New refugee sponsorship

As our friend Robert Oppenheimer explains, the Emanu-El synagogue downtown has taken the lead on this new sponsorship by a coalition of Jews, Muslims and Christians.  Christ Church Cathedral (with the enthusiastic support of Dean Jonathan Thomas) is now also formally involved in organizing it as well.  

St. Philip parishioners have generously supported previous initiatives by Robert helping to bring in Hazara refugees from Afghanistan, who continue to be in our prayers as well.  Robert's passion for helping refugees is rooted in owing his own existence to his father's survival as a refugee who was able to flee Germany to Britain after Hitler took power in the early 1930s.  May Shihadeh, a local Palestinian woman, brought the interfaith group in contact with the family who are in need of our support.
- Dave Conway

A Cry for Help: R’s Story

R is a Palestinian woman born in Syria, carrying the legacy of her family's displacement from what was then Palestine in the 1948 War. Her life has been marked by relentless loss and hardship, but she remains a devoted mother to her two teenaged daughters, who dream of becoming doctors.

R’s world shattered in 2012 when her husband was tragically killed in the chaos of the Syrian war while trying to protect his family. Left to care for her daughters alone, R faced constant threats and violence, forcing her to flee their home multiple times. With no safe refuge in sight, she sold everything to secure a visitor visa to a “third country” on the far side of the world, the only option available. 

Since 2017, R and her daughters have lived in hiding in the “third country”, their visas long expired, leaving them vulnerable to arrest. The family survives on meager donations, with no access to school, work, or healthcare. Her daughters study online, clinging to their dreams, but the constant fear of being caught and imprisoned overshadows their lives.  Given their family’s history, she doesn't feel it would be safe for them to return to Syria, despite the recent change in regime there.  R dreams of a safe haven where her children can live with dignity, pursue their education, and heal from their trauma.  

In response to the ongoing war in Gaza, a multifaith community of Muslims, Jews and Christians came together, initially to start a dialogue and then to sponsor this Palestinian family in dire need. We were moved to action when R’s story reached us through a family connection.

The family have been accepted by ICA for sponsorship through our committee, with the organizational support of both Congregation Emanu-El and Christ Church Cathedral. Due to changes in the federal immigration situation, we have till the end of March to raise the initial $30,000 required. We will need to raise double that amount in all. We are confident we can manage this task with your support. 

Many of us on the committee have already helped multiple families become permanent residents of Canada on arrival here in Victoria, through the same "Private Sponsorship" federal program. For example the synagogue supported a Syrian family of six who arrived here in September and are now successfully settling into life in Victoria. Our committee includes Muslims, Christians and Jews and we welcome participants from any background to join us in this effort. This approach is based on a vision Rabbi Harry had for this type of "big tent" interfaith initiative.

To make tax deductible donations to R and her family, please follow the instructions below. All donations will go towards refugee settlement costs.

For donations through Congregation Emanu-El, the link below will take you directly to the synagogue's donations page and to the account for R's family. 

Donate to Refugee Family CE25 Sponsorship
https://congregationemanuel.shulcloud.com/payment.php?donation_type_id=7603841
Cheques can also be written to "Congregation Emanu-El" with "Refugee Sponsorship CE25"  in the notes section.
The synagogue mailing address is: 
Congregation Emanu-El,
1461 Blanshard Street,
Victoria, BC V8W 2J3

https://www.congregationemanuel.ca/
Phone: 250-382-0615
Email: info@congregationemanuel.ca

The Email address below can be used for any questions about the sponsorship, or to contact us about joining the sponsorship team as a volunteer:
CEE.Refugee@gmail.com 

Many thanks for helping give R and her daughters the chance to live here in Victoria and pursue their dreams in safety.

Salaam/Shalom,
Robert Oppenheimer
For the Sponsorship Committee