Refugee Shabbat
Refugee Shabbat 2022, which will take place on March 4-5, is a moment for congregations, organizations, and individuals in the United States and around the world to dedicate a Shabbat experience to refugees and asylum seekers. This past year our hearts have swelled at the massive global effort to evacuate and find safe homes for Afghans fleeing for their lives; and they have broken seeing people whose lives are in danger being turned away at border crossings around the world. This is a critical moment for all of us to reaffirm and redouble our support for refugees and asylum seekers.
How to Participate
Whether you sign up to participate on behalf of your congregation or as an individual hosting an event in a home, there are many options for your Refugee Shabbat. It could be the culmination of a week of action on refugee issues, a moment to simply focus on learning more about the global refugee crisis in a Jewish context, or an opportunity to convene Jewish (or interfaith) congregations to learn and chart a course of action together. The choice is yours.
Congregations might consider including a liturgical reading on the theme of the refugee crisis in Shabbat services and/or dedicating a sermon or text study to the topic. If you have a relationship with a refugee or refugee professional in your local community, consider inviting that person to speak during services. You might also plan an educational program after Friday evening services or after Saturday morning services.
For individuals and congregations alike, HIAS is pleased to provide programming resources that include a liturgical reading, sermon/D'var Torah talking points, a text study, and a list of ways that people can take action on their own or as a group. This resource will be available in the coming months. If you are located in Canada, our partners at JIAS Toronto will provide resource materials that apply to the Canadian context, and if you are based in Europe, you will receive resource materials from HIAS’ European headquarters in Brussels.
We encourage you to think through which of these options would be the most appealing to you and/or your community. Congregations and organizations may also want to begin identifying possible community partners (e.g., other synagogues, local organizations, etc.) and finding the right space for the program.
Given the uncertainty around COVID-19, HIAS is preparing resources that will work either online or in-person (in accordance with public health guidelines in place in March 2022).
*If the March 4-5 dates do not work for you or your community, feel free to register your participation below and choose another date in Spring 2022 that works with your calendar.
Please contact Andrea Gagne with any additional questions.
Co-Sponsors (list in formation):
American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
European Council of Jewish Communities (ECJC)
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)
Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies (NJHSA)
Paideia - The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association (RRA)
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)
PLEASE FILL IN THE FORM BELOW TO SHOW YOUR INTEREST
