For Mihal Ronen, as for many IWR supporters, it matters that IWR directly helps individuals who are in this community. In her words, supporting this effort means “I’m not just saying ‘immigrants are welcome’; I’m saying ‘immigrants are welcome and I’m going to help them’.”
Mihal is a retired ICSD school teacher who has called Ithaca home for 30 years. She has been supporting IWR since its early days, giving furniture and monetary gifts when she can, and spreading the word about IWR’s work on social media. As a member of Tikkun v’Or Jewish Congregation, she took part in a joint effort to support a sanctuary space for refugees at the First Congregational Church of Ithaca, and has been a friend and employer of refugees and other immigrants over the years.
Being part of the IWR community is one reason Mihal is proud to live in Ithaca, increasingly so as things get harder for many people under the current federal administration. She has first-hand experience of what it is to be an immigrant, having moved to the U.S. from Israel when she was ten. She also credits her years as a second grade teacher, working with many newly arrived children over the course of her career. “I just know what a huge difference it can make when even one person says ‘You are welcome; we want you to be here.’”
The gravity of the situations of refugees, and the urgency of their needs at this time especially, feel particularly poignant to Mihal. The trauma of previous generations in her family has given her insight into what it means to be a refugee. Her father was a Holocaust survivor, while many family members were murdered by the Nazis. Due to a great deal of luck, as well as the support of policies and communities, her father and his immediate family were welcomed as refugees in Israel after WWII.
Mihal laments a broader lack of understanding on the topic of immigration and refugees in particular that underpins many misconceptions and prejudice. Many Americans do not know what it means to be a refugee and have a limited understanding of world geography and history, she notes. She wishes more people were aware of the conditions individuals endure before leaving their homeland, what it is like to say goodbye knowing you may never see loved ones again, what people go through during the journey to safety, and how hard it can be to try to make a new life while dealing with trauma. People might be aware of conflicts mentioned in the news, but not of the reasons people are fleeing or the complexities of achieving refugee status.
Although her personal background has shaped her passion for supporting displaced people, Mihal is also deeply motivated by her spiritual and political beliefs about justice. She feels driven by the essential Jewish value of mitzvah, which means both an act of charity and an obligation to, for example, provide comfort, security and love to those who are strangers in a new land. Politically, she feels we have a collective responsibility for offering sanctuary to those fleeing unlivable situations abroad, not least because of the role that U.S. foreign policy has in sometimes creating the conditions that force people to flee in the first place. Reflecting on her own privileges of safety and comfort, she asks “What right do I have to enjoy that without sharing it in some way?”
At a time when many voices are expressing hostility and cruelty towards newcomers, Mihal draws inspiration from spiritual and political leaders who have affirmed that love is one thing that can fight hatred. For her, this means welcoming people as part of our community, rather than just tolerating their existence here.
“What does it mean to use love to create a better world for more people? There are practical, hands-on, affordable things that we all can do to make that a reality.” This sentiment strikes at the core of IWR’s mission. We are proud and grateful to have our efforts backed by so many of you, community members like Mihal who offer care, financial support, and practical help to families and individuals who finally find what they hope to be a safe community in Tompkins County. Stories like this one reach hearts and minds. If you would like to help spread the word by sharing yours, please get in touch.
