Author Emily Raij’s latest children’s book was
Putting Out the inspired by her own family’s experience playing host to a refugee mom and her kids Welcome Mat
by Emma Dixon
T he Torah teaches us to treat strangers well, remembering that the Jewish people have been strangers, too. “The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives
for educational publisher Capstone. To date, she has written more than 50 books on topics ranging from science and animals to careers and holidays. In 2017, Emily felt called to offer
among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33-34) Emily Raij and her family have personally lived this tradition of welcoming strangers. A contributing writer for J Life magazine, Emily is also a prolific children’s book author. A native of Chicago, Illinois, she now lives in Winter Park with Andrew, her husband of 17 years, and their two children, Tilly (15) and Adam (12). Emily’s latest book, Just Say Welcome , has a deeply personal
help and support to a refugee family after becoming disheartened by the political climate regarding people from other countries. As a Jewish person, Emily wanted to reach out to the Muslim community, which was especially impacted during this time. After contacting a local Islamic center, Emily mentioned that she had a guest room for a family in transition. A case worker reached out, and mom Ana, son Youssef, and daughter Dani, both high schoolers,
The Raij family: Tilly, Andrew, Adam, and Emily
were on Emily’s doorstep the following day. “I didn’t really know how to prepare before they arrived,” says Emily, “so I bought halal food at a market, got the guest room ready, and moved the kids into our room, so that their rooms could be used by the teens.” The family, originally from Iraq, lived in Libya and then Turkey before coming to the United States. Finding Common Ground “I was nervous, but when Ana came and gave me a big, tearful hug on my driveway, I knew it would be OK,” says Emily.
meaning to her. It’s based on her family’s experience hosting a refugee family in their home, and how that experience changed both families for the better. A Storyteller at Heart Emily’s writing journey began early, when she was a child in elementary school. “I’m one of those people who always loved writing and always knew what I wanted to do,” she says. After graduating with a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, Emily began working as a freelance writer and editor
16 J LIFE | FALL 2025
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online