HIAS
2100 Arch St # 3 Philadelphia, PA 19103-1300

Contact: Sarah Peterson, Director of Development & Refugee
Program Manager; Tamara Cohen, Social Justice Rabbinic Intern
speterson@hiaspa.org; tcohen@hiaspa.org 215-832-0900

HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia (“HIAS and Council”) was founded nearly 130 years ago to help Jewish immigrants and refugees fleeing persecution and seeking opportunity in America. Based on the tradition of “welcoming the stranger” and tikkun olam, HIAS and Council works to represent, resettle, and reunite Jewish and all immigrants and refugees of limited means residing in Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley. Over the past 128 years, HIAS has served over 300,000 Jewish refugees from around the world fleeing from persecution and oppression.

Volunteers have various options for their community service project by helping newly arriving refugees . Their mitzvah project may include:  collecting new or gently used household items that will be distributed to arriving refugee families to help them start their new lives in Philadelphia. They can also help set up homes for newly arriving refugee families. There are also opportunities for picking up refugee families from the airport when they first arrive in the Philadelphia. Other opportunities are also available including advocacy projects around immigration issues in Pennsylvania.