STOP the deportation of African asylum seekers from Israel!
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In this email:
1) An Important Message from BINA
2) BINA Public Statement
3) How YOU Can Help
4) Learn More
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Dear Friends,
As most of you know, BINA has been working with Israel’s African asylum seeker community, together with all of the diverse communities of south Tel Aviv for over a decade. On January 1, 2018, the Government of Israel announced its plans to begin deportation of tens of thousands of Sudanese/Darfuri and Eritrean asylum seekers from Israel to Rwanda.
We believe that such an action would put at risk not only the lives of thousands of individuals - many of whom are our neighbors and friends - but also Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state. To deport tens of thousands of human beings, many of whom survivors of genocide and persecution, would contradict our deepest values as Israelis, as Jews, and as human beings.
Caring for the stranger lies at the heart of Jewish ethics, memory and soul. The mitzvah (imperative) to protect the stranger is repeated more than any other, as in last week’s Torah portion Mishpatim: “Do not oppress a stranger for you know the soul of the stranger, since you were strangers in the Land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9)
Last week, over 100 BINA students, staff, alumni and friends gathered at the Secular Yeshiva in south Tel Aviv to learn more about the issue and mobilize for action. Please see below the BINA statement and action items that emerged as a result of that gathering. We are also proud to have played a role in the decision of The Kibbutz Movement (BINA’s institutional partner) to oppose the deportation and contribute to long-term solutions by offering to provide employment and accommodations to groups of asylum seekers.
We ask you to join us in pursuing true, just and balanced solutions to the plight of the asylum seekers and of the Jewish-Israeli residents of south Tel Aviv, and in securing the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, not only in name but also in soul.
Sincerely,
Eran Baruch, Executive Director
Noga Brenner Samia, Deputy Director
Nir Braudo, Deputy Director
BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change
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Background:
BINA’s mission is to strengthen the Jewish-democratic character of Israel through limud (study), ma’ase (action) and kehilah (community), inspired by Jewish culture and values of tikkun olam (repairing the world).
We are guided by Israel’s Declaration of Independence, which states that the State of Israel “will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisioned by the prophets of Israel”; that the State of Israel “will be open to Jewish immigration and the ingathering of the exiles” and at the same time “will foster the development of the country for all of its inhabitants”.
For BINA, the Jewish-democratic State of Israel must embrace the Jewish people AND Jewish values, including those that call upon us to welcome the stranger as well as take care of our own. These principles guide us in all the work that we do, from south Tel Aviv to across Israel and beyond...
Action Plan:
- Increase our ongoing work of supporting basic needs and providing socioemotional and educational support to asylum seekers, Jewish-Israelis, and ALL of the diverse residents of south Tel Aviv.
- Increase our efforts to educate for social change, by creating platforms for meaningful human encounters and relationships between Israelis and asylum seekers, such as:
- Pairing Program between asylum seekers and Jewish-Israelis - to provide support, encouragement and assistance for individuals and families.
- Offer free or discounted tours of south Tel Aviv for Israelis of diverse backgrounds to learn about the issue and meet members of the local community first hand.
- Work with the Kibbutz Movement (BINA’s institutional partner) on providing employment and accommodation to groups of asylum seekers, to disperse and absorb the asylum seeker population in a sustainable manner across Israel.
- Mobilize and empower the BINA community to take civic action in Israel and abroad.
- Plan additional action steps as the situation evolves.
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Inside Israel: Join BINA’s emergency organizing campaign to support African asylum seekers in Israel and stop the deportation. For more information contact juliat@bina.org.il.
Outside of Israel: Join the #LetUsHelp Campaign and visit the campaign website for more action items. (The #LetUsHelp Campaign is a campaign of Diaspora Jews and friends to support African asylum in Israel, initiated by BINA alumni.)
Volunteer: Join BINA’s Gap Year program (ages 18-20) or Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa Masa program (ages 20-30) to spend 5 or 10 months volunteering in south Tel Aviv.
Donate: Donate now to support BINA’s work with African asylum seekers and others in south Tel Aviv.
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BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change, operates under the Israeli nonprofit "Merchavim Chevra Lechinuch Vetarbut".
BINA operates under the Israeli nonprofit Merchavim, with the support of the Kibbutz Movement and the Posen Foundation. BINA is proudly funded by the UJA-Federation of New York, as well as additional supporters, including: Aronson Foundation, Avi Chai Foundation, Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, Federation CJA Montreal, Gimprich Foundation, Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest, JUF / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Berl Katznelson Fund, Leichtag Foundation, Littauer Foundation, Matanel Foundation, Montefiore Endowment, Morris Levinson Foundation, Rappaport Family Trust, Shahaf Foundation, Alan B. Slifka Foundation, Sobell Foundation, Ziering Family Foundation, dozens of municipalities across Israel and hundreds of private donors.
WWW.BINA.ORG.IL/EN
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