Educate - Advocate - Volunteer - Mobilize - Organize
The Orange County Jewish Coalition for Refugees (OCJCR) is a volunteer-led affiliate of HIAS (formerly known as Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). Established in January 2018, OCJCR is a group of individuals, synagogues, and Jewish communal organizations inspired by our people’s history to support refugees locally and worldwide. OCJCR is a signatory to the HIAS Welcome Campaign: a network of 400+ congregations and organizations across the United States who are responding to the largest refugee crisis in human history.
Our work is guided by the biblical mandate to welcome the stranger, and protect the refugee.
We do this by concentrating our efforts on four key areas:
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Raising awareness: We hold educational programs highlighting the global refugee crisis, updates on immigration policies and build connections between the Orange County refugee and Jewish communities.
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Tzedakah (Charity): We raise funds and collect supplies to help refugees and asylum seekers.
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Direct service: OCJCR volunteers help resettle refugee and asylum seekers by providing wrap-around services working in support teams of 5-8 volunteers per family. We hold donation drives, collect and disburse items most needed by newly arriving refugee families and recently released asylum seekers.
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Advocacy: OCJCR promotes pro-immigration policies, activates and educates volunteers to raise their voices on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, and meets with legislators on an ongoing basis.
