Albany Jews Helped Muslim Refugees From Afghanistan

Rabbi Dan Ornstein of Ohav Shalom challenged his congregation to put a Torah passage into action: "Welcome the stranger and remember you were strangers in the land of Egypt." The Torah verses described enslaved Israelites liberated with God's help during their exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. The epic immigrant journey to freedom is celebrated in the Jewish feast of Passover that begins April 22. The Afghans — including a single mother with eight children whose husband was killed by terrorists — fled Taliban fighters who attacked their homes in the Khost province of eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan. Dozens of volunteers collected and transported donations of furniture, bedding, kitchen goods, dishes, household supplies and cash that they used to buy groceries and other items to furnish four Albany apartments rented with the help of USCRI. Avner is among a dozen members from the synagogue who will serve as volunteer mentors for the Afghan refugees. Dorah Rosenzweig, an Ohav Shalom member who works for the state Office of General Services, spends Sunday afternoons with the mother and her eight children, ages 5 through 18. Fellow Afghan refugee Sayeed Ahmad Noor, 36, translated Pashto into English. Noor arrived on a special immigration visa, or SIV, because he assisted international aid organizations in Kandahar, including the U.N.

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