Prayers for the Other

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Guardian of the ‘Others’ Among Us
We turn to You with deep concern for the immigrants and refugees —
those who have come seeking survival, safety, and sustenance in our country —
who, even as we pray these words, are being tracked down, rounded up, and terrorized
by a cruel, bigoted, and abusive administration,
a government that ignores the cries of the oppressed and the desperate,
and chooses the ruthless power of might over the enduring strength of compassion.

Help us to stand up for the vulnerable and protect the exposed
with commitment, creativity, courage, and success,
as righteous non-Jews have done for us,
saving lives and preserving families,
affirming Your Image reflected in each and every soul.

True Helper in Times of Trouble:
Grant us the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge
to save the defenseless from all harm,
to shield and sustain those at risk of deportation and detention,
and to sustain our advocacy and support
with Your teachings of loving kindness, human kinship, and faithful  justice.

~ Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub ~

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We light this candle to uplift the prayers of refugees and immigrants fleeing their homes for safety and security just as our ancestors did before them. We not only remember the mitzvah to care for the stranger, the other, we, even more importantly, remind ourselves of the commandment to act, perform, and do this mitzvah. The light of this candle is a light of hope, possibility, and love. We are and must be love in action. Close your eyes and take a moment and make a commitment to engage in at least one concrete act this next week to love the stranger, the other, the refugee. Blessings flow abundantly forth from You, Transformative Power of the Universe, who calls us to care for and act on behalf of the needy, the stranger, the other.

~ Cat Zavis ~

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MyNameIsImmigrant—No. 3
Write
Write this down
My name is Maya Angelou
Daughter of Africa, Voice of America
The KKKs want to send me back
You may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
You may kill me with your hatefulness
But still, like air, I’ll rise

Write
Write this down
My name is Ilhan Omar
Daughter of Somalia, Congresswoman of America
The President wants to send me back
You may shoot me with your chant
You may cut me with your lies
You may kill me with your bigotry
But still, like wind, I rise.

Write
Write this down
My name is Ping Wang
Daughter of China, Conscience of America
The President wants to send me back
You may shoot me with your defamations
You may trap me with your fabricated charges
You may kill me with your money and power
But still, in poetry, I speak

In poetry we speak
In poetry we break the cage and sing
Rise
Carrying our ancestors’ dream
We’re the purple of mountain majesties
We’re the waves of amber grain
We’re the wings of America
As we rise
To the halcyon skies

~Wang Ping ~

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may we all re-member we belong to each other and from that deep knowing may we stand in love for love creating in each moment a cosmos of peace built on justice and guided by love…