The Temple Emanu-El Philanthropic Fund has provided a grant to HIAS to support the hire of an AVODAH fellow to process applications for asylum seekers and the expansion of its volunteer program for migrants in New York City.

“As one of the largest synagogues in the world, and as New York’s oldest Reform Jewish congregation, Temple-Emanu-El has from its earliest days been a lifeline for immigrants working to establish themselves in this city,” said Philanthropic Fund Committee Chair Daniel Jeydel, who announced the partnership to the Temple Emanu-El congregation during Yom Kippur services. “With the arrival of more than 100,000 asylum seekers in the past year and a half straining city resources, we felt that we had to step forward in partnership with HIAS.”