Refugee Congress Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month

Refugee Congress Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2022

WASHINGTON–Refugee Congress proudly celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month this May. We honor and celebrate the accomplishments and cultural contributions of Jewish Americans today and throughout history.

Many Jewish Americans sought safety in the U.S. as refugees and asylum-seekers who fled violence and persecution. There is also a long history of discrimination and violence toward Jewish Americans in the U.S. This month and throughout the year, we condemn and seek to raise awareness of discrimination and violence.

“A few days ago, I saw a small child get hit by a car. As I reflect on it now, the moment is clearly imprinted in my mind. The girl was okay, the mother was okay though shaken, the driver was okay. I, as a First Aid and CPR trained social case worker, attended to all with hugs and water and to their shocked mental health,” said Dianne Mogilevsky Carty, Refugee Congress Delegate for Missouri. “ Everyone prayed out loud to Jesus, and I stood off to the side, listening and quietly singing ‘El Na Refa Na La,’ ‘Please G*d, heal her now.’’ I didn’t feel slighted or made to conform. I just felt American, and proud. I am an American Jew, I am a former refugee and though my prayers sound different, my moral compass is in-sync with my fellow Americans."

“Jewish proverbs stand out as unique little jewels of wisdom, and whether you are a Jew or not, everyone can benefit from learning about some of these great truths that have been written by our ancestors thousands of years ago. The proverb ‘the best treasure a person has may fit under his hat’ speaks to the importance that Jewish people place on earning for knowledge and education. It is not money and not fame, but knowledge and seeking of truth, that has set us apart. The word ‘Jewish’ describes an identity – not only religion, ethnicity or set of traditions. Jews originated in the African Bantu Tribe some 38,000 years ago and often carried out the tribal mentality that today brings us closer to one another than many other religions, ways of life, or even cultures. A set of traditions, carried out for centuries across generations is a solid ground for our future,” said Julia Ostropolsky, Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate. “When hated or discriminated against, we get stronger, we get resilient and more supportive of one another. When we observe others' suffering, we suffer with them, be they Jewish or Gentile. Today, the refugees of the world are witnessing an awful war again rearing its ugly head over a less powerful nation. And again, we witness how people unite and come to help one another to overcome evil. This month, like always we all join hands to pray for peace.”

Refugee Congress is committed to addressing the deeply rooted systems of inequity, violence and discrimination in this country and calls on everyone to stand against injustice and violence.

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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.

MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 905-6238, media@refugeecongress.org