The Jewish Responsibility to Refugees

By Stacey Hess, Operations Director, The Jewish Federations of North America

 

Tomorrow Jews around the world will mark the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av, also known as Tisha b’Av. This is a day of communal mourning for the Jewish people, and commemorates, among other tragedies, the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem which led to our exile among the nations. We Jews have a long history of being refugees in other lands, and the Torah is filled with instructions for how to treat refugees with respect and goodwill.

The Center for Jewish Peoplehood Education, sponsored by Federation Alliance partner HIAS, recently released a publication that explores the Jewish responsibility to refugees in the 21st century “in the context of Jewish history, legacy and commitment to Torah and Jewish values.”

Viewed through the Jewish lens, "For you were strangers in the land of Egypt", the publication delves into why Jews in particular should care for refugees, what Jews around the world are doing about the issue, and the challenges Israel faces with its refugee population. 

You can view the report here.

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