Update on Efforts to Support Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum-Seekers

Congregation Shearith Israel strives to be a welcoming community of Jewish learning and spirituality in all that we do. Our efforts to support immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers are an extension of that work. Learn more about efforts underway, upcoming events and how congregants and the larger community can get involved.

Members of our congregation have come together to support refugees, asylum-seekers and immigrants in a variety of ways including:

• In 2018 supporting the resettlement of a family of refugees from Eritrea in partnership with New American Pathways, an Atlanta based nonprofit helping refugees and Georgia thrive. Shearith Israel provided ongoing support for the Ahaw family for more than two years. That support included  setting up their apartment, supplying them with culturally appropriate food, raising funds to provide needed supplies, helping with cultural orientation and school registration and ongoing English language tutoring, providing dental care, taking them shopping for groceries, and arranging phone and television service.

• In 2019 coordinating a supply drive to benefit Tahirih Justice Center and assembling 105 hygiene kits. Tahirih Justice Center provides a broad range of direct legal services, policy advocacy, and training and education to protect immigrant women and girls fleeing gender-based violence.

• In 2019 to support the New Sanctuary Movement of Atlanta, Shearith Israel worked in community with two local churches, Glenn Memorial UMC and Virginia-Highland Church, to form a “cluster” of congregations to support refugees applying for asylum in the U.S. For nearly two years members of Shearith Israel provided meals and other support for an asylum-seeker on his successful journey to self-sufficiency in the United States.

Supporting Displaced Ukrainian Families

In spring 2022, Shearith joined with many others in the Atlanta area to welcome and resettle a wonderful family seeking refuge from Ukraine. Partnering with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Jewish Family & Career services, the Shearith community responded instantly, immediately, and significantly to help the family make a new home in our community. 

Together, we:

• found the family a home to live in;
• provided much-needed furniture and household items;
• donated thousands of dollars to the effort;
• traveled  to Lawrenceville to help with the move-in;
• schlepped hundreds of pounds of furniture and 
• unpacked dozens of boxes;
• put together shelves;
• washed dozens of dishes and
• played games to make the two young girls feel at home.

Then, last October, as the family welcomed a new baby boy, the K’tonton group of young Shearith Israel families, along with Shearith Israel for Good, created an Amazon wish list – and the community quickly responded with so much generosity!

If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions, please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.

IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER INTEREST FORM