On February 3, 2024, in collaboration with HIAS, SCRIC,, and other interfaith partners, St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church hosted Refugee Shabbat Havdalah: An Interfaith Gathering of Support along with Ansche Chesed, B'nai Jeshurun, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, Ansche Chesed, B'nai Jeshurun, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, the Interfaith Center of New York, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, Romemu, SAJ, The Shul of New York, and West End Synagogue. This event was part of the larger annual Refugee Shabbat, a HIAS program that encourages interfaith community members to gather in support for refugees and asylum seekers. Participants heard from speakers, Pedro, an asylum seeker; Gale Brewer, New York City Council Member, District 6; Merrill Zack, HIAS NY’s Vice President of Community Engagement; and special guests, Brad Lander, New York City NYC Comptroller; and Rev Dr. Chloe Breyer, Executive Director, the Interfaith Center of New York. It was a successful evening, filled with full of learning, prayer, music, and collective action including a service led by Cantor Natasha Hirschhorn of Ansche Chesed.
