Dedication of Space
On October 19, 2019 Kehilla held a dedication ceremony for our new sanctuary living space and bathroom, which will be used for immigrants seeking sanctuary or for temporary shelter for immigrant families who we are part of our accompaniment program. These are the remarks made by Julie Litwin at the event. Welcome! My name is […]
Good News from the Immigration Committee
by Catherine Lyons and Julie Litwin It seems hard to imagine – considering the news we read and hear about the immigration situation – that there can be good news. Those who have had the privilege of housing or accompanying a refugee or an immigrant have had the opportunity to experience some moments of success […]
Report on Three Recent Immigration Committee Events
Welcoming the Stranger: A Call for Kehilla Sanctuary & Shelter Volunteers On February 3rd the Immigration Committee held an event for those interested in volunteering when Kehilla has a guest in sanctuary. Participants learned about the steps that we have taken so far to prepare for this undertaking. We showed three short videos to give […]
Give Detainees Hope – Be a Friend on the Outside
By Jeanne Finberg The Kehilla Immigration Committee is organizing a contingent to help support immigrants who are currently being held in ICE detention. We are working with Friends Afuera, which is a project of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. Through this program, volunteers write letters to people in detention and contribute a small amount […]
Immigration Committee Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
There are many opportunities to get involved with Kehilla’s immigration work! –Feb. 3rd, 2019–4-6pm in the sanctuary at Kehilla Welcoming the Stranger: A Call for Kehilla Sanctuary & Shelter Volunteers Learn what tasks will need to be done once we have a sanctuary guest and how volunteers will be organized! Come to hear testimony from […]
Update from the Sanctuary Task Force
Recap of Kehilla’s steps towards offering sanctuary: 1985: Kehilla declared itself a sanctuary congregation and became an active member of the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, a network of faith communities engaged in helping refugees escape death squads in El Salvador. 2016: Our High Holy Days theme focused on immigrants and refugees. November 22, 2016: The […]
Two Recent Blows Against Immigrants in Detention
by Sam Davis and Julie Litwin CIVIC Visitation Terminated On March 5, 2018 the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office stopped volunteers from the organization Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement (CIVIC) from visiting immigrants detained at the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) in Richmond. Since 2011 CIVIC, a national organization working to end the […]
Stand Together CoCo
On March 1, a new immigration hotline to report ICE activity or to seek assistance for someone detained by ICE was launched to serve Contra Costa County residents: 925-900- 5151. The hotline is part of a deportation defense initiative called Stand Together CoCo. OCO is one of a coalition of nonprofits that manages the program, […]
Save the Date: Sanctuary Shabbat Morning Service Followed by Lunch and Community Conversation
Sanctuary Shabbat: Morning Service Followed by Lunch and Community Conversation ~ Cosponsored by Kehilla’s Economic Justice Committee for Affordable Housing Week May 12th 10am-3:30pm Kehilla has been a sanctuary synagogue since the 1980’s. In November of 2016 the Kehilla Board passed a resolution reaffirming this commitment. Kehilla members have been deeply involved in the many aspects of sanctuary […]
