Our work with immigrant and refugee communities focuses on political action and community engagement. We have three partnerships that have helped to define our projects: Partnering with Catholic Charities, we provide direct support to refugees moving to the Portland area. Havurah members serve as cultural navigators to help refugee families acclimate to life in the U.S. and may host refugees in their homes until permanent housing can be found. We also assist with furniture and clothing drives.

As a member of the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ), we engage in political action work alongside other congregations to advocate on immigration related public policy issues before Oregon legislators and educate the public. We also publicly express concerns over human rights failures through marches, vigils, telephone banking, and canvassing.

Through our partnership with the Ortiz Center in the Cully neighborhood, we have formed the Tikkun Olam Adelante Committee, which has developed three programs to serve the Ortiz community: English Language Learning for Adults; Intercambio, a language exchange opportunity for our members to learn Spanish, teach English, and build trust with our immigrant language learning partners; and After School Tutoring for Elementary and Middle School-Aged Children.   

In addition, we are part of the national HIAS Welcome Campaign and participate in National Refugee Shabbat and other HIAS actions. Sanctuary Leads: Shari Raider, Bob Brown & Kathy Gordon 

*Contact information for members is available in the online directory through the Havurah website. If you are not sure how to access the directory, please contact the office staff for directions.