Dor Hadash recognized for its trailblazing work with immigrants
"Rather than say words and donate money, it’s wonderful to have a direct impact on the lives of families within our community."
When Congolese native Fataki Somwe and his family were resettled in Pittsburgh, Congregation Dor Hadash helped to make the transition smooth.
Members provided the Somwes, who had fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Zambia, with the support they would need to start a new life, including finding and furnishing an apartment, navigating the medical care system and assisting with employment.
“There were pleasurable things, too, like sharing meals, museum trips, soccer games and walks in the park,” said Dr. Richard Weinberg, chair of the congregation’s social action committee. “We orient people to Pittsburgh and show them what the community is about.”
Somwe, 62, and a father of eight, regards Dor Hadash as family. “They are our aunties and uncles,” he said, “We love their culture and we love them.”
Dor Hadash also is assisting refugees from Burma and Syria as part of an initiative launched three years ago with the Community Sponsorship Program of Jewish Family and Community Services, and HIAS, a national organization that helps immigrants, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced persons around the world.
For its transformative resettlement work, Dor Hadash recently received one of HIAS’ inaugural Trailblazer Awards, which is given annually to congregations for their unique projects, exceptional volunteer efforts and/or response to crises.
Trailblazer is the highest tier in HIAS’ new Pathway Awards program, which recognizes six categories of engagement: education, volunteering, advocacy, philanthropy, ritual and values.
“Dor Hadash hit all six with gusto,” said HIAS Rabbi-In-Residence Sarah Bassin, who also cited the “sense of solidarity” HIAS has shared with Dor Hadash for years.
“The congregation has such a special place in our hearts, we wanted to show our love and appreciation.”
Dor Hadash’s continued dedication to resettlement work in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting was a key reason it was chosen for the award, Bassin said.
Congregant Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz was among 11 people murdered in the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2018, by a gunman widely reported to have targeted Dor Hadash because of its connection to HIAS.
“Even with the trauma that occurred in their community Dor Hadash has remained deeply committed,” Bassin said. “You could see an organization saying, ‘It isn’t worth it,’ but Dor Hadash leveraged the tragedy to double down on its mission.”
JFCS nominated Dor Hadash for the prestigious award because it was the first of several faith-based groups to cosponsor a family since the federally-funded program began, said Alina Harbourne, JFCS’ refugee partnerships supervisor.
“They’ve been supportive from the beginning and have impressed us with their dedication to helping refugees and with their interest in having intercultural exchanges with these families.”
Weinberg called the Trailblazer Award a source of pride.
“We are certainly honored that our work with HIAS has been acknowledged,” he said, noting that it helps to convey “how important what we are doing has been to the community and to our congregation.”
Despite the heightened antisemitism and harsh political rhetoric of recent years, support such as this and from other sectors, including the state — which allocated grants for a security system at Rodef Shalom Congregation, where Dor Hadash in now located — provides “considerable assurance that we can act on our values without being threatened,” he said. “We need to demonstrate that we won’t be intimidated.”
In fact, the membership of the congregation has grown in recent years, with programs like the resettlement initiative encouraging people to join, Weinberg said.
“It’s an avenue for those who want to be involved as part of their commitment to working on a mitzvah. Rather than say words and donate money, it’s wonderful to have a direct impact on the lives of families within our community. It’s an enriching experience.”
About three dozen congregants are active in the program, and tasks are divided according to skills so that no one person feels overwhelmed, Weinberg said. “We have educators, and people who can help with employment or teaching English.”
In the process, Dor Hadash volunteers experience the satisfaction of connecting with people of different cultures and promoting understanding, he said.
Volunteers complete online training and receive clearances.
Several congregants take part in an annual fundraiser to augment the sum that JFCS funnels into supporting a refugee family.
“A group of our older members who are very vigorous cyclists do a weeklong trip, going hundreds of miles in places like Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains,” Weinberg said. “They get sponsors and raise about $12,000 a year.”
The JFCS resettlement program initially provided refugees with a year of support, but that was shortened to six months because it was determined that most families can become self-sufficient in that amount of time, Harbourne said.
But that doesn’t mean the end of the relationship between refugees and their benefactors, who typically continue on as friends.
“We go to each other’s houses,” said Somwe, who has joined Dor Hadash at services. “We communicate. Any time we are in need, they don’t deny. They are good people.”
Resettlement is an ongoing process, said Somwe, who continues to adjust to cultural differences, American slang and frosty Pittsburgh winters.
“But we have a much better life here than in Zambia,” he said. “My daughters go to work. My children can learn easily. It is very different here.” PJC
Deborah Weisberg is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.
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