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The Mishkan Or Tikkun Olam Committee is Sponsoring a Newly-Arrived Afghan Family
Responding to an urgent phone call on May 6, the Sponsor Circle of Mishkan Or members jumped into action to help a family of new immigrants – a young couple in their 20s and their two toddlers. Their cell phone didn’t work in the US, so we went to the airport on May 22 hoping that they had actually gotten on a plane in Oman, made it through customs in Newark, and found the plane to Cleveland. Sure enough, they arrived, dressed for scorching desert heat, on a rainy, 48-degree day.
Even before the Afghans got here, Ganon Gil families offered car seats, strollers, cribs, toys, and clothes for the little ones. Their first month was in an Airbnb in Cleveland Heights, learning American ways and bureaucracy, exploring the neighborhood and the library, and dealing with the inevitable snafus. (Social Security cards for the mother and both kids arrived; the most important one did not.) When the Airbnb time was up, we had located a lovely apartment that had their top priority feature: a safe neighborhood for walking around.
And all this time, the wonderful members of Congregation Mishkan Or have been heaping gifts on them. Beautiful living room and dining room furniture, an entire kitchen boxed up and delivered to them, an Amazon wish list quickly sold out. A laptop to replace the one the 2-year-old spilled water on. Transportation for shopping trips and doctor checkups and food pantries. Your generosity has lifted them up, and they talk all the time about how thankful they are. Has it really been only a month?
To help support this family, you can make a donation here thru Mishkan Or, selecting HIAS in drop-down menu or visit this Amazon page for needed items.
Greater Cleveland CongregationsOur community has a deep-rooted legacy in social justice, with a history of involvement in Greater Cleveland Congregations a grassroots coalition of over 30 local faith communities and allied organizations. Through GCC’s commitment to community organizing, we address systemic injustices, leading to meaningful reforms in healthcare, education, criminal justice gun violence, and employment. For further information, and to learn more about GCC, contact core team leader David Biegel at david.biegel@case.edu.
The Interfaith Group Against Hate (IGAH) is a group of faith-based congregations who have joined together to be a voice in society to challenge the rise in hate groups and white supremacy. The group, which represents many religious traditions, plans educational events, relationship-building events, and strategic research toward action.
For more information connect with Donna Weinberger, IGAH lead, at drw508@gmail.com.
Our ongoing work will be integrated into broader social justice efforts, allowing congregants to collectively set priorities and shape our future engagement. Together, we will explore various initiatives and educational programs while developing and deepening relationships with community partners including, but not limited to, Elizabeth Baptist Church and Rid-All Green Partnership.
Criminal Justice Reform | Mental Health/Substance Abuse | Environmental Justice | Voting Rights | Combating Antisemitism | LGBTQ+ Rights | Reproductive Freedoms | Education and Economic Disparities | Poverty | Housing and Homelessness | Immigration and Refugee Services | Gun Violence Prevention
In the coming months, we’ll be organizing house meetings to build community, share our social justice passions, and explore ways to collaborate.
Connect with Co-Chairs Laura Creed lwcreed@gmail.com and/or Patti London pklondon@me.com to receive future programming information.