"Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt— How, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear.
Therefore, when the LORD your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you... you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!" (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)
As Deuteronomy makes clear, the Israelite nation began as a band of famished and weary refugees fleeing slavery in Egypt, seeking freedom in the Promised Land so they could live with integrity and worship God as they pleased. Our mandate to never forget how Amelak not only did not help us, but actually hurt us on our journey compels us to make sure that we, as Jews, do the opposite. When an oppressed people in search of a better life needs support, the Jewish community must be there to help. In that way, we honor the commandment to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.
The Jewish people have been forcibly displaced countless times throughout our history living as refugees scattered throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, where, for the most part, we were unwanted. Those of us born in North America - where we do have safety from our enemies around us - are all descendants of refugees and immigrants.
The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County is proud to support the work of the Orange County Jewish Coalition for Refugees, the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, and the
HIAS Welcome Campaign.
Upcoming Programs
JCoOC is proud to sponsor a Newcomers Friendsgiving Dinner on November 19th for recently arrived refugees who have come to Orange County over the past year, along with their Welcome Circle and Home Team volunteers from the Orange County Jewish Coalition for Refugees. The Jewish Collaborative is a member of this coalition of Jewish organizations committed to making Orange County a welcoming community to refugees and asylum seekers.
To register, please click here.
No less than 36 times, the Torah commands just treatment of stranger, including the following:
"The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”
(Leviticus 19:34)
PAST PROGRAMS
Collaborative Partners and Resource Providers
