CyberTorah

Special Afghan Edition

As many of you know, Dr. Sedique Popal came to Kol Emeth to talk about his efforts in helping Afghan refugees settle in the Bay Area. As part of a lay-led Afghan Mosque, the community has become a sort of default community and support agency similar to the old landsmenhachft shuls in New York. As a result of his visit, I am so proud of the way Kol Emeth has stepped up. People have ordered blankets and clothing to help people through the winter. We have ordered diapers so babies can be cared for.  And, several of our members have stepped forward to be sponsors of Afghan refugees to help move them more quickly through the immigration process. 

Dr. Popal wrote me a lovely note that I wanted to share:

"Your congregation has responded very generously and we have received boxes and boxes of all types of clothes, blankets, diapers, baby formula, and much more. And we are giving these donations to the new refugees several days a week. On Sunday, Elizabeth, Ben, and a few more members of your synagogue will visit Noor Islamic and Cultural Community Center and will bring more goods to the refugees. All this assistance would not have been possible without your personal involvement. Thank you for being so effective and so helpful in our communities."

The need will only increase for this community over the next few months. Donations and Amazon registry items remain of great meaning. Go here to give. And if you are open to sponsoring a refugee (no financial commitment), let me know or email hgfien@gmail.com, Harris Fienberg, a KE member who is working with some specific families to help out.

Nearly all of these refugees helped US personnel during their time in Afghanistan. These people stepped up for us, some of them gave their bodies to defend US lives, and I am so proud that we are helping them now in their own moment of need.

Wishing you a lovely Shabbat and a happy secular New Year,

Rabbi David Booth

This will be my last CyberTorah until a few weeks after I return.