Naase Ve Nishma! An Appeal for Donations for Immigrants at the Border

July 22, 2019 Rabbi Claudio Kogan Living Longer-Living Better, Slider 0

REMEMBER THE STRANGER: HERE IS A CHANCE TO HELP 

A note from Rabbi Richard Address:

Rabbi Claudio Kogan forwarded to Jewish Sacred Aging® a serious appeal for help.

He is based in McAllan , TX and frequently visits the detention centers on the border.

Rabbi Kogan is requesting donations of hygiene products, men's and women's clothes, childrens and adult undergarments, toys for the children and, if possible, gift cards (Target, Walmart etc).

This is not political, it is humanitarian!

Rabbi Kogan has included the mailing address to send the material. He will take  care of distributing the material to those impacted.

This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals, groups, congregations to do something tangible. The need is now and shall continue. Rabbi Kogan discussed the need for such material, as well as his experience on the border, in a recent Seekers of Meaning podcast.

Thank you for your attention to this.

Rabbi Richard F. Address

Rabbi Claudio Kogan visiting a detention center at the US border.
Rabbi Claudio Kogan visiting a detention center at the US border.

When our ancestors received the Torah, they asked questions! This was always one of best teaching that I received from our sages.

This is a time in America to do and to find answers to our questions. We are living a Humanitarian Crisis. People are coming to America from more than 90 countries. In the last month over 100000 people came. Recently, the news showed to the public what I have been seeing for months. We can choose to find answers, but we cannot abstain to act.

Twenty years ago, I came to America from Argentina sponsored by the Hebrew Union College. Today I am an American citizen who lives in the Southwest Texas border, in McAllen. A city that is growing and has a new Medical School (UTRGV), in which I have the honor to be the Director of Bioethics and Social Justice. For the last six years, I have been active in the interfaith community; helping those who come to our country escaping atrocities. There are men, women and children cross the US borders searching for hope. The Interfaith goal is to “restore the dignity” of those who experience awful moments in their lives.

Once people cross the US borders illegally, they are apprehended by Border Patrol Agents. After being processed by ICE, those who are not deported are being sent to the Respite Center organized by Catholic Charities. I am asking you and your communities to help by sending me items in the list below to be distributed to children and adults who are in need and will really appreciate your help. Also, if you travel and see a sign as shown in the picture, I ask that you please help these people! Just remember when your ancestors came not knowing English and not having anybody that could help them.

Please send the items to my address:

100 East Xenops Ave.
McAllen Texas 78504

  • Hygiene products (deodorants, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
  • Men's and women's clothes
  • Children's and adults' undergarments
  • Walmart/HEB gift cards (to purchase snacks, water, bread, cheese, disposal utensils etc.)
  • Children toys

Let’s ask our politician to act! Let’s act!

 

Rabbi Claudio Kogan's avatar
About Rabbi Claudio Kogan 1 Article
Rabbi Dr. Claudio J. Kogan is the director of the Institute of Bioethics and Social Justice. He is an Associate Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine and a Module Co-Director of Medicine Behavior and Society at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in Edinburg, Texas. Dr. Kogan is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He attended the University of Buenos Aires Medical School where he received his M.D. Dr. Kogan received his Maters of Hebrew Letters and his rabbinical ordination at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and his Master of Education from Xavier University, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also received his Master of Medical Ethics from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. Rabbi Kogan served on the Human Investigation Committee at Yale University. Dr. Kogan is a member of the Ethics Committee and the Internal Review Board of UTRGV/ Medical School and a member of the Ethics Committee for Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg, Texas. He is also a chaplain to law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley. Rabbi Kogan served 26 for years multiple Jewish congregations in Buenos Aires, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota, Kentucky, Florida and Texas. He is also a Mohel (certified to perform circumcisions) and a firm believer that Medicine and Religion are two sides of the same coin. Dr. Kogan is a strong advocate to combine Science and Spirituality and an activist who has traveled around the world promoting interfaith dialogue.

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