In honor of World Refugee Week, we’re sharing stories from our phenomenal community members who have invested their love and time in justice work to address the global refugee crisis. Janee Graver is a longtime Lab/Shul Partner, member of GENerate, and spearheads our Refugee Task Force. You can also read Sheridan Gayer and Boris Khmelnitskiy’s stories about World Refugee Week.
Last year I started a deep dive into the journey of the refugee. Perhaps I could have just a small impact and people who are migrating could benefit. The more I have learned, the more I understood that there will always be a refugee population that needs help finding home. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at least 70.8 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are nearly 25.9 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.
I have found Diaspora Jews to be incredibly supportive of the refugee population, perhaps because we understand that we are All Refugees. I frequently consider the plight of our own when we left Egypt, or Europe and the way the migration of refugees continues to this day.
Lab/Shul added to my exploration of the refugee population considerably when I went to Greece with Lab/Shul’s Refugee Task Force. Our purpose: to support the International School of Peace – a school founded by Jewish and Arab Israelis, to teach refugee students, from all over the world. The school is a remarkable example of how a small group of committed people can make a HUGE difference in the lives of others. Tragically the school was burned down, as anti-refugee sentiment grew as the rapidly increasing refugee population has stressed the Island of Lesbos.
Turning my attention a little closer to home, I began volunteering at the Riverside Language Program which continues to be a bright light in every single week for me and several other Lab/Shul participants who joined as “conversation partners.” This program is funded by the city and affords documented refugees an opportunity for a first class education in English. The program seeks “conversation partners” and in this role, you can learn about the home countries of these students and their journey while helping them integrate and practice English. The students are from all over the world and rich with stories and experiences.
If you are interested in the working to heal our global refugee crisis, the Lab/Shul community is full of opportunities that allow you to carve out your own corner of volunteerism. This is an issue that will outlive us all. And supporting this world family may just offer you some great rewards. It has for me.
