Refugee! What the Torah has to say
JVL Introduction
At a time when Reform UK has just launched its Jewish Alliance – in Central Synagogue – Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK, does well to remind us of the value so mentioned in the Torah:
“love for the ger, the stranger, the outsider, the refugee. A better word than ‘love’ might be compassion, empathy, concern.”
He continues saying that
The injunction is this week’s Torah portion does not include the word ‘love’ though it is employed in this context numerous times elsewhere:
You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 22:20)
Don’t attribute to others the injuries from which you yourself suffer,’ insists Rashi. This may mean: Don’t maltreat outsiders, because not long ago you were an outsider yourself, and why draw attention to your own vulnerability? Alternatively, he may mean: You know how it hurts to be a refugee, so don’t go hurting others. That’s why Jewish communities have been deeply committed to the fate of those who, like our parents, had to flee for their lives.
We strongly commend what Rabbi Wittenberg has said on behalf of all of those – like us – who share those values and those commitments.
RK
This article was originally published by Jonathan Wittenberg's substack on Fri 13 Feb 2026. Read the original here.
Refugee! What the Torah has to say
Erev Shabbat, parashat Mishpatim, 26 Shevat, 5786
Friday, 13 February 2026
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I thought Reform UK was a Right Wing reactionary political party in the UK with nothing but loathing and contempt for refugees of any sort.
This seems odd to hear a rabbis impassioned pleas for support and sanctuary for refugees to an audience of Right Wing fanatics or am I missing something?
[It wasn’t delivered to the Reform UK meeting, but published on Rabbi Wittenberg’s own blog. We take it as an implicit criticism of Reform UK which is not directly addressed in it at all. – JVL ed]
There is an even stronger statement in favour of the stranger in Matthew 25, verses 31-46. It is a passage worth quoting to any self-proclaimed Christian who follows Tommy Robinson.