TBT Blog

No one in the Temple B’nai Torah community has been as immersed in immigrant and refugee justice issues as Dick and Carrie Stein. As TBT’s liaisons to the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice (JCIJ), they have been part of the team working tirelessly to support and advocate for immigrants and refugees in Washington, and for the Riverton asylum seekers in particular. We asked the Steins to explain in more detail what this work means to them, why it should mean something to us, and what they think is needed to build a community where people fleeing violence and persecution are welcomed and cared for.

What’s the most challenging part of trying to help refugees and asylum seekers?

We think it’s the sheer scale of all the people who need our support.  It’s not a level playing field by any means, there are so many obstacles that make it difficult for refugees and asylum seekers to find a path to staying in the U.S.  We are a nation of immigrants, yet there are so many policies that make it nearly impossible for refugees to receive asylum.  It’s an experience that is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming.  All in the same accompaniment, one can hear the harrowing tale of kidnapping, torture, and murder during the journey that eventually resulted in someone traveling across the Southern border to legally seek asylum, and a short while later one can be waving to their beaming family on that person’s phone, overjoyed that you have helped obtain the release of their loved one from the Tacoma immigrant prison.  I always remember the Starfish parable, and just keep going.

Why do you think temple members and Jews in general should be involved in helping refugees and asylum seekers?

As Jews, we understand the need to flee our homes and seek a life where we can raise our children and protect our family without the daily fear of violence, and have the chance to provide a better life for them.  Many of us have family stories of fleeing pogroms or the holocaust, or of surviving those horrors.

JCIJ team members have shared that for some of the people in immigrant communities they've worked with, they're the first Jews the community members have met. What better way to combat antisemitism than to get to know us as people and understand that we're allies and have similar stories?

What are some small steps we can take that will make a difference?

Educate yourselves, so you understand this very complex issue.  Advocate for more welcoming policies for asylum seekers and refugees.  If you have time, volunteer either with the Jewish Coalition For Immigrant Justice NW (JCIJ), or with Jewish Family Service Refugee and Immigrant Services or other immigrant and refugee centered organizations.  If you don’t have time but have the resources, donate in ways that help support immigrants and refugee asylum seekers. 

Is there something a child can do to help?

Educate your children in an age-appropriate way, so they understand that refugees and asylum seekers are just like us - people who want a safe home for their family, without living in fear for their safety.  If you collect donations for someplace like Riverton, take them with you to drop off the items so they can understand how people are living while trying to find that safe home.  Maybe a social justice spark will be generated or nurtured.