9 July 2020

This Wednesday (15 July) at 6.30pm our Education Hub will explore the topic of ‘African Asylum Seekers in Israel’.

In this session, we will talk about the incredible work done by the NGOs Mesila and Kuchinate – as well as have the opportunity to hear first-hand testimony from an asylum seeker in Israel.

We are pleased to be joined for the discussion by Julie Fisher, who grew up in the American Reform movement, and our own Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue member Celia Gould. Both used their roles as the wives of the then American and British ambassadors to promote this important work.

The event is part of our Insight Israel Education Hub mini series, organised by Arzenu UK and hosted by Rabbi Lea Mühlstein, and can be watched on our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels.

The Mesila- Aid and Information Center for Migrant Workers and Refugees aims to provide an appropriate and comprehensive response to the rights and needs of the tens of thousands of legal and illegal migrant workers and refugees living in and around the city of Tel Aviv. Mesila’s main objective is to grant social, educational and medical assistance to the city’s refugees and migrant workers.

Kuchinate (crochet in Tigrinya) is a collective of African asylum-seeking women living in Tel Aviv. The women design and create crochet products for the home, such as baskets, poufs, and rugs. Kuchinate is a psychosocial project aimed at empowering the most vulnerable asylum-seeking women – many are survivors of human trafficking, torture, and sexual abuse. The act of sitting together in a supportive, communal environment whilst making creations rooted in African culture is therapeutic and helps the women cope with their difficult realities. And through the Kuchinate collective, women can sell their wares, earn money and interact with the public.