Please join us for Shabbat services celebrating the 7th Annual Refugee Shabbat. 

Our speakers are Anastasiia Denysova and Kaitlyn Siegel, both of whom work for our local HIAS affiliated refugee resettlement agency, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Long Beach and Orange County (JFCSLBOC). 

Anastasiia is a Ukrainian refugee and Case Worker at JFCSLBOC and is a member of the Ukrainian family that University Synagogue has helped to support via a Welcome Circle since February 2023 when they arrived in the US. Anastasiia will speak about her experience in Ukraine and her resettlement in the United States following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Katie is a social worker who works at JFCSLBOC as the Volunteer and Engagements Coordinator for Refugee and other Services. 

JFCSLBOC has been a registered resettlement agency for the U.S. Department of State since September, 2023 and helps to welcome and acclimate arriving refugees to the Orange County/Long Beach area. Katie will speak with the congregation about the situation for refugees in this area and the needs these refugees have. There have been quite a few University Synagogue members who have been assisting with refugee relief and resettlement and have contributed considerably to the programs of JFCSLBOC. 

Please join us on February 28th to learn more about the refugee experience and this important activity.