Standing Together for Justice

Hanukkah lights outside Temple Emanu-El

STATEMENT OF THE MONTANA ASSOCIATION OF RABBIS (MAOR) AND MONTANA

JEWISH PROJECT (MJP)

Also published at the Helena Independent Record, among other places.

February 4, 2026

As rabbis and faith leaders in Montana, together with the Montana Jewish Project, we stand

together at a moment of deep moral urgency. We stand with our immigrant neighbors, and we

stand against injustice wherever it occurs. We stand together, fearful for the soul of our country and our state, and yet we commit ourselves to act — to fight for a world where human dignity is honored, and all are safe.

We begin here in Montana, working across the state through our communities and partners,

recommitting ourselves to caring for our neighbors, protecting the vulnerable, welcoming the

visitor, practicing compassion, justice, and loving-kindness. These are not abstract ideals. They are the core teachings of not only Judaism, but also of all the world’s great religious traditions, and they are the lived expression of genuine faith.

Current policies are tearing apart the lives of individuals, families, and entire communities, and

spreading fear across the United States. They terrorize immigrant communities, conduct

indiscriminate arrests, destabilize workplaces and neighborhoods, and undermine the social

fabric that binds us together. Mass deportations inflict profound human suffering and erode the moral foundations of our society. We are especially mindful that this issue is not limited to places like Minneapolis and Chicago, but impacts Montana communities, even remote ones like Froid, MT, a community of around 200 Montanans. 

Just this week, this tiny Montana community was stunned by the arrest of 42-year-old Roberto

Orozco-Ramirez, who was immediately whisked some 400 miles away to be detained. Orozco-Ramirez is a husband and father of four and has lived in Froid with his family for more than a decade, where he started the local auto repair shop. The family are fixtures in the small

community. His sons – all American citizens -- are active in school sports, and he coached

baseball Little League teams in his spare time. He made time for school and community events.

One resident said that “when they moved here, they never asked for anything. They bought a

home, put their kids in school, they built that business from the ground up. They just worked

their butts off. … When I think of people coming to the U.S. for a better life, I just can’t imagine

any family doing more than he has.”

The local sheriff said that “it’s important to note that the man and his family have been

productive members of the community and have had no negative interactions with local law

enforcement since they moved here over a decade ago …. The man posed no danger to the

community at any point during this incident.” Court documents say he has no criminal history. 

We stand with the residents of Froid who began circulating a digital flyer, showing photos of

Orozco-Ramirez and his family, reading “STAND WITH THE OROZCOS” in big, block letters. 

In Judaism, the Torah teaches us, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and to love the stranger, forwe were strangers in the land of Egypt. The command to love the stranger is repeated 36 times, the most repeated command in the Hebrew Bible. Christianity, Islam, Bahai, Hinduism, and Buddhism all share these core teachings. It is because of these shared spiritual commitments that we are heartbroken by the violence unfolding across the United States — where federal immigration enforcement has resulted in deaths, terrorized communities, and sparked protests in the streets. These actions are not isolated incidents; they reflect a system that too often prioritizes power over human life, enforcement over justice.

We mourn with all who grieve — especially immigrant families and those who now fear seeking safety or accessing basic services. We call for immediate accountability for these actions, transparency in enforcement, and systemic change to ensure that no one is treated as expendable. Violence and fear have no place in a society that claims to honor the image of God in every person.

Now more than ever, our moral and spiritual traditions demand that we see the humanity and

dignity of every person, regardless of immigration status, and that we stand boldly, speak out

clearly, and act decisively in defense of those most vulnerable. Loving our neighbor must be

more than an ideal — it must guide our policies, our communities, and our public life.

As rabbis, we affirm:

• The inherent worth of every human life

• The responsibility to protect the vulnerable

• The imperative to welcome the stranger with justice and love

• The call to be agents of peace, accountability, and healing in divided times

  
  

We pledge to be steadfast in our witness, resolute in our compassion, and united in action —

until the day when all who seek refuge, safety, and dignity are met with justice and love.

The Montana Association of Rabbis (MAOR), consisting of rabbis throughout Montana and

representing Reform, Conservative, Renewal and independent streams of Judaism

With the Montana Jewish Project (MJP), a statewide Jewish community organization