300 PEOPLE ATTENDED TIMELY PANEL DISCUSSION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

L-R: Vincent Prieto, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Bea Podorefsky, Greg Litcofsky, Michael Wildes, Vidalia Acevedo, Joyce Kalman

The hall of Temple Emeth in Teaneck was packed at the November 18 General Meeting, when over 300 people attended a Panel Discussion on Immigration Reform: An American Dilemma. Many of NCJW BCS’s 24 coalition partners were represented in the audience, along with members, leaders of the community, friends of NCJW BCS members and the general public.

Bea Podorefsky, chair of NCJW BCS’s Immigration Reform Advocacy Committee, opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone and introduced members of the panel and Vincent Prieto, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly. The panel comprised experts in the field who addressed the topic from legal, moral and “reality” standpoints.

The moderator was Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle. Panel members were Michael Wildes, Immigration Attorney, Former Federal Prosecutor/Mayor; Rabbi Greg Litcofsky, Rabbi, Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, Livingston, NJ; and Vidalia Acevedo, Director of Outreach and Cultural Services, Center for Hope and Safety.

Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto began by giving a moving account of his own experience as an emigré from Cuba.

Michael Wildes complimented NCJW BCS on its foresight and the timeliness of this forum in view of the imminent announcement by President Obama that he will be taking executive action. Michael Wildes spoke about the legal challenges facing immigrants and brought their plight to life by recounting some of the experiences of his clients in his own immigration legal practice and his personal perspective as a Jew.

Referencing the Talmud, Rabbi Greg Litcofsky stressed the importance of undocumented immigrants having the same freedoms as we have, and emphasized that it is the job of us all to bring the world to what it ought to be – and that we can only do this if we ACT.

Vidalia Acevedo spoke passionately about the tremendous difficulties faced by immigrant women in domestic violence situations as well as in their daily lives. The work of her organization helps them gain a foothold in this country.

The lively Q&A session, conducted by Joyce Kalman, co-chair of the event, elicited personal perspectives and tough questions from the audience, which the panel addressed with vigor and compassion.

Valerie Huttle closed the discussion by pointing out that immigration is not only a Federal issue and that much is being done on the New Jersey State level.

Audience members were given the opportunity to act immediately by each signing a letter to President Obama asking him to take action for Immigration Reform. Approximately 200 letters were collected which the President will receive in due course.

From: Paulina Banasiak
Email Date: Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 4:16 PM
Subject: Thank You Letter

Dear Ms. Bea Podorefsky
I am writing to you today to commend you on your work as a member of the National Council of Jewish Women. I am Elaine Meyerson’s intern at The Center For Hope And Safety and since I started in September I began to be exposed to the work of women like Elaine and yourself and the great things you do for our community. After attending the panel on immigration reform something I feel deeply passionate about I decided to write this letter. That issue is specifically personal to me as I am an immigrant myself. I came to this country in December 2000 as a child and lived the undocumented life for over a decade. I received my permanent residency in 2011 and was finally able to live a life not feeling like a second class citizen. All of the issues brought up on the panel were issues I faced; therefore I want to thank you so much for organizing that event and bringing the topic of immigration to the forefront. I am currently studying to receive my Master of Social Work degree at Rutgers University which really has helped me understand that local organizations can make large impacts. You and The National Council of Jewish Women do amazing work for the Bergen County community and I am really appreciative of that. I wish you further success in your work and if I can ever be of any assistance do not hesitate to get in touch.
Sincerely,
Paulina Banasiak

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