by Shelley Fidler
They work with two refugee families. They support a HIAS paralegal and are recruiting pro bono lawyers to assist asylum seekers. They are exploring new partnerships with refugee organizations in the area. Who are these people? They are members of Sukkat Shalom — Temple Micah’s Shelter of Peace — who want to do more. To do so, they need additional volunteers. Please consider joining in the work of Sukkat Shalom.
Here is what is in the planning stage. “The IRC (International Rescue Committee) is expecting a large number of refugee families this fall and has asked Sukkat Shalom to help with apartment set up,” said volunteer Jill Berman. “We will work with Micah’s Beytenu to furnish an apartment and create a home for a family.”
Shelley Fidler, a recent recruit, explained, “The work is varied; from individuals or families supplying new or gently used items and furniture to outfit an entirely new household, to donating at any time to Sukkat Shalom through ShulCloud, signing up to engage long-term with needs of newly arrived families, or raising a hand to collaborate with others on a brand new project.”
This is great work. The volunteers are awesome. And the cause is just. There is a place for everyone in our rewarding work.
To get started, contact sukkatshalom@templemicah.org.
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TEMPLE MICAH RECEIVES PATHWAYS TRAILBLAZER AWARD  Temple Micah was recently recognized by HIAS with a Pathways Trailblazer Award—their highest congregational honor—for its “extraordinary work helping refugees, asylum seekers and other forcibly displaced people.” Micah is one of just 19 congregations—and the only one in the DC area—to receive this award, which was “allocated to the top congregations in the country who have led on unique projects, volunteer efforts, and/or emergency response to crises.” Our application to HIAS for the award detailed how we have incorporated ritual, volunteering, education, advocacy, and philanthropy into every facet of Sukkat Shalom’s work since 2017. Thank you to the many volunteers, donors, and supporters who help make this crucial work possible. |
This article originally appeared in the Sep/Oct 2024 issue of the Vine.