By Brady Winrob

threats. however, the sinners of sodom should not be engaged with, because they must not have anything good to offer. they’re evil, right? and while we’re at it, let’s punish the woman who tries to look back! they’re not worth your time! i ask myself, though - must we not be looking back at every injustice and evil in our world, wondering how we can change it? do we cast our problems away before dealing with them because it’s easier that way? are we only kind and hospitable to those who bring us good news, and ignorant in the face of challenge?

the tangible example i feel this is most related to in my life is how migrants are perceived, understood and treated in society. it is a very hot issue in my current place of residence, montreal, because of the constant struggle between people of colour and the government in this complicated and diverse place. but even around the world, i feel that amongst most communities, politicians and governments, migrants and those wishing to immigrate are seen as burdens that will be difficult to accommodate. they are treated as if they are bothering my government or society, as if they are not worth it because they bring no good news.

this shabbat, i urge all of you to consider those who you are distanced from, who might be strange to you. think about how you perceive them, how your community perceives them, and how your country and society perceives them. i encourage you to think about how you are conditioned to feel about people different than you, and how should challenge yourself to support the realization of potential of oppressed folks. this shabbat i will be thinking about how it is my responsibility to stand in solidarity with the self-determination of all peoples regardless of their citizenship status. i will be reminding myself that all people should have the freedom to move, remain and return, and that the racist, capitalist, and

colonialist policies of immigration and the exploitation that ensues after immigration does not define the worth of any human. it is not mine to decide the legitimacy of one’s struggle, but to validate and create space for those identities to reroot and grow.

this dvar was written with inspiration from ’no one is illegal’, a canadian migrant justice group. you can learn more about them at nooneisillegal.org.

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