Sukkat Shalom

Sukkat Shalom

Migrant and Refugee Support

Sukkat Shalom (Shelter of Peace) is Temple Micah’s initiative to welcome refugees and migrants to the United States and to our community. This work enables us to fulfill the commandment for Jews to love our neighbors.

Sukkat Shalom responds to the increasingly difficult situation facing migrants and refugees seeking a safe and secure life for themselves and their families.

For more information contact sukkatshalom@templemicah.org. Click here to support our work.

Current Opportunities

Extend a welcoming hand!

Contact us at sukkatshalom@templemicah.org for current volunteer opportunities.

Hire a Local Worker and Support Our Immigrant Community

Temple Micah’s Sukkat Shalom team has been honored to partner with We Are CASA, a high-impact organization that provides social services, economic empowerment, and policy advocacy in support of immigrant communities across our region. CASA now runs three Worker Welcome Centers in Montgomery County—safe spaces where individuals can connect with

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Sukkat Shalom logo

Potential New Sukkat Shalom Initiative

Supporting A Migrant Family Impacted by Detention or Deportation  Sukkat Shalom is exploring a new initiative: supporting a migrant family impacted by detention or deportation through the Migrant Support Mutual Aid Network’s Post Detention Care (PDC) program. The Opportunity To launch this project, we need a core group of volunteers who are willing to make

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Our Work

In early 2017, a group came together at Temple Micah to actively oppose the harsh immigration policies of the Trump administration. We called the group Sukkat Shalom (Shelter of Peace).

Since then, more than half of our community has participated in Sukkat Shalom’s efforts, with donations and on-the-ground work. In addition, Micah members supported the mother of our first family (after 8 years of residence) to become an American citizen!

Learn more about our work:

Our Partner Organizations

We partner with local and international nonprofits to ensure that we can provide support where it is needed most critically.

Thanks to our generous congregants, Sukkat Shalom has been honored to make significant donations to the following organizations: Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs; Mary’s Center; La Clinica del Pueblo.

While we have coordinated with several organizations over the years, our partnerships with the nonprofits outlined here—HIAS, Ayuda, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, and CASA—represents the bulk of our work.

HIAS Welcome the stranger protect the refugee

HIAS

HIAS is the global Jewish humanitarian organization that stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity. Our most recent work with HIAS includes:

Welcome Circle Program

Through HIAS’ Welcome Circle program, welcomed a family of two parents and three boys ages 1 to 5. In addition to providing financial support, we located housing, furnished an apartment, assisted the family in applying for public benefits, helped enroll the children in school and the parents in English lessons.

2024 Pathways Recipient Trailblazer Award

Temple Micah was 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.”

Migrant Support Paralegal

From 2020-2022, we created and funded the Migrant Support Paralegal position at HIAS, a role that helped clients apply for asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, U-visas, unlawful presence waivers, and work permit applications.

AYUDA

Ayuda provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in our neighborhoods access justice and transform their lives. Our most recent work with Ayuda includes:

Emergency Funds

In 2025, we provided emergency funds to AYUDA, to help support immigrants in the face of the increased federal law enforcement presence in the District of Columbia. 

Goods Donation

In 2024 and 2025, we donated goods to partner organizations, including AYUDA and Solutions for Hometown Connections, to assist new arrivals and other immigrants with basic needs like winter clothing, school uniforms and period products.

International Rescue Committee 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives.  Our most recent work with IRC includes:

Apartment Furnishment

In 2024, we furnished a 3-bedroom apartment in Landover Hills for a family of 4 adults and 3 teens, in cooperation with their resettlement agency, IRC.

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area 

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is a human services and immigration relief and refugee welcome agency. Our most recent work with LSSNCA includes:

Good Neighbor Program

Since 2017, we have worked closely with LSSNCA to support families new to our area. In 2022, we had the great honor of providing a welcoming home for a young Afghan family as they began to rebuild their lives. 

CASA

All year long, CASA provides critical services to immigrant and working-class families and advocates for their rights.  

Emergency Funds

In 2025 and 2026, we provided emergency funds to CASA, to help support immigrants in the face of the increased federal law enforcement presence in the DMV. 

Publicizing CASA Initiatives

In 2026, CASA indicated that their greatest needs were to publicize their Worker Centers —safe spaces where individuals can connect with employers looking to hire day laborers, short-term workers, and more.