As we watched boatloads of people escaping from Syria through Greece, crowds facing barbed-wire borders near Hungary or others seeking safe havens trapped at train stations farther north in Europe, we realized that we could be those people. As Jews we know that our parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were once the world’s refugees, the “others” not welcomed by the world’s nations.

That’s why congregants Bill Shore and Richard Rozen, working closely with Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller, organized this February 2 program about refugee resettlement and what we in the Bay Area can do to help. “The program will give us an opportunity to test the waters to see how much interest there is at Sherith Israel in getting more involved helping refugees,” comments Bill.

Guest speakers include Avi Rose, executive director, and Kathryn Winogura, volunteer coordinator, of Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, which has been resettling Syrian and other refugees. They will be joined by Sergo Adamian, a refugee from the country of Georgia.  

Information:
Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller, 415-346-1720, x25, or rabbijst@sherithisrael.org.