West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG

Search the site

No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

SAJ Synagogue on the Upper West Side Holds Christmas Party for Asylum Seekers

December 27, 2022 | 2:30 AM
in NEWS
6
Photograph courtesy of SAJ.

By Gretchen Berger

SAJ (The Society for the Advancement of Judaism) synagogue, located at 15 W. 86th Street, hosted a Christmas party for asylum seekers from South America on Sunday, December 25 — also the last of the eight days of Hanukkah — giving new meaning to the portmanteau word “Chrismukkah.”

More than 100 asylum seekers and their families, most from Venezuela and Ecuador, attended the party. Children posed for pictures with Santa, and received hats, gloves, scarves, toys, and steaming hot food. There was an art table. where they colored. “They feel thankful, because in Ecuador they never had this, even gifts and food,” Irma Davidson, a volunteer translator, told PIX11.

In attendance were former Manhattan Borough Presidents Ruth Messinger and Gale Brewer. Messinger is also a former UWS City Council member, as is Brewer, who regained the seat in the 2021 election.

“When none of the churches could be available on Christmas, well, the synagogues naturally stepped up, since we don’t celebrate Christmas,” Messinger said, in The New York Times (which offers great pictures). Messinger was one of 40 volunteers, many from Team TLC NYC, a nonprofit organization that helps migrants as soon as they step off the buses at Port Authority, and also helped organize this event.

“I’ve been working with Team TLC at the Port Authority,” Messinger said. “They organize so many programs for the migrants, who are mostly in shelters. They are getting no services and they keep coming back to the Port Authority for help.”

“These people need working papers. They all want to work,” Brewer added, in the PIX interview.

If you would like to help the migrant families by donating or volunteering, go to the Team TLC website here.

Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
David S
David S
2 years ago

I’m not a Christian, but I’m thinking this is what Jesus would have done.

Last edited 2 years ago by David S
15
Reply
Kit
Kit
2 years ago
Reply to  David S

Of course they want to work. The Feds must streamline the process for these people. ASAP!

3
Reply
Majeda
Majeda
2 years ago
Reply to  David S

I AGREE!

2
Reply
Kat
Kat
2 years ago

wow. <3

3
Reply
Elisabeth Jakab
Elisabeth Jakab
2 years ago

God bless. What a lovely event.

4
Reply
RickiLS
RickiLS
2 years ago

Good work SAJ!! It’s great that you did this–a true mitzvah.

4
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

UWS Weekend: Great Things To Do in the Neighborhood
COLUMNS

UWS Weekend: Great Things To Do In (and Around) the Neighborhood: Pride Family Picnic; “Bee My Friend” Nature Workshop; Much Ado About Nothing; Mets Hawaiian Shirt Day

June 13, 2025 | 8:24 AM
WSR Cartoon: Father’s Day on the Upper West Side
NEWS

WSR Cartoon: Father’s Day on the Upper West Side

June 13, 2025 | 8:20 AM
Previous Post

Here’s the Dish: Flor de Mayo’s Pollo a la Brasa with Plantains

Next Post

West Side Real Estate Market Bulletin

this week's events image
Next Post
West Side Real Estate Market Bulletin

West Side Real Estate Market Bulletin

Turn Your Fir Into Food for New York City’s Trees

Turn Your Fir Into Food for New York City's Trees

Updated: 21 Upper West Side NYCHA Brownstones Without Heat, and More in Jeopardy

Updated: 21 Upper West Side NYCHA Brownstones Without Heat, and More in Jeopardy

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.