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Temple Emanuel + JFS: Working Together to Resettle 100 Refugees From Afghanistan 

02/23/2022 11:50:24 AM

Feb23

The Denver Jewish Community has begun the process of welcoming hundreds of Afghan refugees.  We have a rich history - as Jews and as Temple members - of participating in this work, and again, our country and our tradition are calling on us to reach out our arms in welcome. That tradition teaches us at least 36 times in the Torah that we are to welcome the stranger.

There are many different ways to participate in the nationwide effort to resettle hundreds of thousands of Afghans who have fled their homes in search of safety. Colorado has committed to resettling 2,000 of these individuals. Jewish Family Services of Colorado has applied for and been granted temporary Afghan Refugee Resettlement Agency status and will be working to settle 100 individual refugees arriving in Colorado.

Temple Emanuel is ready to help, and has committed to leveraging our considerable network of community members and resources in order to support the JFS effort. Because we know that “welcoming the stranger” means learning and providing what THEY need, rather than giving them what we need to give, we are so grateful to our Afghan Resettlement Project lead volunteers, Deb Herman, Lori Kalata and Sherry Stark, who are deeply invested in understanding the scope of what we can do to be most helpful.  

We look forward to sharing in the generosity and creativity of our temple community, and know we can count on you to help. 

With gratitude,

The Clergy and Professional Teams at Temple Emanuel 

How You Can Help Now

Learning

  • HIAS Refugee Shabbat - March 4-5
  • Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz will help us launch our campaign through Jewish learning. As one of the preeminent scholars and teachers in the world of Jewish Social Justice work, he will help us to frame and launch our community efforts. Join us on Zoom, Thursday 3/10 at 7PM

Contribute Housing
The most important and pressing need right now is HOUSING. As these families continue to arrive in Denver, we are facing a critical shortage in available and affordable housing, exacerbated by the Marshall fire and the need to temporarily resettle so many families whose homes were destroyed. JFS is seeking landlords or any people with connections in this area to help identify available, affordable housing units. Housing must be individual dwelling units (e.g., apartments, condos, houses) and not space within our homes (i.e., no renting out the spare bedroom or finished basement). If you own properties or have any connections to properties and might be able to help, please contact Rabbi Hyatt immediately at hyatt@emanueldenver.org

Contribute Funds
JFS currently has just over 50 new Afghan people here in transitional housing with more arriving each week, many of whom left Afghanistan without clothes or personal possessions. Thus, money is needed immediately to address these needs. You can donate through Temple Emanuel and 100% of funds will go directly to JFS for resettlement efforts.

Donate Now

 

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784