Response to Ariel’s Dispatches from Minneapolis

by Eliot Sash
January 31, 2026
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Eliot has requested the following disclaimer:  This is my personal opinion and reply only, and does not reflect any official or religious position of Ahavas Sholom.
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Unless something transcends a point which I consider too far, I usually sit back and contain myself. Ariel’s Dispatches are way too far past that point.

While Ariel’s actions may resonate as reasonable and necessary given the majority opinion of my fellow members, I am appalled by the encouragement of lawlessness she has undertaken (apparently with the support of Ahavas Sholom as memorialized by the need to report her blog as a legitimate part of the Congressional newsletter).

The comparison with the late Dr. King (to be polite) is misguided. The civil rights movement was to ensure the rights of CITIZENS, whose ancestors were brought here against their will but nonetheless were born here and citizens by every definition of that word. These people being rounded up and deported are NOT.

Perpetuating the lie about 5-year old Luis Ramos is nothing less that abhorrent. The boy was abandoned by his father and mother in the freezing cold. ICE took him to McDonalds to have him in a happy familiar situation while the apprehended the father and later reunited them in a family detention facility. Personally I think the parents should have had their rights to Luis terminated and they should be prosecuted by Child Protective Services.

The illusion of “non-violence” is not determined by the actions of those alleging what they are doing but in their actual physical actions. Blocking the airport terminal so travelers cannot go where they want to go because you do not like Delta is unacceptable. Don’t fly the airline if you feel that strongly about it.

I find it very hypocritical that “Shabbat Sholom – ICE go home” was chanted by the congregation Ariel attended. First of all ICE is a Federal Law Enforcement Agency and is “AT HOME” everywhere in the United States where their services are needed – like Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and here in New Jersey. Do we not say a prayer for our government at every Shabbat service (and in some congregations every single service)?

Have we all forgotten that the forefather of ICE (the Bureau of Immigration) rounded up and deported 12-million during Clinton’s 8 years as president? Or maybe that in Obama’s 2nd term ICE rounded up and deported 3-million. While I was not even living in New Jerseyt when Clinton was president, I was surely a member of Ahavas Sholom during Obama’s presidency (I voted for him twice – the first time I was very proud to do so and completely regret the 2nd time because of the traitorous Iran “deal”).

I will stop here as the more I think about Ariel’s actions and the “need” to report it to the congregation simply infuriates me.