A budget is a moral document that reflects our country’s values, but the House just voted to kick tens of millions of vulnerable Americans off our critical safety net programs. Our Reform Jewish values tell us that cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by $295 billion, threatening over 41 million Americans who received food stamps last year, is immoral. That cutting Medicaid by at least $780 billion, threatening health care for over 72 million people, is immoral. That kicking 4.5 million children of legal, tax-paying immigrants off the Child Tax Credit, is immoral. And that terminating the clean energy tax incentives that fuel our greener future, is immoral. As Reform Jews, we must speak out against the devastating effects these cuts will have on our families, communities, and planet.
These cuts are particularly disappointing in that they are slated to be used to fund regressive tax breaks and harmful immigration and refugee policies, including mass deportations and indefinite detention of children and families. If this bill becomes law, millions of precious lives will be changed for the worse. We must demand better from our government. Now that the House has clearly stated its priorities, the Senate must step in to protect our communities.
Tell your Senators to pass a moral budget and oppose devastating cuts to the critical programs their constituents rely on.
Jewish Values
Judaism is clear about our responsibility to pursue economic justice and uplift the vulnerable. Proverbs 31:9 teaches that we must “speak up, judge righteously, and champion the poor and the needy.” Moreover, Exodus Rabbah 31:14 reminds us that "if all other troubles were placed on one side and poverty on the other, poverty would outweigh them all." We must speak up for a budget that champions our social service programs to reduce poverty and protect the vulnerable in our communities.
At the same time, our tradition persistently reaffirms the dignity of immigrants. More than any other commandment in the Torah, we are reminded 36 times to “love the stranger.” Leviticus 19:33-34 instructs: “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong them. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
For More Information
For more information, visit the RAC's pages on economic justice and healthcare or contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistants Eric Goldberg and Olivia Kogan.
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