Dear John,

As the Jewish New Year approaches, I am grateful for the many blessings this
past year has brought me, including the privilege of advocating for the
protection of refugees and asylum seekers together with all of you. Time and
time again this year, the Greater Washington, DC Jewish community’s dedication
to refugees and asylum seekers has moved me deeply.

You have collected and donated diapers, hygiene products, and clothing to our
asylum seeking clients. You have lobbied Congress and rallied in front of the
White House. You have planned events and programs that have raised awareness in
your communities and synagogues. You — the Greater Washington, DC Jewish
Community — have made a difference in the lives of HIAS’ clients and many other
displaced people still yearning for freedom and safety.

And yet, this was a terrible year for refugees and asylum seekers. Together, we
watched the number of refugees admitted to our country dwindle under a
record-breaking low admissions ceiling. We watched asylum seekers face an
ever-lengthening list of injustices, including family separation, long periods
of detention in jail-like facilities, and denial of due process in their legal
proceedings.

Holding both these truths at the same time — the good and the terrible — allows
us to recommit to this important work and make the Jewish High Holidays
particularly special and meaningful this year. Our tradition calls upon us to
reflect on our actions both individually and collectively — to hold many truths
at once.

Thank you for all your efforts this past year to raise your voice in support of
the rights, dignity, and safety of asylum seekers and refugees. Below you will
find a few ways to do so in the days and weeks that follow. I hope you will join
us and recommit yourself to this critical and urgent work. I look forward to
standing by your side in the year to come. Happy New Year to all who are
celebrating.

With immense gratitude,



Chelsey Berlin ,
Community Engagement Director for Greater Washington, DC

PS: Visit this page [[link removed]] to download a refugee-focused Jewish high holiday calendar and a liturgical
reading for rabbis and others leading High Holy Day services.

#RepealtheBan: Pack the Room
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September 24 | 10:00 am | 2141 Rayburn House Office Building

The first Congressional hearing on the Muslim Ban will be held at 10 am on
Tuesday, September 24, 2019. Individuals who have been impacted by the ban will
testify before Congress. Join us in packing the room to support those testifying
and to demand that we #RepealTheBan. Arrival by 9:30 am encouraged, security lines/wait time variable.

More Info
[[link removed]]


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Standing Up for Refuge in 5780
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September 24 | 6:30pm to 7:30pm | Dupont Circle Fountain

As you prepare for the High Holidays, please join HIAS Action DC for a
reflective gathering to recognize the important work the Greater Washington, DC
Jewish Community has done to support refugees and asylum seekers. We also know
that the past year has been devastating for immigrant and refugee communities
and for those who support them. At this High Holiday-inspired gathering, we will
recommit ourselves to supporting and protecting refugees and asylum seekers in
the year to come. We will also shine a spotlight on the ways the United States
government failed to protect these vulnerable communities this year.

In partnership with Adas Israel, Machar, Temple Sinai.

More Info
[[link removed]]


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HIAS Letter Writing
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October 16 | 6:30-8:30pm | Downtown Washington DC

Join this monthly program to write letters offering compassion and solidarity to
asylum seekers in detention, helping them access hope and connection.

More Info
[[link removed]]

[[email protected]] [[link removed]] [[link removed]] [[link removed]] [[link removed]] 1300 Spring Street
Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-844-7300 Click here to unsubscribe from emails from HIAS.
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