Our first Welcome Here! event was a wonderful interfaith tree-planting for Tu B'Shvat. About 80 people attended, including about 40 asylum seekers. Soon everyone was soon digging and planting 10 fruit trees to form a little community orchard at Calthorpe Park in Balsall Heath, along with partners Fruit and Nut Village, Nisa Nashim West Midlands and Travellers Tree CIC.
Student Rabbi Nicola Feuchtwang told the Jewish story - which she said was told in many cultures - of an old man planting a fig tree. As three participants translated for their landsleit into Arabic and other languages, you could see a ripple of recognition. Then our Syrian caterer Yousef said, 'In Islam, if you're planting a tree when the Day of Judgement comes, first plant your tree.' Nicola replied, 'That was the other Jewish teaching I was going to use.' It was a great day sharing work, overlapping stories - and delicious food from SHOF catering, with any leftovers readily taken home by participants.
We offered the clothing collected by BPS members, and could see that the young men were glad to have the chance to choose for themselves, rather than just being handed often ill-fitting clothes.
We are grateful for funding from Sanctuary Grants via Birmingham City Council