In Jewish ethics, the fluctuation in my “feelings” does not mitigate my obligation to act when I see injustice and have an opportunity to do something about it. It’s a moral law.
This is an excellent post for someone like me who reads about the injustice of the ICE raid, but no idea how to help. I’ve never heard of Envision until now and I suspect an excellent social media campaign would raise a lot of funds, find more lawyers and educate these communities. I noticed that their TikTok hasn’t been posting since 2024 and their instagram following isn’t remarkable.
I am a Brit, and to be honest I am not as familiar with or as opposed to Mr Trump's approach as perhaps some people think I should be. However, I admire and respect your commitment to your and Envision's principles, and I hope your article results in more lawyers and others offering to help. I love that quote at the end, and for the first time I think I have fully understood it.
Very inspiring, David. I always admire the practicality of Jewish ethics. Duty over compassion at first feels counter-intuitive, but it actually makes perfect sense. Thank you for all you do to help repair this broken world.
I just started a monthly donation to Envision in your and your wife's honor. Thank you for doing the research. Immigration aid was a hole in my (very puny monthly) donations. ICE is allegedly coming to my town of Little Rock, Arkansas, next or very soon. I want to offer my legal services but am a little nervous as ICE personnel are a bunch of government backed thugs and I am less helpful if arrested for no bloody reason. But I'll find a place to help in person. Be well all!!!
The Quakers and The Methodists of 18th century England both stressed this idea,that your Faith should NOT be based on Emotion,not after whatever experience brought you to faith. They knew that we all have good days and bad days so we should,as you stress,keep up our commitments when we DONT FEEL LIKE IT. And it's actually more good in our soul to give to someone needy who you dont like and who is dirty and smelly and rude. This actually crops up in The Brothers Karamazov but like Ivan I tried but I can't do it. It's easy to give to the person of charm who makes you laugh, and let's you feel generous! The other person who makes you feel small and stupid and like they tricked you when they havent,but then you only give once to them but you give week after week to the other person and you get it all back too it all levels out. Good luck finding lawyers to work for free,your brother being the honourable exception,it's only in Hollywood movies.
I never thought about compassion being lesser than obligation and now my whole worldview has just exploded (but in the good way). Thank you for this enlightening post (and for your tireless work to make the world a better place).
This is good "Our Jewish sages teach that giving from a sense of duty is on a higher moral plane than giving from a sense of compassion'. Christian teachings are similar, in that 'loving' is an act, not a feeling (verb not noun) and upon marrying the obligation is TO love (via action) not BE IN love.
In addition to being Jewish Adjacent, I am American Adjacent, via two centuries of family relations, and in my lifetime, deep friend and business connections. So I am very concerned about illegal immigration into the USA. Your cause is not mine, but I can respect what you are doing in that you are working to uphold the law against abuse by some of the political class and the state. However, having known personal Canadian friends who have lived and worked illegally in the USA, wow, its something I would never do. I would never illegally enter and live in another country. And if I ever found myself in this circumstance, I would accept my state of illegality and accept the risk I might some day be caught and deported, and willingly accept my fate as a lived my life.
I am sure that is true, and if they are detained against the law, as you say, then it is good work to get out while they wait for their adjudication. There are plenty of people in dire situations who go through the legal channels to immigrate, and those who do enter and live and work illegally have to know that their card might called at any time and to plan accordingly. Its a risk they take and they need to own that risk.
And it is critical to note that immigration court judges (who make the bond determination) are not Article 3 judges, confirmed by the senate. They are appointed by the Atrorney General and are employees of the DOJ. So, too, are the judges on the Board of Immigration Appeals, who handle review of the decisions of the lower court immigration judges. This has always been a concern - judges from the executive branch making liberty decisions for subjects who are themselves being prosecuted by the executive branch. It is now more of a concern than ever, given the policies of this administration, and the wholesale attrition of responsible and law abiding career prosecutors within the DOJ.
Do you know what percentage of detainees have no criminal background? I've read some wildly divergent assertions in this regard--probably due to political distortion. But I'd like to know what's really going on.
It would be great to know. I’m glad ICE is catching bad actors and deporting them but those who have been here for a long time, love America and contribute break my heart.
The scale of injustice can feel paralyzing—like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a souvenir espresso cup, but one act, one person released, one life restored… that’s how the world tilts back toward the humane. Thank you for the clarity, the courage, and the starfish cameo. We take our hope where we can get it. I have a resource for you...
This is an excellent post for someone like me who reads about the injustice of the ICE raid, but no idea how to help. I’ve never heard of Envision until now and I suspect an excellent social media campaign would raise a lot of funds, find more lawyers and educate these communities. I noticed that their TikTok hasn’t been posting since 2024 and their instagram following isn’t remarkable.
Thanks Jen. Yes, I think they could use more publicity. It's a question of people resources.
Aren’t there Gen -Zs who could help with this?
I am a Brit, and to be honest I am not as familiar with or as opposed to Mr Trump's approach as perhaps some people think I should be. However, I admire and respect your commitment to your and Envision's principles, and I hope your article results in more lawyers and others offering to help. I love that quote at the end, and for the first time I think I have fully understood it.
Thanks Terry!
Very inspiring, David. I always admire the practicality of Jewish ethics. Duty over compassion at first feels counter-intuitive, but it actually makes perfect sense. Thank you for all you do to help repair this broken world.
Thanks for sharing this important work. What a sad state in a country that needs Envision!
I just started a monthly donation to Envision in your and your wife's honor. Thank you for doing the research. Immigration aid was a hole in my (very puny monthly) donations. ICE is allegedly coming to my town of Little Rock, Arkansas, next or very soon. I want to offer my legal services but am a little nervous as ICE personnel are a bunch of government backed thugs and I am less helpful if arrested for no bloody reason. But I'll find a place to help in person. Be well all!!!
Thanks Sharon! Greatly appreciated.
The Quakers and The Methodists of 18th century England both stressed this idea,that your Faith should NOT be based on Emotion,not after whatever experience brought you to faith. They knew that we all have good days and bad days so we should,as you stress,keep up our commitments when we DONT FEEL LIKE IT. And it's actually more good in our soul to give to someone needy who you dont like and who is dirty and smelly and rude. This actually crops up in The Brothers Karamazov but like Ivan I tried but I can't do it. It's easy to give to the person of charm who makes you laugh, and let's you feel generous! The other person who makes you feel small and stupid and like they tricked you when they havent,but then you only give once to them but you give week after week to the other person and you get it all back too it all levels out. Good luck finding lawyers to work for free,your brother being the honourable exception,it's only in Hollywood movies.
Thanks Jane. Brilliant Brothers K. reference!
David, thanks for educating me. I know of an org that serves vulnerable communities yet not in NYC. Is that a deal breaker?
Not necessarily, Molly, Envision could try to refer them to a similar organization in that area.
I never thought about compassion being lesser than obligation and now my whole worldview has just exploded (but in the good way). Thank you for this enlightening post (and for your tireless work to make the world a better place).
Great work David.
Always love the Rabbi Hillel the Elder quote too… was thinking about it last night before I even read your wonderful piece!
Strong piece. Loved the Starfish story.
This is good "Our Jewish sages teach that giving from a sense of duty is on a higher moral plane than giving from a sense of compassion'. Christian teachings are similar, in that 'loving' is an act, not a feeling (verb not noun) and upon marrying the obligation is TO love (via action) not BE IN love.
In addition to being Jewish Adjacent, I am American Adjacent, via two centuries of family relations, and in my lifetime, deep friend and business connections. So I am very concerned about illegal immigration into the USA. Your cause is not mine, but I can respect what you are doing in that you are working to uphold the law against abuse by some of the political class and the state. However, having known personal Canadian friends who have lived and worked illegally in the USA, wow, its something I would never do. I would never illegally enter and live in another country. And if I ever found myself in this circumstance, I would accept my state of illegality and accept the risk I might some day be caught and deported, and willingly accept my fate as a lived my life.
Thanks for the comment Steve. You and I live very different lives from the lives of the people detained.
I am sure that is true, and if they are detained against the law, as you say, then it is good work to get out while they wait for their adjudication. There are plenty of people in dire situations who go through the legal channels to immigrate, and those who do enter and live and work illegally have to know that their card might called at any time and to plan accordingly. Its a risk they take and they need to own that risk.
The law in this case is represented by the federal judge who grants the bond opportunity.
And it is critical to note that immigration court judges (who make the bond determination) are not Article 3 judges, confirmed by the senate. They are appointed by the Atrorney General and are employees of the DOJ. So, too, are the judges on the Board of Immigration Appeals, who handle review of the decisions of the lower court immigration judges. This has always been a concern - judges from the executive branch making liberty decisions for subjects who are themselves being prosecuted by the executive branch. It is now more of a concern than ever, given the policies of this administration, and the wholesale attrition of responsible and law abiding career prosecutors within the DOJ.
Great org for those who have no criminal background. 🙏🥰
Do you know what percentage of detainees have no criminal background? I've read some wildly divergent assertions in this regard--probably due to political distortion. But I'd like to know what's really going on.
It would be great to know. I’m glad ICE is catching bad actors and deporting them but those who have been here for a long time, love America and contribute break my heart.
"giving from a sense of duty is on a higher moral plane than giving from a sense of compassion."
Agreed.
Thank you, David! 🙏
Wow!
The scale of injustice can feel paralyzing—like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a souvenir espresso cup, but one act, one person released, one life restored… that’s how the world tilts back toward the humane. Thank you for the clarity, the courage, and the starfish cameo. We take our hope where we can get it. I have a resource for you...
This is a magnificent comment albeit a horrifying subject.