Congregation Recognized for Its Many Helping Hands

It all began with some backpacks.

It was eight years ago when congregants of Judea Reform Congregation (JRC) in Durham, North Carolina, started to think of ways they could welcome refugees coming to their community. The first activity they undertook was a back-to-school backpack donation project. That led to a coat drive, and soon they were furnishing apartments for newcomers. And then things started to really get underway.

These days at the 600-family synagogue, there are myriad simultaneous projects assisting immigrants that involve hundreds of congregants volunteering their time and skills. To date, JRC has resettled nine families — which involves extensive coordination and six-month commitments from teams of congregants — and continues to organize an array of religious and community events including fundraising concerts and picnics, donation drives, and education and advocacy actions.

“Never in a million years would I have imagined things would be this way,” said Marian Abernathy, a lay leader and coordinator of multiple efforts. “This work has resonated, with a real feeling of living our Jewish values.”

Resettling and welcoming refugees, humanitarian parolees, asylum seekers, and other immigrants has become a core activity at the synagogue, and therefore it is no surprise that JRC received a Pathways Award from HIAS this year. The HIAS Pathways Awards are given to congregations for outstanding work on behalf of forcibly displaced people, showing their commitment through education, volunteering, philanthropy, advocacy, ritual, and values. JRC won a top Trailblazer Award, which is for congregations in the country who have been leaders on unique projects, volunteer efforts, and/or emergency response to crises.

“Judea Reform’s work is deeply ingrained in the identity of the congregation,” said Rabbi Sarah Bassin, HIAS’ director of clergy and congregations. “Their service is truly inspiring, and it shows other congregations what they can possibly do.”

In 2024 JRC’s Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Justice Initiative was most active in resettling refugees and humanitarian parolees, helping Ukrainian, Haitian, Afghan, and Venezuelan families. Three of this year’s five teams have an affiliation with HIAS’ private sponsorship initiative (Welcome Circles and Welcome Corps) and two teams are working independently.

Together with CWS Durham, the local immigration and resettlement office of Church World Service, the synagogue participates in CARE (Communities Acting for Refugee Empowerment), a new program intent on closing the economic gap for established refugee individuals and families. The JRC team worked with an Afghan family, providing financial, social, educational, and community orientation support.

On another, very tangible level, one of the bigger projects JRC’s refugee resettlement and immigrant justice initiative runs is the Grocery Squad, through which volunteers purchase and deliver groceries to stock refrigerators and pantries. This year, the squad provided over $12,000 of food for 365 individuals. The grocery squad saves newcomers funds and CWS case managers many hours that they can then spend on key tasks such as finding housing and enrolling newcomers in benefits programs, schools, and employment support.

“HIAS helps us create a bridge between what we pray and how we practice our Jewish values,” said JRC’s Rabbi Matthew Soffer. “Our congregation’s relational work with these wonderful families shapes and defines our identity as a Jewish community.”

The synagogue seems intent on continuing its leadership in helping refugees: the Board of Trustees recently voted to create a new standing Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Justice Fund. And not forgetting how things were in the beginning, last month JRC held its annual back-to-school backpack drive, donating school supplies in the packs, often with little notes and small gift items.

The members of JRC have shared in great joys of the families they help, as well as navigated them through difficult times.

“Engaging with newcomers is incredibly rewarding,” Abernathy said. “This work has also enabled us to strengthen community bonds within our congregation as team members work together on this mitzvah.”