Jewish Values and History

The St. Louis and the Two Faces of America

Jun 06, 2017

“On June 6, 1939 — 78 years ago this week — the U.S. turned the ship away, knowing it was returning over 900 Jews to Nazi Germany,” HIAS CEO Mark Hetfield writes in an op-ed for RNS.

ADL, Hebrew Union College Honor HIAS’ Work On Behalf of Refugees

May 09, 2017

This week, HIAS was recognized by the American Jewish community on back to back days for its 136-year history protecting refugees.

New D.C. City Council Resolution Honors Jewish Refugees

May 02, 2017

D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau co-introduced a resolution designating May 13 as “Remember the St. Louis Day,” as a reminder of the tragic consequences of the United States closing its doors on refugees and asylum seekers.

A Reading for Yom Ha’Shoah

Apr 21, 2017

Against the backdrop of Passover’s imperative to free ourselves and others from narrow places, we remember the six million Jews and millions of LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, Roma, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who perished in the Holocaust.

Hundreds Rally for Refugees in DC

Mar 31, 2017

“We in this room tonight are part of an even larger national movement for refugees.” said Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, vice president of community engagement at HIAS. “Literally tens of thousands of Jews are supporting and welcoming and advocating on behalf of refugees.”

“This Passover, We Must Make Our Seders Real"

Mar 29, 2017

The 2017 HIAS Haggadah Supplement makes the plight of today’s refugees accessible for Passover Seders by including individual stories.

[VIDEO] In Buffalo, Deaf Refugees Find Hope

Mar 21, 2017

Our local partners at Jewish Family Service of Buffalo & Erie County have partnered with Deaf Access Services to support a community of Deaf refugees. Watch our new video.

LISTEN: Rabbi Jennie Rosenn Interviewed on State of Belief

Feb 27, 2017

Listen to HIAS Vice President for Community Engagement Rabbi Jennie Rosenn's interview on State of Belief radio with Rev. Welton Gaddy.

200+ Kindertransport Survivors and Descendants Urge Support for Refugees

Feb 22, 2017

Over 200 Kindertransport survivors and descendants sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to keep America’s doors open to today’s refugees. “In the aftermath of World War II, the price for keeping America’s doors closed to refugees due to fear was made starkly clear. We are among the very few who were welcomed by a country and its citizens and therefore survived,” they write.

Why a Jewish Organization Is Suing to Stop the Muslim Ban

Feb 21, 2017

We cannot remain silent as Muslim refugees are turned away just for being Muslim, just as we could not stand idly by when the U.S. turned away Jewish refugees fleeing Europe during the 1930s and 40s. The Torah requires us to intervene. To stop these things from being done by our government and in our name.

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