First-time mission participant Roman Zelichenko remarked, “I expect it was different than most advocacy missions but despite the inability to speak to government officials, I found the guest speakers and participants really valuable to talk and listen to.”
As the global number of refugees continues to grow, Jewish communities from Berkeley to Budapest hold those unable to return home in their prayers this High Holiday season. Rabbi Ferenc Raj, Rabbi Emeritus from Congregation Beth El in Berkeley and founder of Bet Orim Reform Jewish Congregation in Budapest, brought the refugee theme to his congregation this Yom Kippur—along with his very personal experience.
As the global number of refugees continues to grow, Jewish communities from Berkeley to Budapest hold those unable to return home in their prayers this High Holiday season. Rabbi Ferenc Raj, Rabbi Emeritus from Congregation Beth El in Berkeley and founder of Bet Orim Reform Jewish Congregation in Budapest, brought the refugee theme to his congregation this Yom Kippur—along with his very personal experience.
As the global number of refugees continues to grow, Jewish communities from Berkeley to Budapest hold those unable to return home in their prayers this High Holiday season. Rabbi Ferenc Raj, Rabbi Emeritus from Congregation Beth El in Berkeley and founder of Bet Orim Reform Jewish Congregation in Budapest, brought the refugee theme to his congregation this Yom Kippur—along with his very personal experience.
This week HIAS Ukraine Director Aleksandr Galkin met with Valeria Lutkovska, the Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights, to discuss migration and asylum issues and enhancing collaboration to better protect refugees.
For HIAS, the top legislative priority for immigration reform is to streamline the process for admitting certain high-risk refugee groups, including Jews and other religious minorities fleeing Iran. Another is elimination of the one-year filing deadline for asylum applications, which prevents many asylum seekers with a well-founded fear of persecution from receiving protection in the U.S.
In December 2012, the Kenyan government announced that it intended to send the more than 100,000 refugees living in Nairobi and other cities into refugee camps. The government hoped to eliminate a terrorist threat. But at what cost to the refugees themselves?
In December 2012, the Kenyan government announced that it intended to send the more than 100,000 refugees living in Nairobi and other cities into refugee camps. The government hoped to eliminate a terrorist threat. But at what cost to the refugees themselves?
After passing through a metal detector and barbed wire fence, visitors to Delaney Hall Detention Facility are greeted by a white cinderblock wall splashed with the word “Welcome!” in Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and French. As a summer intern with HIAS, I have spent two days each week at Delaney Hall, serving as an interpreter for the incredible team that provides legal counsel.
After passing through a metal detector and barbed wire fence, visitors to Delaney Hall Detention Facility are greeted by a white cinderblock wall splashed with the word “Welcome!” in Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and French. As a summer intern with HIAS, I have spent two days each week at Delaney Hall, serving as an interpreter for the incredible team that provides legal counsel.
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