Exploring The Immigration Act of 1924: Unveiling the Echoes of Sodom and Gomorrah in Jewish History

Show Notes
Transcript

What if the history of immigration was more than just laws and policies? Strap in as we dissect the moral implications of one particular legislation - the Immigration Act of 1924. We examine how this Act – signed by Calvin Coolidge, which nearly extinguished immigration into America – had a significant impact on Jewish people striving to escape persecution. The Act limited immigration to a meager 2% of each nationality, effectively shutting America's doors to the world in a striking echo of the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, infamous for their lack of hospitality and kindness.

As our conversation evolves, we draw thought-provoking parallels between these historical events and contemporary attitudes toward sharing and generosity. Linking restrictive practices like limiting bathroom usage to paying customers only to the uncompassionate principles of Sodom and Gomorrah, we stimulate our listeners to ponder on the underlying values of our societies. However, it's not all doom and gloom! We inspire you with the Jewish ethos of charity and kindness, embodied by the biblical figure Abraham, encouraging everyone to cultivate a spirit of welcoming and generosity in their everyday lives. Journey with us as we reflect on our past and question our present values.

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Transcript

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With respect, mr Calvin Coolidge, when you officially signed that act that made ita law the Immigration Act of 1924, you shouldn't have referred to it, you shouldn't have called it the Johnson-Reed Act, you should have called it the Sadom and Amor Act.

00:00:17.830 --> 00:00:34.792
It was an act that would significantly curtail and nearly make impossible immigration into America and at a time when the Jews were trying to flee really anywhere, america barred its doors.

00:00:34.792 --> 00:00:39.005
No immigration pretty much made it impossible.

00:00:39.005 --> 00:00:44.945
They allowed 2% of each nationality, only around 165,000 per year.

00:00:44.945 --> 00:00:46.207
It's literally nothing.

00:00:46.207 --> 00:00:48.631
Zero people could come in from Asia.

00:00:48.631 --> 00:00:51.084
This is the Mida of Sadom.

00:00:51.746 --> 00:01:02.210
Rabir Iqam points out, and Niveem talks about it, that the opposite of Avram, the opposite of kindness, the opposite of charity, was Sadom and Amor.

00:01:02.210 --> 00:01:03.454
Sadom and Gomorrah.

00:01:03.454 --> 00:01:06.289
It was all about no visitors, no guests.

00:01:06.289 --> 00:01:08.748
Meenavadzokim taf minashim.

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Everybody surrounded Lot's house when they heard that he may have some guests in his house, he may be acting kindly towards them.

00:01:15.156 --> 00:01:19.378
They surrounded the house with pitchforks and signs saying we want the guests, bring them out.

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We want to do bad things to them because we don't want guests.

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No kindness, the kids were taught this wretched.

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The US Department of State said that we made this act quote to preserve the US ideal homogeneity.

00:01:37.403 --> 00:01:46.864
That means, basically, it just barred its doors and didn't let the goodies be shared with anybody else.

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The peace here.

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And Rabbi Reisman pointed out a very shocking, astonishing fact that a person doesn't even need to be such a kacham to notice things in his life or other places that are literally from the chinuch of Sadom and Amor.

00:02:04.468 --> 00:02:16.280
He said how is it that a Jewish store could put on its walls any store, for that matter, could put on its walls a sign that says the bathroom is only for clients, only for customers?

00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:24.985
You're not going to let a Jewish child who needs the bathroom, a Jewish mother, a Jewish father who really needs to use the restroom, you're not going to let them into the restroom because they're not doing business with you.

00:02:24.985 --> 00:02:30.050
You're going to bar the door, shut, no visitors, nothing, unless they're your client.

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So, domina Amora, hated kindness and hated giving, but Judaism is built on the Avrum of Vino-esque meadows of loving charity and loving kindness, opening up the borders, spreading the love, spreading the wealth.

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So yeah, calvin Coolidge, it wasn't very cool.

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So don't act like that.

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Act like Avrum of Vino and share the wealth.

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