I see both sides of the immigration debate that is raging once again. One side says that those illegal immigrants who broke the law to get here should be sent home. Our country has always welcomed immigrants, but they are the ones who come here legally, work hard and strive for a better future.

But others believe that most illegal immigrants are here to work, and work they do – particularly in jobs that the rest of us won’t take. So they should be given amnesty and given a path towards citizenship. Besides, their kids are already in our schools and they are using our medical care. 

So, I’m torn. And all along the lawmakers in D.C. are wrangling back and forth, making a mess of any possible legislation.

Yes, I understand the part about breaking the law. But what if the law is wrong? It’s happened before and we Jews know it. Was it right when FDR sent back the St. Louis in 1939 – six months after Kristallnacht—and condemned 937 Jewish men, women and children to certain death? At that moment, how could we forget the beautiful words of Emma Lazarus, herself a Jew, engraved on the Statue of Liberty, the ones that speak of taking in the tired, the poor and the huddled masses?

We closed our doors to helpless Jewish refugees during their ultimate time of need. Obviously our laws were wrong then. Do they need to change now to meet new situations? Is there a compromise we can reach now? Then again, why should we reform our laws now? If you were a legal immigrant, how would you feel about that? So yes, I’m torn. Tell me what you think the Jewish response should be.