On Not Standing Idly By

About this episode

The episode explores the moral implications of immigration policies and Jewish responsibilities through a protest experience.

When immigration policies turn violent and inhumane, how do we decide when to show up, who we stand beside, and what we’re willing to risk when the stakes feel both immediate and overwhelming? This week, Identity/Crisis follows that moral question out of the beit midrash and into the street. Yehuda Kurtzer passes the mic to Identity/Crisis producer, Tessa Zitter as she attends a Jews against ICE rally in Washington, DC. Through her experience at the protest and interviews with the organizers and attendees, including Executive Director of T’ruah Jill Jacobs, former NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and Hartman colleague Annie Beyer-Chafets, she explores what it means to bring Jewish moral language into the public square. For more on the day of learning: In the Face of Cruelty, Jewish Responsibilities to Neighbors and Strangers, click here. To listen to America Betrays the Stranger, click here. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

People in this episode

Host: Yehuda Kurtzer

Guest: Tessa Zitter

Topics covered

• immigration
• Jewish moral responsibility
• protest
• activism
• public square
• community

Keywords

• immigration policies
• Jewish ethics
• protest
• activism
• community engagement
• moral questions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Jews against ICE, T’ruah, Hartman Institute

Places: Washington, DC

More episodes of Identity/Crisis

• The Role of Journalism in a Post-Truth Age — with Abigail Pogrebin · June 9, 2026 · 51 min
• The American Jewish Past and What Comes Next — with Nicholas Lemann · June 2, 2026 · 51 min
• American Catholics, the Pope, and the Jews – with Robert George · May 26, 2026 · 52 min
• When Do We Speak Up? – with Abe Foxman (Re-release) · May 19, 2026 · 51 min
• Rational or Reckless? War, Iran, and the Limits of Strategy— with Michael Koplow · May 12, 2026 · 50 min
• When Mysticism Goes Mainstream — with Daniel Matt · May 5, 2026 · 46 min