Immigrant Justice Action

"You shall love the stranger, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt" (Deut. 10:19).

Throughout our Torah, we are commanded to welcome the stranger in our midst. Here at Congregation Beth Israel, we firmly believe that we have a sacred duty to help those seeking asylum from dangerous and troubling lives in the country of their birth, looking for a safer life in the United States. Our hearts are open to those in need, and we want to give our community an opportunity to provide support as well. Below, you will find a robust, but not entirely comprehensive list of options for assisting the immigrant community of Austin and central Texas. CBI has partnered with each of these organizations in the past and has great confidence in their integrity and abilities. In addition, many CBI members work closely with these organizations. If you have more questions, please email Rabbi Levy at klevy@bethisrael.org, or call her at 512-454-6806.

Immediate Activities:

• Joint Action with Temple Beth Shalom assisting refugees with immediate needs

Direct Service Opportunities:

• Monetary donations accepted at:
  • Grassroots Leadership  
  • ACLU
  • Casa Marianella
  • Austin Santuary Network
  • HIAS
  • American Gateways

• Clothing, food, and furniture donations accepted at:
  • Casa Marianella

• Volunteer your time with:
  • Casa Marianella
  • Grassroots Leadership (search the various programs to see which one you would like to help with, or contact the organizers via email to learn more)
  • American Gateways (for attorneys)
  • American Gateways (for non-attorneys) 

• Sponsor programs and hosting opportunities found at:
  • Grassroots Leadership (email klevy@bethisrael.org for more information)
  • Casa Marianella

Advocacy Opportunities:

• Ongoing direct actions, protests, and more
  • Austin Sanctuary Network
  • Grassroots Leadership
  •  Religious Action Center
  • RAC-TX (sign up for the newsletter to stay connected and learn more about events being hosted and co-sponsored by RAC-TX)
  •  Texas Impact Courts & Ports Program  
  • HIAS Welcome Campaign (CBI is proud to be listed as a member of the Welcome Campaign)