I know the HIAS INC. since I and my family came to NYC as refugees. This non-profit organization was very helpful for us. The HIAS on the basis of my scholastic achievements and volunteer work considered me as a contestant for a scholarsip and I was nominated as one of the recepients of it. This helps me to achieve my educational goals and to be helpfull for the society. As a volunteer, I paricipated in a fundrazing activity with the HIAS for Darfure. All activities and communications during my experience with the HIAS have been clear, positive, productive, beneficial for people. Also, the Hias reffered me to a local community organizations, where I can be helpful and apply my scills and knowledge for to help others. For example,I do a volunteer work as a student advisor at the Hillel of Brooklyn College. The HIAS shows an example of helping in different ways to people who need help.
HIAS is an amazing organization that helps immigrants! My family was directly helped by HIAS to come to the US fromt he former Soviet Union. HIAS' Young Leadership chapters also do amazing work in the local community by mobilizing young people to be aware of the plight of refugees around the world and help to raise funds to help them.
I moved to the United States from Russian in 1994 and studied hard to learn English and do well in school here. HIAS helped me to afford college, and I am deeply grateful to them. In addition, I was new in NYC last year and looking for a meaningful organization to volunteer with. I found that in HIAS-I attended their "Interview skills" workshop where we helped recent immigrants work on their job seeking skills. In addition, I attended the Presidential election celebration in November 2008. I met some interesting people in the Jewish community and it opened up worlds for me in NYC. So, HIAS provided me with the opportunity to afford college and also give back after I finished with college.
I immigrated from the former Soviet Union in 1994 at the age of 19 arriving in the United States all alone. My immigration was made possible by HIAS, whose main mission has been and is to rescue, resettle and support those in need. HIAS helped thousands and thousands of Soviet Jews immigrate to the States in 1970s-1990ss. I received great education and made a successful career in the US. When I was at the point of my life when I had time to give back, I chose to volunteer at HIAS, the organization that made a profound difference in my life and in lives of others. I was interested in genealogy, so after I joined one lecture given by a HIAS historian and leading genealogist, I volunteered to help with the organization of Roots and History genealogy club and became responsible for planning the club's meetings, lecture topics, club promotion, and member retention. The club was and is a great success. We have a page on MeetUp.com and if you look up Roots & History Club there, you'll see that we have 45 genealogists. Club meetings provided members with hands-on techniques on how to do one's genealogical research, while HIAS's genealogist also read a mini-lecture each time we met on different aspects of Jewish history in the Eastern Europe so everyone could put the history of their family in the context of Jewish history in 19-20th century. I am now on maternity leave and don't manage the club anymore but the work I've done and the value it provided to me and many others was extremely rewarding and inspiring. HIAS never brags about the great work they do, they just do what's important to rescue peo9ple in need and to promote Jewish values and history. For that, I keep this organization in the highest regard, and as soon as I can continue my volunteering there, I will.
HIAS is an organization that has really helped people all over the world. HIAS assists in resettling refugees and has done the same for my family and me. In addition, HIAS award scholarships to refugee children in need and I was a beneficiary of such a scholarship. Their actions speak louder than words.
HIAS helped my family come to the United States from the former USSR. It's an organization that helps everyone instead of only focusing on jews. It's a pleasure to support a non-profit that I know, first hand, has helped so many people.
-- Hias helped me and my family to emigrate from Iran to USA. With out this organization, we would still be in IRAN and have to deal with prejudice and religious persecutions. -- Also I received multiple scholarships from Hias, which helped my tremendously with my financial hardship at the time. -- I volunteered at Hias for about 2 years. We had fundraising events… we had programs to help new immigrants…
HIAS is a wonderful organization with a team of committed volunteers. I felt welcomed and appreciated as a volunteer, and admire the work that they do for the community, and for immigrants generally.
HIAS helped us through our journey to the U.S. We obtained U.S Visa and received our Green Cards after 1 year with the help of HIAS. In addition I received scholarship in order to pay for my education expenses. My family and I appreciate their help.
I have been a volunteer with HIAS in their Young Leaders program for the last two years and we always say that once you get involved with HIAS you can never leave! HIAS is an amazing organization that truly cares about every immigrant and refugee population worldwide! They take the Jewish Perspective of Welcoming the Stranger and practically and pragmatically apply this philosophy (successfully) in all the resettlement and assistant programs they provide, both in and outside the U.S. I look forward to continue to work with them!
Your connection to HIAS (family?) Raised by immigrant parents who fled Iran, I saw first-hand the many wonderful ways in which HIAS has made a lasting impact for Jews and non-Jews alike and continues to help people in-need. In fact, on a personal level my family – my aunt and a number of my cousins – were generously assisted by HIAS after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. HIAS issued them visas, which allowed them to go to Vienna, Austria – where they helped them get temporary housing and complete the proper documentation necessary to facilitate their immigration to the United States. Why you are involved in HIAS YL: So, when I moved to Los Angeles about three and a half years ago to begin my graduate studies, naturally the first organizations I sought-out was HIAS. I wanted to give back to the organization that had given so much to my family. Fortunately, I connected with the Young Leaders chapter here in LA, and I have been active ever since. I found a wonderful way to help my community, and also an energetic group of young like-minded people that I really enjoy spending time with. Now, close friends! It has introduced me to a cohort of wonderful new friends while giving me a way to get active, and take a leadership role, in issues that matter. HIAS Young Leaders offers a great social and professional network. In the short few years that I’ve been involved I’ve been a part of so many great programs – dinners, benefit parties, and educational events. The most memorable event for me is the HIAS Young Leaders Mission to New York and Washington DC. It was an amazing four-day trip, which allowed me to meet many other Young Leaders, and actively participate in the advocacy process!
HIAS is an amazing organization specialized in mostly Jewish immigrant to establish them selves in the United States. HIAS plays different roles in differenct lifes, however in mine, it sponsored a portion of my ongoing education to a career that is of my most interest and will profit for both my family and myself.
Hi my name is Rebeka Rokhsar, and I was one of the recipients of Hias scholorship last year, 2008. I am so appreciative of this help because it helped me to continue my education. Now, I am finishing my first semester in nursing program and paying my tuition with the help of Hias scholorship. This scholorship was a big help for me to achieve my educational goals. I express my sincerest appreciation to those who donated to this non profit organization, and become a means of helping students like me. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Rebeka Rokhsar
I am a college student and I just transferred to UCLA from community college. Hias is great and by the help of their scholarship that they awarded to me they have supported part of my education and helped me be able to afford to continue going to school. I cannot thank HIAS enough for their support.
I love this organization! They are very helpful and I am grateful for them! Thanks for everything and good luck in the future.
I consider HIAS as the Righteous among the Nations of the nonprofit world. As a person who experienced antisemitism first hand, even here in NYC of 2009, I can't stress enough the role that HIAS played throughout the past 130 years in saving people life. Browse HIAS website and read the horrific stories of some of the 400,000 Soviet Jews that HIAS assisted to immigrate to the United States. HIAS is the best kept secret of the nonprofit world. These days, when HIAS provides protection and assistance to some of the most vulnerable refugee populations around the world, I truly believe that it's time to pay a tribute to this outstanding organization.
Extremely great organization that helped my frinds and I to keep pursuing our goals in life. I give my out most greatest praise to this organization.
My family was sponsored by HIAS during immigration from Ukraine in 1993. Although I do not know many details of their support, HIAS personally helped me by awarding a scholarship for my undergraduate studies.
They helped throughout the immigration and even in United States with everything. They were great. I would not have the life I have today if it wasn't because of HIAS.
My father was helped by HIAS when he and his family were forced to leave Egypt in the 1950s. I remind myself that if it weren't for HIAS and the wonderful people that keep the org going that I wouldn't be here today. I currently volunteer with the org and help out with every chance I get so that I can help others. Whether raising money for programs or doing a scavenger hunt in the Lower East Side with young under privileged teens, I'm happy to help make a positive impact on an immigrants' experience in the US. Recently we began working with UpGlow to assist recent immigrants job seekers on resume workshops and mock interviews and the feedback receive from people is amazing. HAIS has definitely changed my view on world events and has made me more aware of what I can do to make a change.
HIAS is an amazing organization. They helped me and many others to come from Uzbekistan, as refugeese, and start a new, free life in the United States of America. Without their help, my entire life would be different. They gave me the opportunity to become an American citizen and to live in this wonderful country, where I am free to practice Judaism. Furthermore, HIAS offers a scholarship for those immigrants who came through HIAS and have excelled in their academic studies in universities. I feel that they have played a great role in many people's lives. So many immigrants owe their thanks to HIAS. Their assistance will influence the future of many young people looking to live a life of freedom and justice. I was only five an half years old when they helped my parents achieve our dreams of coming to the land of opportunity. When it came time for me to go to college, HIAS stepped in once again by providing me with a scholarship for my education.
HIAS does amazing work for Jews around the world and puts on great events to connect the Jewish community of LA. Always looking forward to the next one!
It is an organization that really helps people. I was one of them. Hias helped me financially to pay for my tuition.
HIAS has been a wonderful source of support and inspiration to me. HIAS had awarded a scholarship to me for academic excellence and community service which helped me excel and eventually go to medical school. Now I am a successful physicial partly thanks to HIAS.
I am sincerely thankful to HIAS for helping me and my family. This organizations helped us when we first came to this country as refugees in 1996, and later, when I got HIAS scholarship. This scholarship helped me complete my graduate studies and now I have a Ph.D. in Psychology.
Excellent! I have applied for and received scholarship through the organization. Every step of the application process was professional, quick and fair. It is an excellent organization that provides help to many.
I took part in different HIAS activities involving community, educational and special projects. I took part in a genealogical society - Roots And History Club. We helped new immigrants to find a job. Helped them to prepare for the interview and write a resume. HIAS is a great place to connect with people of all wlaks of life. HIAS is a very generous organization helping not only its own community but people of different backgrounds.
As an immigrant to the United States, it was hard for my family and myself to adjust. HIAS has helped us a great deal and even provided me with a scholarship towards my college education. I greatly appreciate all the help HIAS has given to me and my family!
HIAS is an amazing organization that fulfilled the need of millions of Soviet Jews to escape the USSR and enrich their lives with freedom and opportunity in other nations. My family was one of the many that was rescued by HIAS and I have tried to pay back by volunteering in the Young Leaders division. I worked on the planning commitee and helped to plan several fundraising events. The environment at HIAS is very warm and open and it was a great opportunity to make new friends and give back to my community.
A major part of our responsibilities based upon the values of our religion is care for each other. HIAS expertly fulfills this responsibility for us by aiding in the rescue of those who are oppressed and suffer discrimination where they live throughout the world. HIAS has provided these services expertly for well over 100 years. Today they process those fleeing Iran and seeking refuge in Austria. They work today in South America, Russia, Ukraine, Africa. Fortunately, there are relatively few Jews in the world today seeking refuge or escape. Nevertheless, HIAS is strong and ready to help those in need regardless of race or religion.
I was exposed to HIAS while in school and was blown away by their efforts to help minorities - Jews, Bahai, Christians, and others - immigrate from Iran. After volunteering with the organization, I learned that it has been running similar programs for over a century, and over 60% (I think it is closer to over 70%) of the current Jews in America have some ancestor who immigrated through the organization. I also learned about their efforts for Darfur, which my committee worked on raising money for this past year. HIAS brings social services to refugees instead of attempting to get involved in a sticky political mess. I have additionally been impressed with the programs the organization to help immigrants adapt.