SYNAGRAM June-August 2017
Sivan-Av 5777
BRONX/RIVERDALE INTERFAITH COALITION REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT UPDATE
SAFEGUARDING OUR CHILDREN
Members of CSAIR: As much as we would like to believe otherwise, and as hard as it can be to comprehend, all youth serving institutions have the potential to attract people who might intentionally do harm to children. We read about this in the newspaper too frequently. It is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect our children from danger or abuse.
CSAIR is part of an interfaith coalition that has adopted a refugee from Iraq. We are partnering with Catholic Charities with support from HIAS. Here are some updates by Ralph Leezenbaum, the Chair of the Coalition: The Coalition welcomed Suhail, who flew from Baghdad via Amman Jordan in March. He was quite open to everything he saw. It was raining gently and he said rain made him happy. We all found Suhail very likable, open, very polite, and quite intelligent and in many small ways demonstrating he wanted to be independent. He has a dry sense of humor which made us laugh on occasion.
With that goal in mind, a small committee has been working for over a year to create “Safeguarding Our Children, A Child Protection Statement.” This document proactively outlines how we will create a positive and enriching Jewish, educational, spiritual, social and cultural environment for the children who enter in our doors. It details the steps we are (Continued on page 2)
Suhail would like to become a professional translator. His spoken English is good, though he needs work on nuances. His written English needs significant work. A retired high school English teacher has offered his services as a tutor. Suhail has looked at several English as a second language classes in the area. He has had two job interviews to date, one with Starbucks and one for a translator position in NYC. Currently, he is in something of a catch 22 because potential employers will not hire him until he has a home address. Suhail has been in an Airbnb at a reduced rate, but can only stay there through the end of the month. Our group is searching for an affordable housing option in an area where he will feel safe. To date we are looking into apartment shares
The CSAIR Synagram is published by the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale; Nanci Brickman, editor. Please submit articles by email to bookkeeper@csair.org. If you have any questions, please call the Office at 718-543-8400.
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