Ali's Story
Ali shared the story of his family's exodus from Afghanistan
with the TBS congregation at Shabbat services on February 3rd.
Let's help Ali who translated for Americans but was left behind in Afghanistan.
Temple Beth Shalom in Mahopac is working to help because he is here and struggling:
My name is Aliaqa Ahmadi.
Please call me Ali. I come to you through the kindness of Temple Beth Shalom, Mahopac.
I was a translator in my native Afghanistan.
When the Americans withdrew from my country I applied to come to the United States with my family. We were turned down because although I worked translating for the Americans I was actually employed as a subcontractor.
Once the Americans left, life in Afghanistan became unbearable. This was not the world we wanted for our little son.
My wife strapped our baby to my back and on January 1, 2022, a moonless night,
we all crossed into Pakistan, dreaming of America.
It wasn’t difficult to find smugglers in South America.
After paying almost $4,000 we were on our way to America.
Well, actually Uraguay, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia,
Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala then Mexico.
Entirely on foot.
More smugglers. More payments. More walking. More deaths of our companions but we did make it to the United States. We were granted asylum but no work permits. Through the kindness of the Interfaith Council for the New Americans of Westchester, we have a little apartment and some food. One day we will receive permission to work.
Now we survive through the kindness of good American people.
My dream is the dream of any good father. I want to care for my little family.
It is also the dream of any good son, brother or nephew. I want to help my bigger family back home.
So, in conjunction with Temple Beth Shalom, we are launching this GoFundMe campaign.
I hope to raise $5,000, enough to help me help my families through the next few months.
I cannot be more grateful for any contribution.
It means my heart and my soul to be able to care for my own people. له تاسو مننه which means thank you.
Thank you from my heart and my soul.
