Welcoming Immigrants

Welcoming the Stranger: Our Commitment to Immigrants & Refugees

Neighbor to Neighbor

On December 3, 2024, the Neighbor to Neighbor committee anxiously awaited the arrival of the Abdulrhaman/Kershu/Khemis family from Sudan. Shaare Emeth, with the help of HIAS, a Jewish organization that provides vital services to refugees, adopted the family with a commitment of support for one year.

The family, Fedwa (Mother), Ismael (Father), Insaf (older daughter), and Ikbal (younger daughter) are so grateful for all of the help that Neighbor to Neighbor provides. They are a lovely family, so warm and welcoming to everyone. Insaf and Ikbal always have smiles on their faces and love to give and receive hugs.

The family quickly adapted to life here with the help of the Neighbor to Neighbor committee, as well as Adam Abdallah from the STL Sudanese Community organization. He has been so generous with his time and translation abilities. He and his family live near the Abdulrhaman/Kershu/Khemis family, so friendships between the families have been a blessing.

Before the family’s arrival, the committee acquired everything the family would need for their new life in St. Louis, thanks to the generous donations from our congregation. An apartment was rented for them, and many volunteers donated their time to help set it up.

Thanks to ESL classes for the parents and school for the girls, their English has improved dramatically. Ikbal missed the cutoff for kindergarten, so she attends Shirley Green Preschool, and Insaf attends Carmen Trails and is in second grade. Both girls are thriving in school, making new friends, and enjoying new experiences.

Neighbor to Neighbor has helped with shopping for food, transportation, doctor appointments, banking, navigating school, finances, helping with programs that provide food, and making sure the girls get some fun outings.

With the help of the committee, Ismael obtained a job at West County Mall in the maintenance department. They are well on their way to becoming independent.

Thank You to Our Congregation Shaare Emeth Volunteers

  • Melissa Lynn Pomerantz: Lead
  • Debra Solomon Baker: Volunteer Coordinator and Cultural Orientation
  • Joelyn Levy: Education
  • Michelle Gralnick: Documentation Services Benefits
  • Jodi Miller and Jeffrey Miller: Transportation
  • Marti Zuckerman: Housing
  • Judy Willett: Basic Needs
  • Julie Winkle: Basic Needs
  • Sharon Remis: Legal Assistance
  • Stefanie Greenberg: Cultural Orientation and Social Organizer
  • Debbie Bram: Temple Liaison

The general consensus of the volunteers is that refugees are just looking for a safer, better life for their families, and it is so rewarding to be a part of helping them.

“I joined the committee because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others who needed help, and felt my skill set was applicable to the tasks I was assigned. To whatever extent my services were beneficial, I am happy to have been of assistance.” – Michelle Gralnick

“I had been looking for some meaningful volunteer work now that my kids are basically grown. I had looked at various volunteer opportunities, but many of them entailed stuffing envelopes or other ministerial duties. While I know those tasks are important, I wanted something where I really felt like I was directly making a difference. This committee seemed to fit the bill, and it really appealed to me to be able to help newcomers with their education.” – Joelyn Levy

Former Initiatives

Congregation Shaare Emeth was honored to participate in two separate efforts to support and welcome Afghan refugees to St. Louis. One effort was through the International Institute of St. Louis, and the other in partnership with Parkway United Church of Christ (PUCC) and Turkish American Society of Missouri (TASOM).

The sponsorship with the International Institute was called “Community Support Group.”

The sponsorship with our interfaith partners was called Intertwine Interfaith Welcome Circle (IIWC).

Living Our Jewish Values with Two Afghan Families

For a year and a half, from approximately December 2021 to mid-2023, more than twenty volunteers from Shaare Emeth were involved with welcoming and settling two Afghan Families, the Ebrahimis and the Hashimis.

The commandment to welcome the stranger is repeated more than 36 times in the Torah as a reminder of how important this mitzvah is to our lives.

Betsy Cytron wrote, “Through our experiences with the Hashimis, I learned that this is not just a one-way act of charity: watching the Hashimis thrive in their new environment was a source of great joy and strength for me.”

Janice and Gary Sherman chose to volunteer because, “By welcoming the stranger we are paying it forward for the help that our grandparents received when they immigrated to the US in the early 1900’s.”

The group working with the Ebrahimi family felt they have received more than they have given.

Read more about both families below.

The Ebrahimi Family

On December 21, 2021, our committee of twelve people was excited to meet for the first time at the home of the Ebrahimi family. “The family” includes Toorson, the mom (age 29), Shuja, the dad (age 35), Edris, the new two-month-old baby, Ferazon, the only girl who was two years old, Elias who was 4 and Elhan who was five. No one spoke English. Luckily, an interpreter from the International Institute was present. We communicated with Shuja through an app on his phone which translated between Dari and English. They arrived in the United States because Shuja had worked with the US Army in Afghanistan and had to leave as soon as the Taliban took over.

During our first months we helped by setting up their household with furniture and organization. We purchased groceries and helped make dental and medical appointments. We provided rides, babysat and helped with sewing and cooking. All six members of the family had considerable medical and dental needs.

Shuja passed his Missouri written and driving test and obtained a good job. He badly needed a car, and an Army officer with whom Shuja had worked with in Afghanistan who lived in St. Louis helped raise funds for a car for Shuja, and our group added funds.

Currently, we are providing transportation and babysitting when Toorson, the mother goes to ESOL school four mornings a week in Parkway. One major goal we have is to help Toorson learn English. 

Our committee is ably chaired by Marti Zuckerman with experience and wisdom from Stan Shanker.

Thank you to our Congregation Shaare Emeth volunteers: Stephanie Battaglia, Michele Bernstein, Amy Cohen, Jan Fishman, Dan Heymann, Carole Lander, David Lander, Marcene Menendez, Sue Picus, Anna Poger, Sharon Remis, Andy Shanker, Stanford Shanker, and Marti Zuckerman; Chair

The Hashimi Family

Congregation Shaare Emeth, Parkway United Church of Christ, and The Turkish American Society of Missouri joined together to become a Welcome Circle under the auspices of HIAS to assist in the relocation of an Afghan family.

The Hashimi family-Dad Jamshid, Mom-ArZoo and their four children, Yosouf, Younos, Anisa, and Sana arrived in St. Louis on February 14, 2022. Our IIWC (Intertwine Interfaith Welcome Circle) committee had been preparing for several months for their arrival. We created spreadsheets and divided up responsibilities into smaller groups to find housing, school enrollment, ESOL classes, employment etc. When we met them, the emotional impact overtook all our planning. What a lovely family! Only ArZoo spoke English, but the children all communicated very clearly without words!

Along with getting to know each other, the following months were filled with adjustments for the family and lots of work and coordination for the committee. Once we found a nice apartment for them, the kids were enrolled in school and Jamshid and ArZoo enrolled in ESOL classes. The first few months were filled with a lot of driving by our Circle until Jamshid got his Missouri Driver’s License. As women were not allowed to drive in Afghanistan, ArZoo was given driver’s lessons and she finally got her Missouri Driver’s License.

In addition to assistance learning to navigate the school system and grocery stores, apartments, committee members helped them navigate doctor’s appointments, several government programs, private organizations that provide food and other essentials, and fun excursions like playing soccer and visiting the zoo.

Over the course of the year, the Hashimis bought used cars, started jobs and learned a lot about their new life. Early in 2023, the Hashimis made the decision to move to Yuma City, CA where they have relatives and there is a large Afghan community. As they leave St. Louis 13 months after their arrival, both parents have work experience and speak better English, the children are well adjusted and speak English a mile a minute. They will always have a warm place in all of our hearts, and we wish them well as they continue their lives in the United States. L’hitraot: See You later Hashimi Family.

Congregation Shaare Emeth Members of the IIWC: Betsy Cytron, Vera Emmons, Jay Goldstein, Julia Mendelow, Stan Shanker, Gary Sherman, Janice Sherman, Jane Thal, Debbie Bram; Staff

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ABOUT

Debbie & Mike Lefton

2024 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Debbie and Michael Lefton have been dedicated members of the Shaare Emeth community and the broader St. Louis Jewish community for many years, contributing their time and talents in numerous ways.

Debbie has been a member of Shaare Emeth since the 5th grade, attending Sunday School and confirmation. Debbie and Mike have been married for 27 years and became family members of  Shaare Emeth in 1996. Their children Sydney, and Jacob, both attend Shirlee Green Preschool, celebrated their b’not mitzvah, and attended Shaare Emeth Camps. Debbie and Mike have been actively involved in various committees at Shaare Emeth throughout the years; Debbie serving as the President of the Shirlee Green Preschool and Mike serving on the Board of Trustees and the Operating Committee for 12 years including President of our congregation.

Their commitment to education and community service extends beyond Shaare Emeth. They are true examples of community service heroes. In 2019 the Lefton Family received the American Jewish Committee Netzach Award and in 2022, Debbie and Mike were honored with the JProStL Community Leader Partnership Award.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life Services, she worked as a Child Life Specialist at Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago and St. Louis Children’s Hospital for 12 years. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Services from Washington University.

At the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, Debbie has chaired several committees, including the Children’s Activity Center, the Camp Sabra Alumni Committee, and the Mission Task Force Committee. She has also co-chaired the Jewish Book Festival Women’s Event, the St. Louis Maccabi Games Closing Ceremonies and has served on the  J Associates Board for 16 years, completing a term as President in 2022. Currently, Debbie serves as an Officer on the Executive Committee at the JCC and is Co-Chairing the Fox Building Capital Campaign. Debbie received the St. Louis Jewish Community Center Richard S. Weiss Past Presidents Award in 2018.

Debbie’s involvement in the St. Louis Jewish Federation includes serving on the Board of CAJE and Women’s Philanthropy and recently began an 8-year term on the National Jewish Federations Women’s Philanthropy Board. Debbie served on the Camp Rainbow Board of Directors and 28 years. Currently, Debbie is a board member of The St. Louis Jewish Light and The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Friends Board.  Debbie received the MAC Women of Distinction honor in 2023.

Michael holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael began his career with Metal Exchange in 1984 and now serves as Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, Metal Exchange has grown into a global enterprise with a strong international presence, including offices in Zurich and Shanghai. The company’s diverse operations include manufacturing, marketing, trading, metal processing, distribution, and transportation of nonferrous metals.

Mike’s commitment to community service is evident through his current roles as Board President of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and Regional President of the American Jewish Committee – St. Louis. Mike served as President of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer for seven years and is Immediate Past President. Mike received the Presidential Citation Award from Variety the Children’s Charity international in 2019.

Additionally, Mike currently serves on several boards, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, National Council of Jewish Women Advisory Council, Jewish Federation Professional Society Leadership Advisory Council, and Heat-Up/Cool Down St. Louis.

Debbie and Mike reside in St. Louis and are the proud parents of two adult children, Sydney 26, who lives in Tel Aviv, and Jacob 24, who resides in Cincinnati. The Lefton family are avid hockey fans, enjoy theatre, traveling and spending time in Colorado.

The Shaare Emeth community is honored to celebrate Debbie and Michael Lefton for their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to our community and beyond.