This coming March, Congregation Kol Ami will be a proud participant in HIAS’ Refugee Shabbat, during which Jews in the United States and around the world will take action for refugees and asylum seekers. Kol Ami Member Jess Winfield,  member of our Tzedek Council, will give the dvar torah in his capacity as co chair of JCARI-LA  https://www.jcari-la.org  

 

 

With more than 80 million people worldwide who have fled their homes due to persecution and violence, we are now witnesses to one of the largest humanitarian crises in human history. Over the last four years, in the United States, the current administration has essentially ground the U.S. refugee admissions program to a halt and decimated the asylum system. As we welcome a new administration, we celebrate the opportunity to look towards a return to the value of welcoming those in need of a safe place to call home and continuing the Jewish community’s support for pro-refugee and asylum seeker policies across the globe.

 

Over the Shabbat of March 5-6, 2021, the Jewish community will dedicate sacred time and space to refugees and asylum seekers. Now in its third year with hundreds of congregations and thousands of individuals participating, this Refugee Shabbat will be an opportunity to once again raise awareness in our communities, to recognize the work that has been done, and to reaffirm our commitment to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers.