J Blog

Jewish tradition is deeply rooted in welcoming the stranger. Our Torah teaches: "You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:9).”

June 20 is World Refugee Day, and the J is proud to be a part of our #HoustonStrong community, coming together to assist families seeking resources and comfort at detention centers in McAllen, Texas at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

On June 24-July 1 we will be hosting an event to participate with other JCCs to connect to and cycle along with the Jewish community in Krakow.  We will be hosting two book end cycle classes of 55 minutes to mark the occasion as well as times to use the spin studio on your own to complete your own 55 mile ride all week to honor the JCC Krakow. 

We are grad students from UH, writing as part of a community healing through storytelling initiative. We will be offering free workshops centered on telling the story of Meyerland--your stories of Meyerland, tracing your experiences from your first arrival through the storm and to the present day. Community members can share their storm stories and learn how to help their neighbors share their storm stories, as well as their own unique perspectives on this unique neighborhood. The process is both a healing act and a mode of community documentation, a chance for those affected by the storm to shape their neighborhood’s story.