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