Sanctuary Or Shalom
Sanctuary Or Shalom is a congregation-wide effort to support immigrants under threat in our community. Our goals are to create awareness and opportunities for action among the wider congregation, and to allow for more deeply engaged work for interested members.
Contact sanctuary@orshalom.org to get involved.
friends afuera
The Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity coordinates two programs to walk alongside people targeted by the immigration system. Several Or Shalom individuals or groups have started participating in one of them, Friends Afuera ("Friends Outside"), writing letters and providing commissary funds on a monthly basis to someone incarcerated in a detention center. More about Friends Afuera...
If you would like to participate in Friends Afuera as an individual or as part of an OS group, or if you are interested in learning more about Interfaith Movement’s other accompaniment program, Nueva Esperanza, accompanying newly arrived immigrants, contact sanctuary@orshalom.org.
accompaniment at or shalom
Accompaniment is a sanctuary term for actions in support of a specific individual or family. Or Shalom is currently accompanying a family from Guatemala, a mother and her three sons.
Updates on those we support in our sanctuary efforts
- Melvin Jimenez Menara, a young man Phyllis Shulman has been writing to at Adelanto Detention Center, has been released and reunited with his family after a campaign by the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (who sponsor our Friends Afuera program). As a twelve year old, he had immigrated from El Salvador to escape violence, was able to graduate from High School in southern California, and had a good job before ICE held him in a heart rending separation from his wife, toddler daughter and new baby girl. He is a religious person who expressed interest in Judaism and Or Shalom. If you are interested in joining OS's Friends Afuera group, contact Phyllis Shulman at pshulmanphd@gmail.com
- Maria and her extended family (4 adults, 6 children) are hoping to move from their current living situation. They can fit into a 3 bedroom house or apartment. If you have any leads or ideas, please contact sanctuary@orshalom.org
- Ivan, another of our Friends ,was also released from detention! A small group of us raised some funds so that he could speak to an attorney about his case. If the attorney takes the case, we will reach out to the generous OS community, as he currently has no means of support..
SANCTUARY or shalom Activities/OPPORTUNITies
Ongoing Sanctuary Activities
• Join Friends Afuera or Accompaniment Activities.
• Research and organize sanctuary opportunities for Or Shalom.
• Join the leadership of sanctuary efforts at Or Shalom.
• Contact sanctuary@orshalom.org for more information.
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Monthly Vigil
Or Shalom sponsors 1-2 of these vigils per year and several members attend these moving monthly vigils. Watch the weekly newsletter for monthly notice.
SUPPORT PAID SICK LEAVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
In 2006, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to pass a paid sick leave ordinance. In 2015, the state of CA passed a very similar paid sick leave policy.
However, in spite of the fact that these laws have been in effect, a 2020 survey found
that 72% of SF domestic workers report not receiving paid sick time.
To address this problem, domestic workers, alongside local allies like Hand in Hand,
passed a landmark Domestic Workers Paid Sick Leave Ordinance in 2021 to offer a
solution. The ordinance will create a new ‘portable benefits’ program so domestic
workers can open a single account that their multiple employers can all contribute funds
to for sick leave. The launch of the new program is anticipated in 2023. Please sign the
pledge to support paid sick leave.
sanctuary or shalom's guiding partners
Truah’s Mikdash work helped shape our conception of the New Jewish Sanctuary Movement. It continues to help provide us with Jewish grounding for the work we do. This guide was especially helpful.
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) sponsors Friends Afuera (pairing volunteers outside detention with detainees, exchanging letters and providing commissary funds) and Nueva Esperanza (accompanying someone living in your community) and provides advocacy, actions and vigil opportunities.
Faith in Action Bay Area works to build shared leadership that takes action to uphold the dignity of all people and transform unjust systems. Many of the leaders are immigrants and many of the campaigns come directly from the expressed needs of the immigrant community. Our compa, Maria, comes to us through our Faith in Action connections.
HIAS (originally Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) works for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and freedom. Some of our sanctuary actions have come through HIAS.
Contact sanctuary@orshalom.org to learn more about our involvement with these organizations.