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.
Spring 2026 Exciting News & Important Needs
Although refugee resettlement has come to a virtual standstill, JCOR has been given the opportunity to work with an Afghan family who has Special Immigrant Visa status. SIV status is given to individuals who have helped the US military in Afghanistan.
The family is PASHTO-speaking, with little English proficiency, and has 5 children, ranging in age from 7 to 16 years old. Three of the children are girls who have had no formal education.
To be fully prepared to assist this new family:
1) We need translators. Do you or someone you know speak Pashto? Please contact our volunteer coordinator Martha Weintraub (weintraub.martha@gmail.com) if you know someone who can volunteer.
2) We need volunteers who can provide additional literacy, transportation support, and other services. To volunteer, click on the Volunteer button at the top of this webpage.
3) We need donations. The family’s parents are not currently employed which means they will require greater assistance from JCOR. To make a financial donation to JCOR, click on the Donate button at the top of this webpage.
And now, more news–very exciting news!
A generous donor provided JCOR’s most recent family—Venezuelan Mom and teenage son—a car! The mom learned how to drive, passed her driver’s test, and took possession of the car last month!
Our JCOR family from Syria welcomed a new baby girl to the world! JCOR threw the family a VERY pink baby shower just days before the little girl was born in mid-April. Both she and Mom are doing well, Dad and brothers are proud and delighted as can be…as are we. She is our first JCOR baby!
