NEWS HIAS Launches New Refugee Resettlement Program By Jan Jaben-Eilon
rarily on U.S. military bases, she said. Still, Zak hopes that “one or two” Atlanta Jewish groups will sign up When the Jewish for what are nationally American nonprofit called Sponsor Circles, organization HIAS — known as Welcome Cirfounded as the Hebrew cles at HIAS. Launched in Immigrant Aid Society in October, this new initia1881 — held a conference tive is a U.S. governmentcall Nov. 4 with nearly private sector partnership 300 synagogues and orthat seeks to connect comganizations around the munity sponsor groups country about a new with Afghan refugees. model of “adopting” and Rabbi Peter Berg, of The Temple, HIAS is one of nine agenresettling Afghan refusaid, “We are excited to meet cies approved by the U.S. gees, about one dozen Atour family soon and know that State Department to help lanta synagogues particithey will become a part of the resettle refugees coming pated in the recruitment greater Temple family.” into the country. pitch. According to U.S. Secretary of State “I was heartened that every single synagogue” expressed interest in helping Afghan Antony Blinken, the new program will create families recently displaced from their homes new opportunities for individuals and comafter the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in Au- munity groups across the country to directly gust, said Merrill Zak, vice president of com- support Afghans who have been relocated munity engagement for HIAS. “Some of the to this country under Operation Allies Welsynagogues were already working with local come. The program will enable groups of inresettlement agencies” to adopt or assist the dividuals to form sponsor circles to provide tens of thousands of Afghans living tempo- initial resettlement assistance to Afghans as
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Congregation Bet Haverim collected welcome bags to deliver to families who evacuated Afghanistan.
brand-new program,” she points out, partly they go about building new lives here. The HIAS Welcome Circle model differs because of its large immigrant population, somewhat from the Sponsor Circles concept. but also because she knows that the Atlanta Jewish community is To become a Welcome extremely enthusiastic Circle, the group must about helping Afghan consist of five to eight refugees. people who will have Still, Zak knows she close contact with the refhas her work cut out for ugees they are sponsorher. She has followed up ing, although others can with the synagogues who contribute to the resettleparticipated in the rement process. All sponcruitment call in Novemsors will be vetted, includber and found out that ing background checks, “Within 24 hours of the news many local synagogues and approved by HIAS. breaking” that Afghan refugees were had already signed up to They must be at least 18 fleeing their country, Nancy Gaddy adopt Afghan families years old. Welcome Circle said New American Pathways had with local resettlement participants must comreceived “over 1,000 phone calls.” agencies. (www.atlantamit to a minimum of six months of support, which includes greeting jewishtimes.com/atlanta-jewish-groups-welAfghan arrivals at the airport, finding them come-afghan-refugees/) “It is the best ‘no’ I have ever received,” housing, furnishings and jobs, registering children for schools and signing up families laughed Zak. “It is not a ‘no’ based on xenofor public benefits. Depending on the local phobia or racism. For me, this is an enormous cost of living, Welcome Circles are expected win around the country.” She still hopes that to raise a minimum of $2,275 per refugee one or two Welcome Circles will be launched in Atlanta. they welcome. Nationwide, Zak said that about 15 This model differs from traditional refugee adoption through an agency and is more synagogues have already signed up to form hands-on. However, Zak, who is responsible Welcome Circles. “We hope to have at least 30 for the Atlanta area, says HIAS will help Wel- launched by the end of January and keep gocome Circle participants every step of the ing as long as a need is there,” she said. The November call was the organization’s “first way. HIAS “will vet the circles and has hired wave of recruiting.” The Temple’s senior rabbi, Peter Berg, Welcome Circle liaisons to guide the circles all over the country,” said Zak. “We will have told the AJT that his synagogue decided to HIAS best practices training and resources, partner with New American Pathways, a loas well as set up peer-to-peer networks” so cal resettlement agency, to adopt an Afghan that synagogue members who are experts family. “This is part of the Family Friend in law, schools, housing, etc. can share their Program. We want to directly help a family who fled Afghanistan to be successful here experiences. “Atlanta is an interesting place for this in Atlanta. Our volunteers will help teach