Those of us who have been following the news from Israel recently know that African refugees in the Jewish state have become a very hot topic, with politicians speaking out and even riots erupting over the issue. American Jewish organizations including the JCPA, the ADL, the Jewish Federations of North America have condemned the violence (you can read more here), and the Masorti movement in Israel has come out strongly in support of the refugees (see their statement here). But this remains a vexing problem in Israel, just as the issue of immigrants has often become a hot topic in the U.S.
This past Sunday at GJC, we had an amazing opportunity to learn about this issue from a member of our community,Emma Giloth (daughter of Anne Shlay), who co-led a group of students on a trip to Israel this spring focused on learning more about the situation of African refugees. Emma and her group spoke with government officials, aid workers, and the refugees themselves, and presented a short video of their trip as well as the insights they gained. I urge you to follow this important issue - ripped from the headlines!