News & Views

Giving Tuesday 2021: Hadi’s Story

“America accepts refugees because America is a refugee country.”
-Hadi, Afghan refugee and HIAS PA client

Hadi didn’t know the Taliban would take control over Afghanistan and his family would have to leave so quickly. Luckily, HIAS Pennsylvania was there to welcome him and his family from the moment they arrived in Philadelphia. Your gift to HIAS Pennsylvania will ensure a warm welcome for all refugees fleeing to America for safety.

“People need to have relationships and be part of a community. We are unique, and a singular family now. This is going to be a good village for us.”

When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Hadi and his family fled, leaving their entire lives – their jobs, home, community, and family – behind.

For Afghans, family and community are interchangeable. While there is a thriving Afghan community in Northeast Philadelphia, HIAS PA could only find a suitable home for Hadi’s family in South Philadelphia. His family became pioneers who quickly welcomed two new Afghan families into their apartment building. “It’s easy for me to live here because I speak English. For others in my family, it’s hard.” The families in this self-dubbed “Afghan mini-village” shop for groceries together, share meals and continue to help each other with whatever they need.

Hadi’s new South Philadelphia community welcomed him with open arms as well. Groceries showed up on his doorstep, and neighbors provided his family with bicycles and came over to share an Afghan lunch. HIAS Pennsylvania’s staff checked in regularly to make sure the family had everything they needed and helped Hadi prepare for a job interview. Please make a gift today to help refugees and immigrants find a safe home, a job, and a new community.

“Living without mental borders”

Hadi told us he wanted to move to Philadelphia for its convenience to other cities and lower cost of living. He quickly added: “Also, it was America’s first capital! So that’s good news!” His love of American history gives him hope. He believes once immigrants set foot on American soil, they are American. “You need to think we’re one of you now. Maybe our names are different, but we are now in America, so what we will do from now on, we will do for America.”

According to Hadi, “The good thing about Americans is that they’re open to all cultures and to people around the world. You don’t need to go across the world to learn about other people – just knock on your neighbor’s door. The beautiful thing I understand is when you live without mental borders – we’re all the same. People around the world are the unique parts of one another. America has the best culture in the world because all of the cultures are here!”

Please make a gift today to provide refugee and immigrant families like Hadi’s with affordable housing, social and legal services that will allow them to live without fear, build a new community, become good neighbors, and enrich our lives!

G'mar chatima tova.

HIAS Pennsylvania's office will be closed on Monday, September 25th, in observance of Yom Kippur. 

TONIGHT (4/20) - Join us ONLINE at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!

Join us ONLINE at 6:45PM TONIGHT, Thursday, April 20th, for HIAS PA's 2023 Golden Door Awards: United for Immigrants!

Happy Passover from HIAS Pennsylvania!HIAS PA is closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover

HIAS Pennsylvania will be closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover from 1PM on Wednesday, April 5th through Friday, April 7th, and on Wednesday, April 12th and Thursday, April 13th.

Join us at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!United for Immigrants

The Golden Door Awards is HIAS Pennsylvania's annual fundraiser. Your generous support helps us serve low-income immigrants from all over the world as they build new lives in our community.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

TONIGHT: Join us at the table!Join us for Thankful Together!

Thankful Together, formerly known as Refugee Thanksgiving, is happening TONIGHT at 6PM!

Register here to join us tonight: https://hiaspa1.wpengine.com/event/thankful-together-2021/

Celebrate our volunteers who make this all possible!Click here at 11:45AM to join our Annual Meeting!

Click here to join our virtual Annual Meeting!

The Annual Meeting starts at noon, but join us at 11:45AM for an informal chat before the event!

POSTPONED! Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan

Today's Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan Facebook Live event has been postponed due to a worldwide Facebook outage. We will update you as soon as possible about rescheduling the event.