by Catherine Ribnick
Support of Afghan Refugees
In addition to continuing to assist the Noori family, Temple Sinai is providing significant help to other Afghan refugees.
We have recently been in touch with our friend Khan Mohammad, to whom Temple Sinai has provided support in the past. He informed us that his brother, Raz, who had been a kitchen supervisor at a US Army base and thus in danger from the Taliban, had succeeded in securing a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and would shortly be arriving in the United States. Raz, with the help of Lutheran Social Services, was able to secure an apartment shortly after the family’s arrival in the same complex as Khan. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Temple Sinai members, in a matter of days, we provided the family of four with everything they need to begin life here, from beds to kitchen equipment to gift cards. They have also been able to secure furniture. Happily, Khan, who works as a sous-chef at a Marriott Hotel, has been able to secure some part-time work for Raz, at his place of work.
Temple Sinai has also been working with Women for Afghan Women that operates a refugee support center in Virginia and provides a broad range of services to Afghan refugees. At WAW’s request, we have funded temporary housing for a family of eight and provided rent support for an elderly refugee at risk.
Asylum Granted for Blondy Mayale
In 2019, Temple Sinai became the sponsor for Blondy Mayale, an asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Blondy fled the Congo after he was targeted by the government for his participation in anti-government protests organized by the Catholic church. He made his way to Ecuador on a cargo ship and subsequently crossed into the US at the Texas-Mexican Border where he was detained by ICE. He was then transferred to the ICE detention facility in Baltimore and released into the custody of Temple members. Blondy was provided housing in a basement apartment generously provided by a Temple Sinai family. Temple members pitched into to help him secure the government services he was entitled to, English language instruction, medical support and, importantly, funding for his legal representation. Today, Blondy has a full-time job and lives with his fiancée In Hyattsville. Much to his and our delight, Blondy’s petition for asylum was granted on October 21 and he now will be able to secure permanent US residence.