Immigration Committee at the SF Jewish Film Festival
The Kehilla Immigration Committee is proud to co-present 5 films at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival focused on refugees. The festival runs July 20-Aug. 6, 2017. Hope to see you there! The Good Postman, a Bulgarian documentary about a gentle village postman Ivan, who runs for mayor on the platform of welcoming Syrian refugees. […]
Protecting Immigrants in Our Community
Submitted by Julie Litwin, Kehilla Immigration Committee Whether we are immigrants ourselves or are concerned about the safety of immigrants in our community, it is important for all of us to know the rights of immigrants and to know what to do if we witness activity by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The Trump administration […]
Help Needed for Immigrant Family
During this year’s High Holy Days, we were called to find ways to welcome immigrants and refugees to our community. Here is a new opportunity to do so! Last week a family of nine arrived in the United States from Afghanistan. They are being assisted to resettle in the U.S. by Jewish Family and Community […]
Housing an Immigrant Family: Creating Meaning, Safety, and Connection
by Lili Shidlovski In response to our anger and helplessness after the election in November and the need to do more than sign petitions and make phone calls, my partner and I invited a Guatemalan asylum-seeking family that had just arrived in Oakland to live with us for three months. We responded to a plea […]
Another Way to Support Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Teams
by Karen Rachels and Julie Litwin, Immigration Committee Over the past two years, Kehilla members, in conjunction with the organization Nueva Esperanza, have formed four accompaniment teams that provide welcome and ongoing support to families and youth who have recently arrived from Central America. Over twenty Kehilla members and friends have joined teams and assisted […]
Help Support Immigrants and Refugees in Our Community
Dear Kehilla Members, During this year’s High Holy Days, we were called to find ways to welcome immigrants and refugees to our community. Here is an opportunity to do so! Members of Kehilla have been working closely with the Nueva Esperanza coalition (an initiative of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity) for over a year. […]
Proposal on Sanctuary
As updated at November 22, 2016 Board meeting and approved unanimously by the Board at that meeting Prepared by Julie Litwin (Immigration Committee) Marjorie Cox (Board) and Rabbi Dev Noily Background In 1985 Kehilla Community Synagogue declared itself a Sanctuary Congregation and became an active member of the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, a network of […]
Sanctuary
Submitted by Julie Litwin, Immigration Committee Co-Chair A Brief History of Sanctuary Although sanctuary is an ancient tradition dating back to Biblical times, the current Sanctuary Movement began in the 1980’s as a response to the injustice and danger faced by those who fled violent civil wars in Central America, only to be threatened with […]
Queer Migration: Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project
Short Film Screening & Immigration Advocacy Conversation December 3 @ 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, in the Sanctuary As part of the Immigration Committee’s cultural programs, Kehilla will host an evening of short films exploring intersectional themes of family borders, navigating origins, memory as survival, and the political implications of the immigrant experience. Post-screening discussion will focus […]
Thank You from the Immigration Committee
To the Kehilla Community, We are amazed and delighted by the incredible number of contributions of coats (over 1000!) and toiletries for immigrants and refugees at our High Holiday drive. Thanks to all of you who contributed so generously! Below are some comments from Carolynn Langsdale of La Familia who we partnered with for the […]
