – that there is no purity test for loving your neighbor, promoting human decency, and protecting democracy. Instead, we must continue to show up proud of who we are and ready to do the work that is so desperately needed to repair our world.
Rabbi Jill Avrin is the Director of Campus Affairs at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.