Essex County Jews To Support Immigrants At #CloseTheCamps Event – Montclair, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — According to Bnai Keshet rabbi Elliott Tepperman, there’s a simple reason why he’s helping to spearhead an upcoming Tisha B’av event at ICE’s headquarters in Newark.

“Jews know something about the immigrant experience,” the Essex County rabbi said.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, Tepperman will be among those who attend a Tisha B’av commemorative observance at 10 a.m. outside the Peter Rodino Federal Building at 972 Broad Street in Newark.

According to a news release from one of the event’s co-sponsors, Bnai Keshet of Montclair, the public is invited to participate. The event – which is being held in solidarity with “immigrants experiencing unjust law enforcement and wanton destruction” – will also commemorate the most tragic day of the Jewish calendar with a recitation of Lamentations.

Sunday’s rally is one of 30 Tisha B’Av: Jews Say #CloseTheCamps events being held across the country. For more information, call Bnai Keshet at 973-746-4889.

Tepperman, who started holding a commemorative Tisha B’av event at the Elizabeth Detention Center in 2017, said that there are at least 17 other congregations in the area who support the movement.

The Aug. 11 event is reportedly co-sponsored by Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, Congregation Beth El in South Orange, Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston, Temple Sinai of Bergen County, Temple Emeth in Teaneck, Congregation B’nai Israel in Emerson and Reform Jewish Voice of NJ.

“We know what it means to be a stranger, an unwelcome resident sometimes tolerated but always in danger of being uprooted and forced to become refugees,” Tepperman said. “Whether we’re marking Jews’ exile from Eretz Yisrael following the destruction of the Second Temple or mourning our exile from Spain, we use Tisha B’Av to commemorate the nearly generational Jewish tragedy of emigrating to seek a safer home.”

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