Congregation Beth Israel (53 Lois Street, North Adams), will present a close-up look at the current refugee crisis, on Thursday, April 20, 7:30pm.

Joanna Slater, an award winning journalist for the Toronto Globe and Mail, will present her first-hand account of the current flight of refugees across Europe. She will also discuss the role of journalists in bringing the refugee crisis to light.

Deirdre Griffin, director of the New American Program of the Jewish Family Service of Western MA, will review plans to bring 50 Syrian refugees to the Berkshires, and update us on where this program now stands.

Suzanne Graver, professor emerita of Williams College and chair of CBI’s Speakers Committee, will discuss how rabbis, synagogues, and Jewish agencies and journals have been actively taking to heart the Torah’s 36 commandments to welcome the stranger.

Discussion will follow. The program is open to the community free of charge.