September 17, 2025 • 23 mins
What drives ordinary people to extraordinary acts of kindness? For Harriet Taub and Kathy Prussak, members of the United Synagogue of Hoboken's Refugee Committee, the answer lies at the intersection of faith, heritage, and a profound commitment to human dignity.
Living "literally in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty," these two remarkable women have formed a powerful partnership with the Lighthouse, an Episcopal ministry serving refugees and asylum seekers. Their regular food deliveries, community dinner organizing, and personal connections with residents exemplify interfaith collaboration at its finest. But their service goes deeper than logistics—it's rooted in their Jewish tradition of "tikkun olam" (repairing the world) and honoring their own immigrant ancestors who fled persecution in Eastern Europe.
The conversation reveals how small, consistent acts of service create meaningful impact in divisive times. When Harriet took Ghanaian refugees to source authentic ingredients for a community dinner, she witnessed their pride in sharing cultural heritage. When Kathy met brilliant young African boys eager to learn English, she advocated for their education. These personal connections challenge dehumanizing political narratives about immigrants, revealing instead their resilience, contributions, and dignity.
As anti-immigrant sentiment has intensified and legal pathways narrowed, these volunteers have adapted their approach—focusing on supporting those already here rather than welcoming newcomers who can no longer enter. Yet they remain undeterred, finding creative ways to channel community resources to meet specific needs. Their message to those feeling helpless: start local, start small, but start somewhere. Whether donating household items, collecting school supplies, or sharing your time, everyone can contribute to building a more welcoming community.
Share this episode with friends who care about immigration issues, interfaith cooperation, or finding practical ways to make a difference. Then visit lighthousenjorg to learn how you can support refugees and asylum seekers in your community.
Please consider supporting The Lighthouse, a haven to those navigating our broken immigration system. We strive to ensure that those seeking safety never have to navigate their darkest moments alone.
For more information, please visit lighthousenj.org.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jill (00:01):
Welcome back to another episode of the Crossing Voices
from the Lighthouse.
Today we're talking with twodear friends of the Lighthouse,
Harriet Taub and Kathy Prussak.
Together with Hope and Lisa andothers from the Refugee
Committee at the UnitedSynagogue of Hoboken, these
determined, caring women havebecome regular partners in our
work, delivering food,organizing community dinners and
(00:21):
building relationships thatbring comfort and dignity to our
guests.
Their stories remind us how theLighthouse connects people of
different traditions around ashared call to welcome and
support those seeking safety andbelonging.
Here's our conversation.
Well, hello, ladies.
It's great to have you here onthe Crossing Voices from the
(00:45):
Lighthouse.
We're so excited to have achance to chat with you today.
Maybe we can start by each ofyou just introducing yourselves
and just tell us a little bitabout your association with the
Lighthouse and, really, theRefugee Committee of the
Synagogue.
Harriet, why don't we startwith you?
Sure?
Harriet (01:03):
My name is Harriet Taub and I've been a member of the
United Synagogue of Hoboken fornearly 40 years and I retired
from my full-time job back in2020.
And at that time I knew thatthe United Synagogue of Hoboken
had a refugee committee, but,you know, I was working
full-time and I didn't reallyhave any time to sort of put
towards that.
And once I retired, I decided Iwas working full time and I
(01:23):
didn't really have any time tosort of put towards that, and
once I retired, I decided that Iwould join.
So it's been, I guess, fiveyears, and my relationship with
the Lighthouse is that soonafter I guess sometime in 2021,
we had met with you, jill, totalk about the work that you
were doing, because I understandthat the Refugee Committee had
(01:47):
been supporting the Lighthousefor a number of years.
And we asked you you know, whatdid you need?
And one of the things you saidwas that there was a food pantry
in Jersey City that did havefood, but you needed people to
pick that food up twice a month,or maybe a little more often if
that happened.
And so I volunteered to do that, and that was really my first
(02:09):
experience with meeting thefolks at Triangle Community
Center, which is a wonderfulorganization that supports
people with food and picking itup and then bringing the food
and dropping it off at thelighthouse.
So that was my first experienceand we've been doing that now
for a number of years.
Kathy does it with me, we gooff and on with each other and
(02:30):
it's been really nice for us tomeet the people at Triangle who
are doing such good work, andthen also meeting people over
the years at El Faro, at thelighthouse, great.
Jill (02:41):
Thank you so much, kathy.
How about you?
Kathy (02:44):
Okay, so my name is Kathy Prussak and I am a recent
addition to the USH RefugeeCommittee.
I've been a member of thesynagogue for more than 40 years
, but I think when I retired in2022 is when I, and so I
probably joined in 23,.
Harriet, I can't actuallyremember, but my role has been.
I mean, I've always beeninterested in refugee issues and
(03:07):
immigrants in particular, andso I wanted to help.
And so Harriet said great, youcan help me in picking up food
at Triangle and people there arereally wonderful, and
everything Harriet said has beengreat and then dropping it off
at the lighthouse, where I gotto get a chance to meet the
people.
The other thing, too, is thatwe were so successful in hosting
a dinner prepared by theresidents of the Lighthouse,
(03:30):
where we introduced them to alot of community members, and it
was a tremendous successraising money also for them.
Jill (03:38):
So you raised something interesting, Kathy.
You said you've always had aninterest in refugees and
immigrants, and I guess I'd loveto hear from each of you, you
know, where does your interestin this work come from, sort of
what drives you to do this workand what is it that keeps you
coming back for more.
Kathy, why don't we start withyou?
Well, I mean.
Kathy (03:59):
I think it's really important to welcome the
immigrant and support theimmigrant important to welcome
the immigrant and support theimmigrant, and I think it's so
important that we continue toprovide support for people
looking for a better life.
It really surprises me theanimus towards anybody who's new
to this country.
(04:19):
It just is amazing to me thatthey would not open their arms
to people coming from all over.
And I mean, I was aninternational relations major
and I worked for years bringingexchange students to families in
this area, because I just thinkgetting to know people from
other cultures and other worldsis just so incredible.
Jill (04:39):
Thank you so much.
And Harriet, how about you?
Harriet (04:42):
Well, my mother came to this country when she was a
little girl, crossing theborders from Ukraine under hay
in a wagon, escaping theCossacks, and while my dad was
born here, his family came fromPoland.
These were people who wereescaping terrible conditions in
(05:02):
Europe for Jewish people, and soI've always felt very close to
the idea, as Kathy was saying,that we need to support people
who are coming to this country.
It is only in the last maybe 10years, maybe a little bit more,
that there's been so much animus, and I think that it's very
(05:23):
political, and I think thatpeople who are unhappy with
their status in this countrytake it out on recent immigrants
, and I also don't understand it, and especially now, with how
really terrible it's been forpeople coming from countries
where they are fearing violenceand persecution and sex
(05:45):
trafficking and all sorts ofthings, that people who are so
angry at them don't realize thatthese are the people that come
here, that pick our fruit andvegetables, that work on farms,
that work in meat processingplants, doing work that no one
in this country wants to do, andI think that we're going to
(06:06):
feel that now, as the bordersare closing and people are being
deported you know the prices ofeverything are going to go up
and it's going to hit peoplelike, oh yeah, those people that
worked at that store or workedon our lawn or helped build our
house, you know they're nolonger here and I just.
It's a terrible feeling andwhile we can't solve those
(06:28):
really big problems, we can dosome work locally and that's
what the Lighthouse affords usand that's what you have created
, jill, this wonderful haven forpeople, and we are blessed with
being able to sort of touchthem in the way, even if it's
just dropping off food for them.
That's a way that we can feellike we're doing something.
Jill (06:49):
Very powerful words and I think so true.
You know, the refugee committeehas done so much and has helped
in so many different ways, andI'm always just amazed at the
creativity you guys have and youthink about different ways to
help, and it's just, it's areally beautiful thing how you
find ways to help, and so manypeople I mean I don't know if
(07:13):
you come across this, but peoplesay I want to help, but I just
don't know what to do and youall find ways to really help,
which is amazing.
And so I guess one question I'dlike to ask is really help,
which is amazing.
And so I guess one question I'dlike to ask is can you tell us
about a particular event, maybe,or it could even just be an
experience or an interaction,something specific, that you've
(07:33):
done or experienced with theLighthouse that really touched
your heart, that really made youfeel the importance of the work
that you're doing and that justhas stayed with you and that
maybe even fuels you to do more?
Kathy (07:47):
I had one.
I mean, there was these twolittle boys, the African boys,
and they were so bright and soamazing and I just spent, you
know, a half an hour maybe justtalking to them and they were
like little sponges and theywanted to know the English words
and I was, you know, and assoon as I left that I contacted
the Hudson School.
I said you must take these twoboys because they are just
(08:08):
amazing, they were so smart.
I don't think that anythingever happened with it, but I
just I felt like I don't knowhow anybody could not love them.
Jill (08:18):
Excellent, and Harriet, how about for you?
Harriet (08:43):
me, but you know, I've been studying Spanish and so
every time I go I try to speakSpanish, and they're always so
grateful, although they reallywant to speak English, but so it
is a little bit of a dance, butI will say that one of the
things that really stuck with mewas Kathy mentioned it before
that the synagogue refugeecommittee organized for a dinner
that was going to be held atthe lighthouse and the chefs
were residents of the lighthouse.
(09:04):
So there were people who werecooking, who came from South
America, central America, cuba,and then there were some folks
that came from Ghana, and so Itook the folks from Ghana to a
town a few towns away, eastOrange, where there was an
African market, because theywanted to buy some very specific
(09:24):
things for their meal, and thecare that they took and the
specificity of the items thatthey were buying, because what
they really wanted to do was tobring their culture to the
people who were going to beeating that food, and it really
struck me that they're in thiscountry and, yes, there are
(09:44):
definitely enclaves of peoplefrom Ghana and you know,
specifically in that in EastOrange there were and they were
able to find the ingredientsthey needed.
But it was really a matter ofpride, because everybody is
making refugees out to be peoplewho you know want to come and
go on welfare and you know, getfree stuff and you know that
just doesn't happen.
(10:05):
I mean, the level of falsitiesthat are out there about
immigrants are just, you knowit's incredible and you know you
can't trust anything.
So I think they really wantedto make a point that these are
the foods, this is what we eat,this is how we live and we want
to share that with you.
And that was really veryimportant to me and I think it
(10:27):
really was important to thepeople who came to that dinner.
I think they really felt that.
Jill (10:31):
Yeah, that was really a great event on so many levels we
have to do that again and justso much fun to sample all these
different foods that are madewith such love and such pride,
you know, as you point out.
So I guess one of the thingsthat I'm really interested in is
, you know, on a spiritual level, you know why do you do this
(10:52):
work, how does it connect toyour faith and how has it
impacted your continued sort ofspiritual formation and growth?
I'm really interested inlearning a little bit more about
that.
Harriet (11:03):
It's complicated right now to be looking at your faith
and reading the Old Testament,which sometimes to me, I have to
say, we're talking about animalsacrifice.
I mean, there's stuff that justdoesn't make sense.
But the core issues of what itmeans to be a Jew in the world
is taking care of your fellow.
(11:24):
You know, tikkun alam, repairthe world and take care of
people in need, the sick, theinjured, the widow that's part
of it.
And just to do good.
And you know, I think ourability to work with a larger
community outside of the Jewishcommunity, doing things that we
feel will repair and help, hasbrought me, not necessarily
(11:49):
closer, but it's brought afeeling to me that I'm doing the
good work, that it means to bea good Jew.
Kathy (11:56):
I was brought up in a Reformed tradition of Judaism
and Reformed Judaism.
It is very, very, very focusedon social activism.
It always has been, and sothat's my background.
When we're called to helppeople, this is what we do,
because part of our mission inthe world is to make the world a
better place and so being ableto fulfill that because it was
(12:20):
very interesting, the synagoguerefugee support committee just
recently received an award fromHIAS, and the rabbi pointed out
that we were the onlyconservative synagogue that
received the award, because allthe rest of them were reformed
congregations, and I'm veryproud of that.
I'm very proud that my you knowmy activism background growing
(12:41):
up has and that I can connectwith this committee in order to
fulfill that mission that I wasbrought up with, which is that,
you know, we we have to work tohelp people always.
That's what we have to do, andthese are people you know.
Immigrants coming to ourcountry from the earliest of
days have always needed help,and it's our obligation to do
(13:03):
that.
Harriet (13:04):
Can I just say one other thing?
You know I've said this in sortof speaking at the synagogue
about the Refugee Committee andits importance.
We literally live in the shadowof the Statue of Liberty.
That is so foundational to me.
I mean, my mother came to EllisIsland, my grandparents came to
(13:24):
Ellis Island, on both sides.
I mean the fact that we arehere, that I am sitting in a
house that I own, that I've, youknow, that you know in a
community that I love, becausethey had to struggle and escape
Cossacks under a hay and a haywagon, I mean, and took two
years to get here.
(13:45):
I I am every day, you know, needto remind us that myself how
lucky I am and the fact that wecan help others who are trying
to make that journey to maketheir not just necessarily their
lives better, but theirchildren's lives better, because
that's what these people did.
They had skills in these othercountries.
They were doctors, they werescientists and they came and
(14:06):
they're driving cabs.
I mean we hear that all thetime People who had skills, who
but they're doing it not justfor themselves, they're doing it
for their future, of theirfamilies, and it speaks to
everything.
And the work that you're doinghas just really.
You know you've enabled thatand so it's.
You know we're blessed to be inyour company and around the
(14:27):
work that you, of a completelydifferent faith tradition, have
enabled, and we feel united bythat.
Jill (14:35):
Oh no, it's my pleasure and for me that's one of the
biggest thrills about this workis it's an opportunity to be
able to gather with good peopleand it's a reminder that there
are such good people in theworld who really do want to make
a difference and really who canput other people first.
(14:57):
You know, I think our faithtraditions are very aligned in
so many ways in terms of thatbeing our call, our call to do
our part to repair the world,our call to bring justice into
the world, our call to spreadlove in the world, and we get to
do that together.
And I think it's really amazing.
(15:18):
I'm wondering how haveconversations changed in recent
months around the table, at yourmeetings, at your refugee
committee meetings?
Have things changed?
Has the current context changedthe work itself, the way you
view the work, the conversationsthat you have?
(15:38):
You know what has the impactbeen?
Kathy (15:40):
I don't know that the meetings have changed so much.
I mean, we're reallymicro-focused.
The macro issues facing theimmigrant community and refugees
are just depressing andhorrible, and you know the fact
that a lot of the organizationsthat have been sponsoring
refugees have been basicallyshut down again because of the
(16:01):
administration policies.
That affects us only a little,I think, other than just our
overall mental state, but whatit also means is that we're more
determined than ever to makesure that we continue to do the
work that we do for the placesthat we can do it.
I mean, we can't do apartmentsetups anymore anywhere because,
(16:21):
guess what?
No apartments are being set upbecause nobody has come here.
When we hear about people whoare sold everything and we're at
the airport waiting to come tothe US and then they couldn't,
it's really sad, and so we're sohappy that the people who have
come through and that you'vebeen able to sponsor and get
through the system.
(16:43):
It's been really great thatwe're able to help them, while
we can't help a lot of thepeople that are coming through
the quote unquote legal route.
Harriet (16:50):
I think the committee started maybe under the Obama
administration.
So I do think that they weredoing very specific things, like
there were a lot of MiddleEastern refugees that were
coming into the country as longwith people from the South
American and Central Americancountries.
Like, as Kathy mentioned, therewere opportunities.
These people and you know thisbetter than anybody there were
(17:12):
opportunities for them to getapartments, and so there was
different kind of work.
I think right now, kathy, it'sabsolutely correct that we're
very local focused.
We're very focused on what wecan do with the folks that are
here, and I think that the youknow, on the one hand, the idea
that we have three and a halfmore years is terrifying under
(17:34):
this administration and, on theother hand, we say, well, in
three and a half years maybewe'll get some.
You know, things will change.
So I think the horribleness ofwhat is happening with
deportations has just sort offocused us, like we have to keep
doing this.
We're trying to get more peopleto join our committee.
We're trying to do whateverneed.
(17:55):
What can we do?
I mean, I often ask you whatelse can we do?
What else do you need?
We want to be available to youwith whatever.
However, we can help you inwhatever your.
Jill (18:06):
That's just amazing.
And as far as apartment setupsgo, we also have a family
getting ready to move out in thenext month or so and we'll have
another family ready to move onto independent living in
December.
So that's always an area thatwe can expand into as well, but
we'll have to get together andtalk and dream together, as we
(18:26):
do, about what's next, and talkand dream together as we do
about what's next.
I guess the last thing I'd liketo ask is for those who say I
want to help but I don't knowwhat to do.
Or you know, there is a lot oflamentation happening about how
terrible everything is.
How can you speak into thatnarrative to help people find a
(18:51):
way that they can find apositive pathway through this
morass at this time?
Harriet (18:55):
Well, it can be very hyperlocal, like you just talked
about the two families.
So if we know that information,we can put that out to our
network and say looking for adress or looking for sheets,
clean sheet, whatever it is.
I mean I know that when we askpeople to do that and people
drop off stuff or they godirectly to the light, people
feel really good, even if it'slike I've got those two boxes of
(19:17):
towels that I'm not usingbecause I changed the color of
my bathroom, like people want todo it but they just don't know.
So I think information isreally power in terms of getting
people to do things.
I mean, the other thing that Iwould tell people and when we
speak at our synagogue about wesay things like you could join
us by picking up food once amonth.
(19:38):
You can join us by collectingschool supplies.
You can, you know, look in yourclosets, talk to your kids.
You know the families of yourchildren's, you know the parents
of your children's friends andtalk to them about clothes that
they have or whatever it is.
I mean there's so many thingsthat people have.
We are an abundant community.
(19:59):
We have so much and I think wewant to share it.
But I think you're right.
People are sort of they'relamenting and they don't really
know how.
So I think having anorganization like the Lighthouse
gives us the focus of what wecan do.
So you know we'll put thepressure back on you to tell us
what you need and when you needit, and give us time so we can
(20:19):
get that information out to you.
Know our networks.
Kathy (20:22):
You know we'll put you to work.
We got things you know, right.
We just also need for you totell us whatever it is that you
need.
It may not be a lot of thingsall the time, but it's something
.
Jill (20:34):
Absolutely, and I think a good time of year is coming soon
where we can really focus ourenergies together.
I know Thanksgiving for me is areally special time at the
Lighthouse.
It's a time for folks there toreally learn about the holiday
and what it means to us in thiscountry and to really take the
time to be grateful and to shareand to think about how we can
(20:55):
be better together and how wecan all sit together at the same
table and you know we can also,if the table's too small, we
can always, as one of my friendssays, you know, build a bigger
table, and that's the work thatwe do, and so we do it together.
I'm very proud of that, I'menriched by that, and I want to
thank you from the bottom of myheart for all that you do as
(21:19):
individuals and as a committeeto help other people who are
struggling really just to have adecent life.
That's what we're talking about.
We're talking about the abilityto live in a safe place, an
ability to feed your childrenand get them an education and be
able to give them a life andhelp them to build a life that
(21:42):
you might not even be able tohave yourself.
But, as Harriet pointed out,oftentimes this generation is
sacrificing really their lifefor the next generation and
that's a beautiful thing and ifwe can help facilitate that,
then we will have done good.
Harriet (21:56):
Jill I want to add one more thing.
There's so many people out inthis world of in the United
States right now, who claim tobe people of faith, and I would
just tell them to look, just goback to like the very basics.
Like you know, treat thestranger as you would like to be
treated.
It is the most the golden ruletreat people the way you would
(22:17):
want to be treated.
And I feel like that is one ofthe biggest damages to our souls
and to our country that peoplewho should know better and
should really be caring are, youknow, viciously attacking
people who are different thanthem.
And you know, inside we're allthe same, we all have the same
(22:38):
blood and it all runs red.
Jill (22:41):
Yes, absolutely, and amen to that.
Amen.
Thanks for listening to theCrossing Voices from the
Lighthouse.
My thanks to Harriet and Kathyfor the countless ways they've
stood alongside the lighthouseand our guests.
Their witness is proof thatpartnership across traditions
can change lives, both for thoseseeking refuge and for those
(23:03):
who welcome them.
If you'd like to learn more,volunteer or support the work,
visit us at the lighthouse.
Together, we can keep the lightshining for every person who
comes through our doors.
I'm Deacon Jill Singleton.
We'll be back soon with morevoices and more stories from the
Lighthouse.
In the meantime, please sharethis podcast with friends and
consider leaving a review onApple Podcasts or Spotify To
(23:27):
learn more about the Lighthouseand how you can support our work
.
Visit lighthousenjorg Untilnext time.
Peace be with you.
Welcome back to another episode of the Crossing Voices
from the Lighthouse.
Today we're talking with twodear friends of the Lighthouse,
Harriet Taub and Kathy Prussak.
Together with Hope and Lisa andothers from the Refugee
Committee at the UnitedSynagogue of Hoboken, these
determined, caring women havebecome regular partners in our
work, delivering food,organizing community dinners and
(00:21):
building relationships thatbring comfort and dignity to our
guests.
Their stories remind us how theLighthouse connects people of
different traditions around ashared call to welcome and
support those seeking safety andbelonging.
Here's our conversation.
Well, hello, ladies.
It's great to have you here onthe Crossing Voices from the
(00:45):
Lighthouse.
We're so excited to have achance to chat with you today.
Maybe we can start by each ofyou just introducing yourselves
and just tell us a little bitabout your association with the
Lighthouse and, really, theRefugee Committee of the
Synagogue.
Harriet, why don't we startwith you?
Sure?
Harriet (01:03):
My name is Harriet Taub and I've been a member of the
United Synagogue of Hoboken fornearly 40 years and I retired
from my full-time job back in2020.
And at that time I knew thatthe United Synagogue of Hoboken
had a refugee committee, but,you know, I was working
full-time and I didn't reallyhave any time to sort of put
towards that.
And once I retired, I decided Iwas working full time and I
(01:23):
didn't really have any time tosort of put towards that, and
once I retired, I decided that Iwould join.
So it's been, I guess, fiveyears, and my relationship with
the Lighthouse is that soonafter I guess sometime in 2021,
we had met with you, jill, totalk about the work that you
were doing, because I understandthat the Refugee Committee had
(01:47):
been supporting the Lighthousefor a number of years.
And we asked you you know, whatdid you need?
And one of the things you saidwas that there was a food pantry
in Jersey City that did havefood, but you needed people to
pick that food up twice a month,or maybe a little more often if
that happened.
And so I volunteered to do that, and that was really my first
(02:09):
experience with meeting thefolks at Triangle Community
Center, which is a wonderfulorganization that supports
people with food and picking itup and then bringing the food
and dropping it off at thelighthouse.
So that was my first experienceand we've been doing that now
for a number of years.
Kathy does it with me, we gooff and on with each other and
(02:30):
it's been really nice for us tomeet the people at Triangle who
are doing such good work, andthen also meeting people over
the years at El Faro, at thelighthouse, great.
Jill (02:41):
Thank you so much, kathy.
How about you?
Kathy (02:44):
Okay, so my name is Kathy Prussak and I am a recent
addition to the USH RefugeeCommittee.
I've been a member of thesynagogue for more than 40 years
, but I think when I retired in2022 is when I, and so I
probably joined in 23,.
Harriet, I can't actuallyremember, but my role has been.
I mean, I've always beeninterested in refugee issues and
(03:07):
immigrants in particular, andso I wanted to help.
And so Harriet said great, youcan help me in picking up food
at Triangle and people there arereally wonderful, and
everything Harriet said has beengreat and then dropping it off
at the lighthouse, where I gotto get a chance to meet the
people.
The other thing, too, is thatwe were so successful in hosting
a dinner prepared by theresidents of the Lighthouse,
(03:30):
where we introduced them to alot of community members, and it
was a tremendous successraising money also for them.
Jill (03:38):
So you raised something interesting, Kathy.
You said you've always had aninterest in refugees and
immigrants, and I guess I'd loveto hear from each of you, you
know, where does your interestin this work come from, sort of
what drives you to do this workand what is it that keeps you
coming back for more.
Kathy, why don't we start withyou?
Well, I mean.
Kathy (03:59):
I think it's really important to welcome the
immigrant and support theimmigrant important to welcome
the immigrant and support theimmigrant, and I think it's so
important that we continue toprovide support for people
looking for a better life.
It really surprises me theanimus towards anybody who's new
to this country.
(04:19):
It just is amazing to me thatthey would not open their arms
to people coming from all over.
And I mean, I was aninternational relations major
and I worked for years bringingexchange students to families in
this area, because I just thinkgetting to know people from
other cultures and other worldsis just so incredible.
Jill (04:39):
Thank you so much.
And Harriet, how about you?
Harriet (04:42):
Well, my mother came to this country when she was a
little girl, crossing theborders from Ukraine under hay
in a wagon, escaping theCossacks, and while my dad was
born here, his family came fromPoland.
These were people who wereescaping terrible conditions in
(05:02):
Europe for Jewish people, and soI've always felt very close to
the idea, as Kathy was saying,that we need to support people
who are coming to this country.
It is only in the last maybe 10years, maybe a little bit more,
that there's been so much animus, and I think that it's very
(05:23):
political, and I think thatpeople who are unhappy with
their status in this countrytake it out on recent immigrants
, and I also don't understand it, and especially now, with how
really terrible it's been forpeople coming from countries
where they are fearing violenceand persecution and sex
(05:45):
trafficking and all sorts ofthings, that people who are so
angry at them don't realize thatthese are the people that come
here, that pick our fruit andvegetables, that work on farms,
that work in meat processingplants, doing work that no one
in this country wants to do, andI think that we're going to
(06:06):
feel that now, as the bordersare closing and people are being
deported you know the prices ofeverything are going to go up
and it's going to hit peoplelike, oh yeah, those people that
worked at that store or workedon our lawn or helped build our
house, you know they're nolonger here and I just.
It's a terrible feeling andwhile we can't solve those
(06:28):
really big problems, we can dosome work locally and that's
what the Lighthouse affords usand that's what you have created
, jill, this wonderful haven forpeople, and we are blessed with
being able to sort of touchthem in the way, even if it's
just dropping off food for them.
That's a way that we can feellike we're doing something.
Jill (06:49):
Very powerful words and I think so true.
You know, the refugee committeehas done so much and has helped
in so many different ways, andI'm always just amazed at the
creativity you guys have and youthink about different ways to
help, and it's just, it's areally beautiful thing how you
find ways to help, and so manypeople I mean I don't know if
(07:13):
you come across this, but peoplesay I want to help, but I just
don't know what to do and youall find ways to really help,
which is amazing.
And so I guess one question I'dlike to ask is really help,
which is amazing.
And so I guess one question I'dlike to ask is can you tell us
about a particular event, maybe,or it could even just be an
experience or an interaction,something specific, that you've
(07:33):
done or experienced with theLighthouse that really touched
your heart, that really made youfeel the importance of the work
that you're doing and that justhas stayed with you and that
maybe even fuels you to do more?
Kathy (07:47):
I had one.
I mean, there was these twolittle boys, the African boys,
and they were so bright and soamazing and I just spent, you
know, a half an hour maybe justtalking to them and they were
like little sponges and theywanted to know the English words
and I was, you know, and assoon as I left that I contacted
the Hudson School.
I said you must take these twoboys because they are just
(08:08):
amazing, they were so smart.
I don't think that anythingever happened with it, but I
just I felt like I don't knowhow anybody could not love them.
Jill (08:18):
Excellent, and Harriet, how about for you?
Harriet (08:43):
me, but you know, I've been studying Spanish and so
every time I go I try to speakSpanish, and they're always so
grateful, although they reallywant to speak English, but so it
is a little bit of a dance, butI will say that one of the
things that really stuck with mewas Kathy mentioned it before
that the synagogue refugeecommittee organized for a dinner
that was going to be held atthe lighthouse and the chefs
were residents of the lighthouse.
(09:04):
So there were people who werecooking, who came from South
America, central America, cuba,and then there were some folks
that came from Ghana, and so Itook the folks from Ghana to a
town a few towns away, eastOrange, where there was an
African market, because theywanted to buy some very specific
(09:24):
things for their meal, and thecare that they took and the
specificity of the items thatthey were buying, because what
they really wanted to do was tobring their culture to the
people who were going to beeating that food, and it really
struck me that they're in thiscountry and, yes, there are
(09:44):
definitely enclaves of peoplefrom Ghana and you know,
specifically in that in EastOrange there were and they were
able to find the ingredientsthey needed.
But it was really a matter ofpride, because everybody is
making refugees out to be peoplewho you know want to come and
go on welfare and you know, getfree stuff and you know that
just doesn't happen.
(10:05):
I mean, the level of falsitiesthat are out there about
immigrants are just, you knowit's incredible and you know you
can't trust anything.
So I think they really wantedto make a point that these are
the foods, this is what we eat,this is how we live and we want
to share that with you.
And that was really veryimportant to me and I think it
(10:27):
really was important to thepeople who came to that dinner.
I think they really felt that.
Jill (10:31):
Yeah, that was really a great event on so many levels we
have to do that again and justso much fun to sample all these
different foods that are madewith such love and such pride,
you know, as you point out.
So I guess one of the thingsthat I'm really interested in is
, you know, on a spiritual level, you know why do you do this
(10:52):
work, how does it connect toyour faith and how has it
impacted your continued sort ofspiritual formation and growth?
I'm really interested inlearning a little bit more about
that.
Harriet (11:03):
It's complicated right now to be looking at your faith
and reading the Old Testament,which sometimes to me, I have to
say, we're talking about animalsacrifice.
I mean, there's stuff that justdoesn't make sense.
But the core issues of what itmeans to be a Jew in the world
is taking care of your fellow.
(11:24):
You know, tikkun alam, repairthe world and take care of
people in need, the sick, theinjured, the widow that's part
of it.
And just to do good.
And you know, I think ourability to work with a larger
community outside of the Jewishcommunity, doing things that we
feel will repair and help, hasbrought me, not necessarily
(11:49):
closer, but it's brought afeeling to me that I'm doing the
good work, that it means to bea good Jew.
Kathy (11:56):
I was brought up in a Reformed tradition of Judaism
and Reformed Judaism.
It is very, very, very focusedon social activism.
It always has been, and sothat's my background.
When we're called to helppeople, this is what we do,
because part of our mission inthe world is to make the world a
better place and so being ableto fulfill that because it was
(12:20):
very interesting, the synagoguerefugee support committee just
recently received an award fromHIAS, and the rabbi pointed out
that we were the onlyconservative synagogue that
received the award, because allthe rest of them were reformed
congregations, and I'm veryproud of that.
I'm very proud that my you knowmy activism background growing
(12:41):
up has and that I can connectwith this committee in order to
fulfill that mission that I wasbrought up with, which is that,
you know, we we have to work tohelp people always.
That's what we have to do, andthese are people you know.
Immigrants coming to ourcountry from the earliest of
days have always needed help,and it's our obligation to do
(13:03):
that.
Harriet (13:04):
Can I just say one other thing?
You know I've said this in sortof speaking at the synagogue
about the Refugee Committee andits importance.
We literally live in the shadowof the Statue of Liberty.
That is so foundational to me.
I mean, my mother came to EllisIsland, my grandparents came to
(13:24):
Ellis Island, on both sides.
I mean the fact that we arehere, that I am sitting in a
house that I own, that I've, youknow, that you know in a
community that I love, becausethey had to struggle and escape
Cossacks under a hay and a haywagon, I mean, and took two
years to get here.
(13:45):
I I am every day, you know, needto remind us that myself how
lucky I am and the fact that wecan help others who are trying
to make that journey to maketheir not just necessarily their
lives better, but theirchildren's lives better, because
that's what these people did.
They had skills in these othercountries.
They were doctors, they werescientists and they came and
(14:06):
they're driving cabs.
I mean we hear that all thetime People who had skills, who
but they're doing it not justfor themselves, they're doing it
for their future, of theirfamilies, and it speaks to
everything.
And the work that you're doinghas just really.
You know you've enabled thatand so it's.
You know we're blessed to be inyour company and around the
(14:27):
work that you, of a completelydifferent faith tradition, have
enabled, and we feel united bythat.
Jill (14:35):
Oh no, it's my pleasure and for me that's one of the
biggest thrills about this workis it's an opportunity to be
able to gather with good peopleand it's a reminder that there
are such good people in theworld who really do want to make
a difference and really who canput other people first.
(14:57):
You know, I think our faithtraditions are very aligned in
so many ways in terms of thatbeing our call, our call to do
our part to repair the world,our call to bring justice into
the world, our call to spreadlove in the world, and we get to
do that together.
And I think it's really amazing.
(15:18):
I'm wondering how haveconversations changed in recent
months around the table, at yourmeetings, at your refugee
committee meetings?
Have things changed?
Has the current context changedthe work itself, the way you
view the work, the conversationsthat you have?
(15:38):
You know what has the impactbeen?
Kathy (15:40):
I don't know that the meetings have changed so much.
I mean, we're reallymicro-focused.
The macro issues facing theimmigrant community and refugees
are just depressing andhorrible, and you know the fact
that a lot of the organizationsthat have been sponsoring
refugees have been basicallyshut down again because of the
(16:01):
administration policies.
That affects us only a little,I think, other than just our
overall mental state, but whatit also means is that we're more
determined than ever to makesure that we continue to do the
work that we do for the placesthat we can do it.
I mean, we can't do apartmentsetups anymore anywhere because,
(16:21):
guess what?
No apartments are being set upbecause nobody has come here.
When we hear about people whoare sold everything and we're at
the airport waiting to come tothe US and then they couldn't,
it's really sad, and so we're sohappy that the people who have
come through and that you'vebeen able to sponsor and get
through the system.
(16:43):
It's been really great thatwe're able to help them, while
we can't help a lot of thepeople that are coming through
the quote unquote legal route.
Harriet (16:50):
I think the committee started maybe under the Obama
administration.
So I do think that they weredoing very specific things, like
there were a lot of MiddleEastern refugees that were
coming into the country as longwith people from the South
American and Central Americancountries.
Like, as Kathy mentioned, therewere opportunities.
These people and you know thisbetter than anybody there were
(17:12):
opportunities for them to getapartments, and so there was
different kind of work.
I think right now, kathy, it'sabsolutely correct that we're
very local focused.
We're very focused on what wecan do with the folks that are
here, and I think that the youknow, on the one hand, the idea
that we have three and a halfmore years is terrifying under
(17:34):
this administration and, on theother hand, we say, well, in
three and a half years maybewe'll get some.
You know, things will change.
So I think the horribleness ofwhat is happening with
deportations has just sort offocused us, like we have to keep
doing this.
We're trying to get more peopleto join our committee.
We're trying to do whateverneed.
(17:55):
What can we do?
I mean, I often ask you whatelse can we do?
What else do you need?
We want to be available to youwith whatever.
However, we can help you inwhatever your.
Jill (18:06):
That's just amazing.
And as far as apartment setupsgo, we also have a family
getting ready to move out in thenext month or so and we'll have
another family ready to move onto independent living in
December.
So that's always an area thatwe can expand into as well, but
we'll have to get together andtalk and dream together, as we
(18:26):
do, about what's next, and talkand dream together as we do
about what's next.
I guess the last thing I'd liketo ask is for those who say I
want to help but I don't knowwhat to do.
Or you know, there is a lot oflamentation happening about how
terrible everything is.
How can you speak into thatnarrative to help people find a
(18:51):
way that they can find apositive pathway through this
morass at this time?
Harriet (18:55):
Well, it can be very hyperlocal, like you just talked
about the two families.
So if we know that information,we can put that out to our
network and say looking for adress or looking for sheets,
clean sheet, whatever it is.
I mean I know that when we askpeople to do that and people
drop off stuff or they godirectly to the light, people
feel really good, even if it'slike I've got those two boxes of
(19:17):
towels that I'm not usingbecause I changed the color of
my bathroom, like people want todo it but they just don't know.
So I think information isreally power in terms of getting
people to do things.
I mean, the other thing that Iwould tell people and when we
speak at our synagogue about wesay things like you could join
us by picking up food once amonth.
(19:38):
You can join us by collectingschool supplies.
You can, you know, look in yourclosets, talk to your kids.
You know the families of yourchildren's, you know the parents
of your children's friends andtalk to them about clothes that
they have or whatever it is.
I mean there's so many thingsthat people have.
We are an abundant community.
(19:59):
We have so much and I think wewant to share it.
But I think you're right.
People are sort of they'relamenting and they don't really
know how.
So I think having anorganization like the Lighthouse
gives us the focus of what wecan do.
So you know we'll put thepressure back on you to tell us
what you need and when you needit, and give us time so we can
(20:19):
get that information out to you.
Know our networks.
Kathy (20:22):
You know we'll put you to work.
We got things you know, right.
We just also need for you totell us whatever it is that you
need.
It may not be a lot of thingsall the time, but it's something
.
Jill (20:34):
Absolutely, and I think a good time of year is coming soon
where we can really focus ourenergies together.
I know Thanksgiving for me is areally special time at the
Lighthouse.
It's a time for folks there toreally learn about the holiday
and what it means to us in thiscountry and to really take the
time to be grateful and to shareand to think about how we can
(20:55):
be better together and how wecan all sit together at the same
table and you know we can also,if the table's too small, we
can always, as one of my friendssays, you know, build a bigger
table, and that's the work thatwe do, and so we do it together.
I'm very proud of that, I'menriched by that, and I want to
thank you from the bottom of myheart for all that you do as
(21:19):
individuals and as a committeeto help other people who are
struggling really just to have adecent life.
That's what we're talking about.
We're talking about the abilityto live in a safe place, an
ability to feed your childrenand get them an education and be
able to give them a life andhelp them to build a life that
(21:42):
you might not even be able tohave yourself.
But, as Harriet pointed out,oftentimes this generation is
sacrificing really their lifefor the next generation and
that's a beautiful thing and ifwe can help facilitate that,
then we will have done good.
Harriet (21:56):
Jill I want to add one more thing.
There's so many people out inthis world of in the United
States right now, who claim tobe people of faith, and I would
just tell them to look, just goback to like the very basics.
Like you know, treat thestranger as you would like to be
treated.
It is the most the golden ruletreat people the way you would
(22:17):
want to be treated.
And I feel like that is one ofthe biggest damages to our souls
and to our country that peoplewho should know better and
should really be caring are, youknow, viciously attacking
people who are different thanthem.
And you know, inside we're allthe same, we all have the same
(22:38):
blood and it all runs red.
Jill (22:41):
Yes, absolutely, and amen to that.
Amen.
Thanks for listening to theCrossing Voices from the
Lighthouse.
My thanks to Harriet and Kathyfor the countless ways they've
stood alongside the lighthouseand our guests.
Their witness is proof thatpartnership across traditions
can change lives, both for thoseseeking refuge and for those
(23:03):
who welcome them.
If you'd like to learn more,volunteer or support the work,
visit us at the lighthouse.
Together, we can keep the lightshining for every person who
comes through our doors.
I'm Deacon Jill Singleton.
We'll be back soon with morevoices and more stories from the
Lighthouse.
In the meantime, please sharethis podcast with friends and
consider leaving a review onApple Podcasts or Spotify To
(23:27):
learn more about the Lighthouseand how you can support our work
.
Visit lighthousenjorg Untilnext time.
Peace be with you.
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