We cannot remain silent as Muslim refugees are turned away just for being Muslim, just as we could not stand idly by when the U.S. turned away Jewish refugees fleeing Europe during the 1930s and 40s. The Torah requires us to intervene. To stop these things from being done by our government and in our name.
On July 1, 2016, on the Greek island of Lesvos, HIAS launched its newest international office in order to provide assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers facing an unfamiliar and daunting legal bureaucracy. “For those who survive the harrowing journey, landing on Lesvos is only the beginning,” said Rachel Levitan. “HIAS Greece was established to meet the urgent need people have for legal assistance and guidance on the island.”
Experts, including HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield, discuss the role faith-based organizations have taken during the refugee crisis and the challenges of aiding and resettling refugees in the United States and abroad.
The middle-aged man sat quietly in a nondescript refugee center conference room. On the table before him lay a hand-drawn illustration, a colorful, heartfelt expression of thanks to those who had helped his family reach safety after years of tragedy and trauma.
With the global refugee crisis at the forefront of the discourse related to a presidential election for the first time in recent history, we felt it was necessary to set the record straight on some crucial points.