Tonight, Jewish communities around the world will observe Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar.

We open up our hearts to feel tragedies from our history and tragedies that exist today. But we don’t grieve alone.

When we grieve together, we witness each other’s pain. And in community, we find hope.

Here are two ways to find hope and take action today:

This morning, I joined Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and allies to support the MELT ICE Act — because the country that is safest for Jews is the country that is safest for all of us, including our immigrant neighbors.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO: Why Tisha B'Av calls us to end the ICE Age.

This weekend, neighbors are coming together to host vigils for lives taken by ICE and demand ICE out of our communities. At Bend the Arc, we have an organizational practice of honoring Shabbat, but we occasionally invite people to important Saturday events like this one. We invite you to participate if it’s within your Shabbat practice.

📍VIEW THE MAP: Find a vigil near you to demand justice and accountability for our communities.

It does not require magical thinking to envision a world without ICE (it is younger than the youngest member of Congress!). Now is the time to take meaningful actions that will bring the reasons for our mourning to an end.

I hope you’ll join us this weekend as we continue the fight against ICE and against the deep injustices they represent for our country.

In solidarity,

Eli Williams-Szenes
Director of Advocacy and Political Affairs, Bend the Arc