Synagogue of Sanctuary

Apply for our new Synagogue of Sanctuary awards and join the national Jewish movement of welcome!

Developed in partnership with City of Sanctuary UK, the awards celebrate the incredible work being done by British Jews to support refugees. Recognised groups join a network of other institutions building compassion for refugees, varying from Local Authorities, Schools, Libraries, and Universities.

Taking part and applying is free and ensures access to a variety of resources. Read on for our full FAQs and details of how to apply.

Being granted a Synagogue of Sanctuary award is a great way to showcase the work your community does to forge solidarity with refugees.

You’ll be supported by HIAS+JCORE’s team and offered opportunities to share, learn, and build expertise.

Your community will be connected to synagogues across the country and also participate in the Faiths of Sanctuary stream, a novel opportunity to build connections with other local faith groups.

Please download and complete our full application form and guidance materials. Please do contact our team if you would require any support with completing the form or advice.

Your submitted application form will first be reviewed by the HIAS+JCORE team. We will then be in contact to arrange an Assessment Panel, where you will have the opportunity to present your work to representatives of HIAS+JCORE, City of Sanctuary UK, and people with lived experience. Full feedback and suggestions for potential future work will be provided.

Once an award has been granted, synagogues will need to evidence that they have built on their achievements to ensure that their award is renewed every three years.

HIAS+JCORE’s team will work with your community on a celebration event and ongoing engagement with projects connected to Synagogue of Sanctuary.

As part of the awards, applicants are required to show an ongoing commitment to three key areas: Learn, Embed, and Share.

Learn: This includes raising awareness of refugee issues and platforming lived experience voices within your community.

Embed: Demonstrate a culture of welcome through participating in events like Refugee Shabbat and Refugee Week, and supporting practical support project

Share: Publicly highlight your involvement with Synagogue of Sanctuary, participate in campaigns where appropriate, and engage with Faith of Sanctuary stream to share knowledge and best practice with other groups.