Welcoming Refugees

TBE’s Refugee Resettlement Initiative

Temple Beth-El been working with The Jewish Center’s Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee (TJC/IRRC) in Princeton (www.princetonrefugee.org) and Interfaith-RISE, based in Highland Park (www.interfaithrise.org), to help deliver resettlement services for Afghan refugees making their home in central New Jersey. In January 2022, we welcomed three Afghan brothers into our community and have helped them build new lives. In March 2023, we welcomed a Syrian extended family of 12 who fled Aleppo and are now living in Hillsborough.

By the Numbers

Worldwide

• Over 100 million adults and children have been displaced, escaping war, persecution, economic distress, and the ravages of the climate crisis.

Afghanistan

• Over 6 million Afghans have been displaced within Afghanistan or have fled their country.
• 2.8 million are refugees in other nations.
• More than 88,500 individuals have resettled in the United States through
  different immigration paths.

Ukraine

• Nearly 7 million refugees have fled Ukraine.
• An estimated 8 million people have been displaced within the country.
• 5.4 million refugees have sought safety worldwide.
• More than 150,000 refugees have settled in the United States.

Interfaith-RISE Serving Refugees in Our Area

• More than 250 Afghan refugees (parolees) have arrived in central New Jersey since August 2021.
• In 2023, 235 refugees are expected to arrive from Afghanistan, Guatemala, Venezuela, Syria and other countries.
• More than 600 Ukrainians have enrolled for services with Interfaith-RISE since May 2022, with a additional 1400 Ukrainians expected to work with I- RISE.
• More than 450 Cuban and Haitian entrants are arriving in Central and South Jersey.

Now is our time to say “Hineni…Here I am” and help to welcome our new neighbors.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways you can become involved and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our new neighbors.

• It may be a one-time shift to help set up an apartment, or purchase food and cook a hot meal when individuals first arrive at their new apartment.
• Or you may want to make an ongoing commitment to provide ESL services or engage in conversational English.
• Or maybe you’d prefer a more “behind-the-scenes” role and want to join TBE’s Refugee Resettlement Committee and help to chart the course for the work we’re doing.

Visit this page for a list of current volunteer opportunities to consider. Please contact refugeeresettlement@templebethelnj.org if you have any questions or need more information.