how to talk about refugees with family and friends

Use this guide to talk to anyone in your life who is not yet part of the Jewish movement in support of refugees. Consider reaching out to someone who has expressed concern about welcoming refugees to the United States or even someone who has made disparaging remarks.

We can be advocates for refugees not only through our political activism but also in our closest relationships. Take a few minutes to listen to another person’s perspective, provide basic facts about the global refugee crisis, address hate speech, and talk about the issue in a Jewish context. We hope that these conversations will prompt some people to take action or simply begin to view refugees differently.

LISTEN FULLY BUILD EMPATHY

A wise person . . . [does not] You shall not oppress a stranger, interrupt the words of his/her peer for you know the soul of the stranger, and is not impulsive in answering. having yourselves been strangers -Pirkei Avot 5:7 in the land of Egypt. -Exodus 23:9

In addition to generating respect, listening fully Challenge yourself to see things from the will help the person you are speaking with remain perspective of the person with whom you’re more open. You’ll also come to understand why speaking. If they express fear, help them build they feel the way they do and can follow up empathy with refugees by telling the stories accordingly and find the places where they seem of contemporary refugees and the fears they most open to change. face as they flee violence and persecution. You can find stories of today’s refugees on HIAS’ blog at www.hias.org/blog. DRAW ON YOUR HISTORY AND VALUES BRING THE FACTS

Remember the days of old, consider the years of ages past. -Deuteronomy 32:7 The seal of the Holy One, Blessed be God, is truth. Welcoming the stranger is both an American and -Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 55a Jewish value. The United States was founded to provide freedom and safety to the persecuted. A lot of anti-refugee sentiment is based on Helping refugees sets an example for the nations lack of, or false, information. You can help of the world to follow. Welcoming the stranger is correct misunderstandings about refugees also a core Jewish value. Turn the page for more with the information on the next page. information about Jewish values and history to use in conversation. answering tough questions

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BUT AREN’TAREN’T MANYMANY OF OF THESE THESE REFUGEES REFUGEES ANTI-SEMITIC? ANTI-SEMITIC? Many refugees arriving in the United States have never met Jews Many refugees arriving in the United States have never met before. The welcome they receive from Jewish organizations, Jews before. The welcome they receive from Jewish organizations, individuals, and congregations combats anti-Semitism that may exist, individuals, and congregations combats anti-Semitism that may breaks down their assumptions, and helps them more quickly become partexist of, b rtheeaks diverse down fabric their aofs sthisumpti country.ons, an Additionally,d helps them all mo refugeesre quic kly resettledbecome pain rthet of U.S. the receive diverse mandatory fabric of th culturalis count orientationry. Additiona helpinglly, al l themrefugees embrace resettled their i nnew the multi-faith, U.S. receiv emulti-ethnic mandatory nation. cultur aFinally,l orien tweatio n shouldhelping not them be aemb peoplerace who the iwithholdr new mu refugelti-fait h,based multi- one religion.thnic nation. Finally, we should not be a people who withhold refuge based on religion. 1www.newamericaneconomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/NAE_Refugees_V5.pdf