Dear Colleagues,
This morning, the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) joined 25 other regional and national Jewish and Christian organizations in filing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over new rules allowing immigration raids and arrests at houses of worship.
These rules rescind a 30-year-old policy that protected houses of worship and other sensitive locations from such raids and make it easier for ICE and Border Patrol agents to disrupt religious activities—including in Conservative/Masorti synagogues. Sadly, raids have already begun in churches, leaving congregants, clergy, and the people they serve shaken and afraid. Many of our congregations have reached out in distress about this change.
We did not take our decision to file this lawsuit lightly. But we saw it as necessary to uphold religious freedom and the sanctity of our congregations, who serve the most vulnerable members of their communities. While the federal government has a duty to ensure secure borders and a fair immigration system, the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 prohibit federal overreach into religious practice. These new policies violate that protection.
Every day, Conservative/Masorti congregations and clergy embody a living Judaism by upholding the Jewish imperative to protect the weak and welcome the stranger. As the Torah teaches and reiterates: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33-34).
In addition to worship and study, many synagogues offer programs that provide food, clothing, and housing support to immigrant families. They often work closely with other organizations to serve everyone in need, no matter their documentation status. Most USCJ congregations also have members who are immigrants.
For decades, federal policies allowed law enforcement to make arrests in sensitive places only when there was an imminent risk or public safety threat. But the new rules go much further, giving agents the power to surveil, interrogate, and detain immigrants in these sacred spaces day-in-and-out—even when no such threat exists. These rules force clergy, professionals, and lay leaders to choose between upholding Jewish values or exposing their communities to risk. Raids on religious services and activities that serve our neighbors will impact participation and deter people in need, including US citizens and documented immigrants, from finding solace in our sacred spaces.
By joining this lawsuit, we are going beyond issuing a public statement. We are seeking an immediate injunction and a ruling that these DHS policies violate religious freedom. And we are taking this step as a unified Movement.
This is the power of being part of a Movement and a community of congregations. Individually, it would be difficult for any congregation or clergyperson to take on this mission. Together, we can stand in partnership and solidarity to protect our sacred spaces.
Conservative/Masorti Judaism is committed to supporting the positive actions our government takes, while also speaking out and taking action when needed. We now proudly stand with the Reform and Reconstructing Judaism movements and multiple Christian denominations in defending religious freedom and our sacred tradition of helping the stranger.
Additional resources to help your community continue supporting those in need under these new rules can be found here.
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, RA/USCJ CEO
Rabbi Jay Kornsgold, RA President
Andy Schaer, USCJ President