Last December, I attended a funeral for a close friend at the Hebrew Free Burial Association on Staten Island.  The HFBA provides burial services to indigent Jews.  They assist hundreds of grieving families every year.  They also ensure that people without family or friends have a proper funeral under Jewish law.  In the Passover issue of the HFBA newsletter, the Association pays tribute to Jews who fled the Soviet Union in search of freedom: 

The Former Soviet Union reserved its most oppressive measures for religious minorities, especially Jews. As we celebrate Passover, the Festival of Freedom, it is appropriate to recount the following end-of-life stories of some who fled for freedom in the United States.

Iosif [not his real name] was a Russian veteran of World War II and subsequently was an active dissident against the Soviet government. Prior to leaving the USSR for the United States, he was beaten by authorities and his kidneys were severely damaged. In New York, despite ill health, he participated in the campaign to free Soviet Jewry and to educate efforts of Yad Vashem to identify victims of the Holocaust. As his kidneys failed, we were contacted by his old friend to arrange for his eventual burial next to the brother who had followed him to New York and pre-deceased him. Iosif who remained true to his Jewish values during a difficult life, received the proper Jewish burial he wanted and deserved.

Mikhail [not his real name] was referred to HFBA by a social worker in the JASA-sponsored building in which he lived. He had emigrated from the former Soviet Union to New York at the same time that his daughter Larisa had moved to Bulgaria. Although highly educated, Mikhail was unable to make a living in the United States and relied on government assistance. When he died, HFBA contacted his daughter who was distraught that she had no funds for the burial. We put her mind at east about the burial arrangements. HFBA’s Rabbi Plafker patiently educated Larisa who knew nothing of her Jewish heritage, about Jewish funeral procedures. We also arranged for Larisa to have access to her father’s apartment so she could retrieve precious mementos.

I was struck by both stories.  In the first, after Iosif came to the United States, he continued his political activism and tried to help others who remained behind.  I sometimes see this in my asylum clients, who have come to the United States, but remain politically active in organization devoted to improving their homelands. 

In Mikhail’s case, we have someone who fled persecution and reached safety, but was never able to fulfill his potential and had to rely on government assistance to survive.  These days, there are many organizations that help refugees and asylum seekers adjust to their new lives.  One organization that I find particularly helpful is CLINIC, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., which has a referral line to assist asylees:

CLINIC’s National Asylee Information and Referral Line refers asylees to more than 500 local providers of resettlement services such as English language classes, job placement assistance, temporary cash assistance, and health care.

This excellent program has assisted over 30,000 asylees since its inception in 2001.  The telephone number is 1-800-354-0365.  I refer my clients there, and they report that it is very helpful.

Happy Passover.