Refugee Action Committee

What is the CBT Refugee Action Committee?

We are a group of congregants who have come together to affirm the belief that every human being is created in the image of G-d, and that we are obligated — as a community of faith, a community of Jews – to welcome the stranger.

With the support of the CBT clergy and the Board of Trustees, our congregation became the third southern New Jersey synagogue to join the HIAS Welcome Campaign. About 600 congregations throughout the country are taking part in this effort.

HIAS – better known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society — advocates for immigrants and refugees of all nations and religions. Being part of the organization’s Welcome Campaign gives us access to resources and programming to educate our local community.

CBT’s Refugee Action Committee sponsors a monthly newsletter, plans the annual National Refugee Shabbat, and looks for ways to support the immigrant community.

Members also work with CBT’s Social Action, Men’s Club and Sisterhood to present relevant programming, such as a recent Men’s Club/Sisterhood Brunch featuring Anastasia R. Mann, Ph.D., professor at the School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, who spoke about the Latin American Legal and Education Fund (LALDEF). Maya Wahrman a former staffer at LALDEF who does refugee integration work at the Reformed Church of Highland Park, an official refugee resettlement organization, also spoke.

The Refugee Action Committee welcomes input from all congregants. Please contact Fredda Sacharow at fsacharow@gmail.com with ideas, questions and suggestions.