We were also strangers.

Melanie Gruenwald

by Melanie Gruenwald

Transformative Kabbalah reminds us to pay attention to seen and unseen reality- to connect the finite to the infinite, and recognize how they are each held in the other.

In our Soul class- we explore the Ohr/ infinite-light-energy that is sourced in creation and the Kotnot Or/ physical ‘garments of skin’ that God gives to Adam and Eve when he banishes them from the Garden of Eden.

The infinite is held in the finite. And vice versa.

A physical-vessel-container, holding the infinite-light-energy that connects us all.

What separates one vessel from another? Skin.

This skin that separates one from the other is the skin that is the source of prejudice, judgment and fear, racism, anti-semitism and hate.

Kabbalah reminds us of our interconnectedness- and all of the parallels that bind us together. A refugee family from Afghan, living on a military base, looking to establish a life in Denver– is part of us, the family part of our story.

We were also once strangers, seeking safety, protection, and freedom in a foreign country.

There are still tens of thousands Afghan men, women, and children living on U.S. military bases around the country. These families need to be resettled so they can start their new lives in their new American communities.

Many of these families are coming to Denver in the near future. We are fortunate to have two partners, helping in emergency resettlement efforts:

Kabbalah Experience is promoting volunteer efforts with Jewish Family Service, in order to help coordinate human energy and resources for their amazing resettlement efforts.

In the past week, we partnered with a committed group of volunteers, who are forming a Welcome Circle through the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society, to provide direct support to an Afghan family settling in Denver.

What does this mean?

Under the auspices of Kabbalah Experience, the Welcome Circle is taking a leadership role in fundraising and providing a safety net for the family. We will help connect them with housing, employment, social services, community, and educational resources.

In the past 24 hours, this group has raised over $9,000 towards its $15,000 goal.

Fundraising is just the beginning of the project. We have to raise funds, apply to HIAS—and then we will connect with a family to help settle in Denver. This entails many logistics and professional resources! We will be calling on our amazing community to help manifest this resettlement.

Please help us raise the funds to establish this new family in Denver. KE is the fiscal sponsor, so your donations will be tax-deductible—and KE will distribute all funds received directly to the family, as needed. If additional funds are raised, the Welcome Circle will distribute to local Afghan Refugee Resettlement efforts.

This is not a fundraiser for Kabbalah Experience. All funds raised will go directly to the initiative.

If you would like to make a donation online- please do so using this link.

You can also send a check directly to Kabbalah Experience:

2305 S Syracuse Way #10, Denver CO 80231. Indicate it is for the Afghan Refugee Family

If you have questions, please contact our incredible

Sponsor Circle members:

Amy Engelman

Elizabeth Freudenthal

Sarah Grope

Melanie Gruenwald

Sharon Hwang

Amy Morris