Former HIAS client, Kindertransport survivor and refugee advocate Manfred Lindenbaum was interviewed live on Democracy Now!, sharing his personal experiences as a refugee and responding to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s son’s comparison of Syrian refugees to poisoned Skittles.
"As rabbis, we believe that every life is sacred, and every person is created in the image of God. Our biblical tradition teaches us to 'welcome the stranger' with compassion, and to care for those in need. We strongly support refugee resettlement in our local communities, and we call on you to uphold the legacy of a country and state that welcomes refugees."
Speaking to assembled world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, President Obama called for empathy for the “innocent men and women and children, who, through no fault of their own, have had to flee everything that they know, and everything that they love.”
HIAS “has become known as the U.S. Jewish community’s voice on refugee issues,” mobilizing the Jewish community around the refugee crisis, writes the Jerusalem Post.
Ahead of this week's refugee summits, HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield took to the pages of USA Today to argue that, “now is the time for the world to recommit to the ideals and promises of the Refugee Convention.”
More than 200 people, including representatives from over 50 synagogues and communal organizations, gathered at HIAS' #JewsforRefugees Assembly in New York Wednesday evening to call for stronger international leadership to alleviate the global refugee crisis.
Ahead of two momentous summits on the global refugee crisis, HIAS CEO and Pres Mark Hetfield and VP of Policy and Advocacy Melanie Nezer briefed foreign press at the New York Foreign Press Center of the U.S. Dept. of State.
World leaders will convene in New York on September 19 during the UN General Assembly to address the displacement crisis affecting millions of people around the globe. It’s the first time such a high level gathering has ever been held solely to focus on refugee and migration issues. The Jewish community will be watching closely, because today’s refugee law comes directly from our own historical experience as refugees.
Henry started his business with just five hand-sewn tote bags made from pieces of traditional East African fabric. They were an instant hit, and he has been expanding ever since. Over the past 11 months, he has hired 20 LGBT refugees to do piece-work, cutting the fabric he uses to make his bags. By working from home, they stay safe and are still able to earn a living.
At 6 p.m. on Thursday evening, Karen Green is abuzz with last minute preparations. In just a few hours, she’ll be at Reagan National airport to meet the Syrian refugee family her congregation has spent the last 10 days anxiously preparing for.
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