Our Story
Origins
In winter 2021–2022, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County invited congregations of all faiths in the Ann Arbor area to participate in their new refugee settlement co-sponsorship program.
In response, Beth Israel Congregation and Temple Beth Emeth, assisted by the deft leadership of our founding coordinator Harvey Somers, formed a collaboration which soon expanded to Jewish Congregations Organized for Resettlement (JCOR), comprised of six member organizations: Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan, Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation, Jewish Cultural Society, and Pardes Hannah along with BIC and TBE. The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor serves as JCOR’s fiduciary.
JCOR works in partnership with JFS, which provides orientation and training and guidance to JCOR volunteers who work under the supervision of a JFS caseworker.
In August 2022, JCOR accepted responsibility to co-sponsor its first family of four from Colombia.
JCOR’s first refugee family arrived in Ann Arbor following an arduous journey from their home in Colombia in August 2022. In less than 12 months, both parents were fully employed, both teenagers had completed their first year of school in the U.S. in good form, and big sister had a summer job. The father earned a driver’s license, and the family purchased a (used) car which saves $700/month that previously paid for contracted transportation to and from work.
JCOR Has a New Family and We—They—Need You
After a few months’ hiatus due to the ongoinof almost all new refugee arrivals, JCOR is back in action! Now is the time—right now—for JCOR and our entire community of congregations to re-energize.
JCOR recently had the good fortune to receive a new family—an Afghan family of nine! In addition to the parents, there are nine children, all but two of whom are K-12 school-age. We are so very excited about this opportunity to provide our uniquely effective network of services to this amazing family. But to do it well, we absolutely need more on deck.
Education, health, finance, and transportation
We need volunteers with knowledge of specific areas of expertise. With so many school-age children, education is obviously one of those areas. If you can communicate effectively with teachers and counselors on behalf of students and collaborate with the parents to be sure that their priorities and the children’s well being are secured… JCOR needs you.
If you can interface effectively with the health sector, navigate multiple doctor and
dental appointments, help the family wrestle with benefits, and related functions…
JCOR needs you.
Can you offer informed and wise financial counsel and guidance to people who are learning our finance system from step one? JCOR needs you.
Can you drive mother to the food bank and to market and other shopping in the Ann Arbor area and sometimes into suburban Detroit? JCOR needs you.
It is important to note that this family secured refugee status as allies of the United States while “in country,” in Afghanistan. They helped our nation when we asked and our nation is honor-bound to recognize their service. JCOR is ready to play an
important role in doing so.
Together, as we have with three wonderful families before this, JCOR will work directly with this wonderful family to help them build their foundation here, gain full agency over their lives, and walk as neighbors in our community.
JCOR welcomes you to be part of this inspiring endeavor. Please take the first step now, click on this link,
