The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Realities and Responses

By :  The Jewish Theological Seminary Posted On Feb 2, 2016 | Social Justice

The 2016 Henry N. and Selma S. Rapaport Memorial Lecture

  • Mark Hetfield, President and CEO, HIAS
  • Dr. Georgette F. Bennett, Founder and President, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding; Founder, Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees
  • Shadi Martini, Senior Syria Advisor, Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees

The conflict in Syria has produced the world’s largest refugee crisis, with over four million people forced to flee the country since the war began—becoming a major humanitarian and political issue. And across the globe, 60 million people are currently displaced: the worst refugee catastrophe since the Second World War.

What are the realities on the ground in Syria and other affected countries? What are our responsibilities as individuals, as a country, and as a Jewish community? How do we fulfill the Jewish moral imperative of dealing compassionately with the stranger even as we ensure domestic security?

This program is cosponsored by HIAS, the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, and the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at JTS.