Dear Supporter
Shana Tova from all of us at René Cassin!
As we enter 5786, we reflect on a year of challenge, resilience, and principled action. Inspired by the legacy of Monsieur René Cassin and the Jewish commitment to justice, we continue to amplify Jewish voices in the human rights space.
Over the summer, we have been active across multiple fronts:
🤝 Community Engagement
1. We participated in Magen Avot Community Celebration, showcasing our Uyghur solidarity campaign.
2. Delivered bespoke training to the Jewish Everyday Rights Forum, bringing together activists and experts to explore economic and social rights through a Jewish lens.
3. We continued to engage with Youth Movements as leaders prepared for summer camps, supporting them with learning and activities on human rights issues.
📄 Campaigning
Awareness Raising:
1. Media: Listen to our Chair, Jonathan Metzer, on BBC Radio across the UK on asylum and refugees and the anniversary of the 2024 summer riots.
2. Online: Read about Small boats, big myths: why women’s safety and human rights deserve more attention.
3. Past Events: Watch our past events on YouTube.
4. Podcast: Listen to our podcast on Spotify and YouTube.
Policy Briefings:
1. We published a series of policy briefings that challenged the UK’s inhumane and unjust immigration and asylum system, highlighting its disproportionate harm to vulnerable groups, especially women and trauma survivors in immigration detention.
2. Our Safe Routes briefing proposed practical, ethical pathways to sanctuary, including refugee visas and family reunification schemes, grounded in Jewish values of protection and dignity.
Promoting A Compassionate Asylum System Event with HIAS+JCORE
Lunch and Learn: Citizenship, Refugees and Legacy
Thursday 9th October
12:30 – 13:30
Online
The UK Home Office has quietly introduced new ‘Good Character’ rules that deny citizenship to refugees who arrive via irregular routes, even if they are legally recognised as refugees. Join us to remind the UK of its obligations under international law.
Speakers:
Mia Hasenson-Gross, Executive Director at Rene Cassin
Rabbi David Manson, Executive Director at HIAS+JCORE
A speaker of experience from Freedom From Torture
Zoe Bantleman, barrister, Legal Director of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA)
Bishop Guli
Attend Our Next International Law Series Event
The International Committee Of The Red Cross And The Conflict In Gaza
Monday 20th October
19:00 – 20:00
Online
In this session, we will learn about the mandate of the organisation globally, and with particular focus on ICRC’s actions since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza and Israel, and the devastating suffering that ensued.
Speaker
Noa Schreuer is a legal adviser at the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) delegation in New York.
Marking The Kindertransport: Memory, Testimony and Safe Routes
Tuesday 25th November
19:00 – 20:00
Online
Join René Cassin, Generation 2 Generation, and the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) for a powerful online event commemorating the anniversary of the Kindertransport — between the historic dates of 21 November (Parliament’s first debate) and 2 December (arrival of the first Kindertransport in the UK).
We hope to see you at our upcoming events.
🍎🍯 Rosh Hashanah Commitment: Building a Future Rooted in Dignity
In 1948, Jewish leaders helped shape the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, René Cassin carries that legacy forward.
This Rosh Hashanah, we call on supporters to help us:
1. Expand our Embedding Human Rights in Practice project across Jewish charities, organisations, and welfare providers.
2. Grow the Jewish Everyday Rights Forum into an expert platform for advocacy and shared learning.
3. Forge new partnerships, including with youth organisations, to deliver bespoke training on tackling anti-Jewish racism and discrimination using human rights tools.
4. Expand our International Law Series to address emerging global crises through a Jewish human rights lens.
5. Promote compassion and fairness across policies and discourse that affect marginalised groups.
Your support ensures Jewish voices remain central in shaping a just society. Please support our work by giving a donation today.
🎧 Podcast
We are pleased to present our new Asylum and Refugee Podcast airing on Tuesday, 16th September, with Enver Solomon from the Refugee Council for Rosh Hashanah, with a new year and a new promise to refugees on YouTube and Spotify.
Your support ensures Jewish voices remain central in shaping a just society.
Please support our work by giving a donation today.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we ensure that Jewish values continue to shape a world of dignity, justice, and human rights.
Wishing you a sweet and peaceful new year.
Shana Tova,
Mia Hassenson-Gross
René Cassin’s Executive Director
