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Synagogues Continue Aiding
Afghan Refugees Two Years After
Taliban Takeover
6 JUNE 8, 2023 | JEWISH EXPONENT
Germantown Jewish
Centre volunteers at a
picnic honoring the Afghan
refugees they assisted
warehouse of sorted donations to stock
temporary refugee housing, many of which
are Airbnbs.

In the past month and a half, MLRT has
provided supplies to 70 refugees from Iraq,
Guatemala, Eritrea, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, accord-
ing to congregant and volunteer Linda Brock.

MLRT ensures that the items donated
are high quality and culturally relevant to
HIAS PA honors members of Mishkan Shalom and St.

refugees. If an incoming family is Muslim,
Vincent with the Golden Door Award for their efforts to
they likely have little need for a set of wine
help resettle Afghan refugees.

glasses. The bulk of resettlement efforts take place
“I had people say to me, ‘I think this is too good
for a refugee’, and it’s the most hurtful thing I’ve ever within three months of a refugee family arriving in
heard,” Brock said. “There might be something they Philadelphia. Working with a HIAS PA case manager,
volunteers from faith communities pick up refugees
don’t need, but it’s not because it’s too good.”
Like MLRT, GJC, Mishkan Shalom and St. Vincent from the airport and drop them off at their temporary
had outstanding relationships with HIAS PA before home with a culturally appropriate hot meal in tow.

the influx of Afghan refugees arrived in Philadelphia. While some volunteers may help to meet medical
Mishkan Shalom and St. Vincent are part of the New or education needs, others provide pro bono legal
Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, a grassroots counsel. According to Kat, about 600-700 volunteers
have assisted HIAS PA in an ongoing capacity.

immigrants advocacy effort.

After their first 90 days in the U.S., refugees
In recent years, HIAS PA has increased outreach to
faith organizations to bolster volunteer resettlement may need additional assistance. HIAS PA provides
efforts. Afghan refugees are still arriving in Philadelphia. more intensive case management for vulnerable
“Though the issue is no longer in the forefront of populations and provides English language learning
the news, we still continue to welcome new families opportunities.

Synagogues such as GJC also work with HIAS PA
who are navigating this experience now,” HIAS PA
Community Engagement Specialist Anneke Kat said. in immigrant advocacy work. GJC has participated
Many refugees from Afghanistan arrived in the U.S. in the national Refugee Shabbat program and has
under the status of humanitarian parole, which is not had congregants meet with members of Congress to
a guaranteed path to citizenship, unlike the refugee discuss immigration bills.

HIAS PA continues to look for volunteers. ■
resettlement program. Afghan evacuees undergo
the process of seeking asylum, at which point they
can apply for a green card.

srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com Courtesy of Lenny Thompson
A ug. 15 will mark two years since the Taliban
entered Kabul, Afghanistan, seizing the
presidential palace and overthrowing the
government, leading to hundreds of thousands of
Afghan evacuees seeking refuge in the U.S.

Though no longer in the news cycle, efforts to
support and rehome refugees in Philadelphia have
not ceased. Jewish congregations, in partnership
with other faith groups, have led the charge to assist
Aghans seeking help in the area.

“We know from our experience as Holocaust survi-
vors, as pogrom survivors, what it’s like, how difficult it
is to adjust to a new land,” said Judi Bernstein-Baker,
former executive director of HIAS Pennsylvania and
head of Mishkan Shalom’s Refugee and Immigrant
Rights Committee.

When three Afghan refugees arrived in Philadelphia
a year ago, Mishkan Shalom stepped up to help them.

Mishkan Shalom has worked alongside St. Vincent
de Paul Catholic Church in Germantown to help the
refugee men find temporary housing and jobs and
navigate the U.S. education and medical system. A
couple of months ago, a congregant donated a used
car to a refugee. Another helped him learn to drive.

The congregations raised $2,000 to support the trio.

In April, HIAS PA honored Mishkan Shalom and St.

Vincent with the Golden Door Award for their work in
assisting the refugees.

Germantown Jewish Centre is helping refugees in
similar ways. The synagogue’s refugee and immigrant
support committee resettled an Afghan family last May
and organized a synagogue-wide supply drive to stock
the family’s temporary housing. Congregants visit the
family’s home twice a week to tutor their three children.

“The mom of the family grew up where the Taliban
would not let girls go to school, so she’s preliterate
in her own language,” said Naomi Klayman, part of
GJC’s refugee and immigrant support committee.

“And we have a couple of tutors who are working
with her to help her learn English.”
GJC plans to resettle another family in July.

Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood has
collected donations for refugees and immigrants
— not just Afghans — to furnish their temporary
homes. MLRT volunteers have organized donation
collections for the past 13 years. HIAS PA visits the
Courtesy of Ivan Rosenberg
Sasha Rogelberg | Staff Writer