Ner Shalom Statement on Sanctuary

We, Congregation Ner Shalom, hereby declare ourselves a Sanctuary Congregation in alliance with the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition. We commit ourselves to living our values of Tikkun Olam. as a congregation and alongside our interfaith partners. As stated in our mission statement:  

TIKKUN OLAM / Repair of the World: With the long view of our history behind us, and love and hope for the future, we each — individually and collectively — strive to do our part to pursue justice and make the world better. “It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either.”
– Rabbi Tarfon, Pirkei Avot 2:21 

We recognize that our Jewish principles call us to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person and to seek justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.   Inspired by the Torah’s repeated teaching that Jews have a special obligation to welcome and care for “strangers,” Ner Shalom commits to supporting immigrants, regardless of whether they are Jews and regardless of their legal status.     

We call up our individual and collective courage in the face of hatred and oppression. 

We commit to walk alongside our immigrant neighbors, friends and strangers, to uphold their dignity, and due process rights, through protection, support and advocacy. 

We offer support to immigrant families as may be needed.  This may include and is not limited to:  working with other sanctuary groups, fundraising for legal assistance and for local advocacy groups, hosting legal observer trainings, community education, direct advocacy, providing direct service like tutoring and transporting migrants to medical or legal appointments, and participating in actions such as vigils, marches, and nonviolent protests,  

Social justice, advocacy and the concept of Tikkun Olam are among the central tenets of Judaism. If not now, when?   

Adopted by the Ner Shalom Board of Directors, May 1, 2025