Fresh Updates from RAC

As a fellow Eisendrath Legislative Assistant, Raechel Banks, wrote yesterday, “There are many ways to ‘share our bread with the hungry’ (Isaiah 58:7).” She discussed a very tangible  way of helping to combat hunger in our midst (I still have blisters on my fingers from cutting potatoes for 3 hours straight). Today, however, I want to talk about a way of sharing with the hungry that is more difficult to conceptualize, but has no less of an impact on millions of lives – international food aid.

There are nearly one billion people around the world with insufficient access to food. That number is greater than the populations of the United States, Canada and the European Union combined. One in seven people go to bed hungry each night and hunger is the leading cause of severe health problems and death worldwide.

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In the six months since Superstorm Sandy devastated coastal communities in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the Reform Jewish community has rallied to support the rebuilding effort, our synagogues, and the millions of people who were – and continue to be – impacted by the storm.

Although much of the Reform Movement’s work has been behind the scenes – raising and allocating funds, coordinating volunteers, and keeping abreast of the rebuilding efforts two of our synagogues are undertaking – our members have risen to the occasion. Countless volunteer hours have been applied to the cause, entire trailers of donated goods have been sent by our synagogues to some of the hardest-hit communities, and the URJ’s Disaster Relief Fund, which opened just after the storm passed, raised nearly $1 million for relief efforts.

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As Hurricane Sandy threatened communities across the Eastern Seaboard, rabbis found new ways to reach their congregants in this time of strife. Temple Beth El of Northern Valley was still without power on Shabbat, so the congregation joined together for a “flashlight” Shabbat on Friday evening, and then celebrated a double b’nai mitzvah in the morning light. Rabbi David Widzer sent this d’var torah by text message to the members of Temple Beth El of Northern Valley in Closter, NJ.

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It was recently reported in Haaretz (one of Israel’s main daily newspapers) that, in the past decade, Israelis have followed no event in the United States as closely as Hurricane Sandy. Even as we see images flood in from the news and reports from our own family and friends living in the affected areas, the true scale of it all is difficult to comprehend.

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Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam, hagomel li-chayavim tovot shegamalni kol tov.

Blessed are You, Eternal, our God, King of the universe who bestows goodness upon the accountable, who has bestowed every goodness upon me.

Mi shegamalech tov, Hu yig’malech kol tov, selah.

The One who has bestowed goodness upon you, may God bestow every goodness upon you forever.

After a week in which natural disasters have wreaked havoc on our nation, many of us turn to our religious communities for recovery, whether to receive services or to volunteer our time to help others in our community. As the weeks progress and other news stories take over our TV airtime (there’s supposedly an election coming up pretty soon?), it can be easy to forget the crucial role our synagogues played this week. Although we continue to heal, we look towards the future and how to better prepare for emergencies, focusing especially on the most vulnerable among us.

As the White House noted in March of last year, “for years the needs of people with disabilities were more of an afterthought during disasters. Not enough was done to make sure that shelters planned for the access and functional needs of individuals who might require wheelchairs to be replaced or beds at a certain height if it was necessary to evacuate during a disaster. Residents who were blind or deaf, and those with intellectual disabilities didn’t have access to critical information about evacuation routes or other warnings. And in some cases, accessible transportation for people with disabilities just wasn’t factored into planning at all.” Accommodating the needs of people with disabilities during disasters allows the community to focus its limited resources on the people who need them the most.

Another of the most vulnerable groups in natural disasters are the poor. The intersection of the difficulties that come with extreme weather and the daily hardships that are already present in their lives only makes those living in poverty more vulnerable. Not only are they more likely to live in substandard housing and in more environmentally vulnerable areas, but they are more likely to already have worse physical health. In addition, they are less likely to have extra resources—like food, fuel, and water—in the event of a disaster.

We are all affected in some way by these disasters and emergencies. (Between 1980 and 2000, 75% of the world’s population lived in areas affected by them.) As we move forward we must not forget those in our communities with less resources, less access, and more barriers than ourselves.

Fortunately, there are a variety of resources available to help us prepare for the future. Please take advantage of all of these guides and checklists, from those directed at individual responses to plans specific to synagogues and faith communities.

And, as a reminder, we have activated our Hurricane Relief Fund to provide assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Together, we can provide hope and help to those in need.

Photo by Rabbi Hara Person

Kol ha-o-lam ku-lo
Gesher tzar me’od

V’ha-i-kar, v’ha-I-kar
Lo l’fa-ched, lo l’fached klal

The whole world is a very narrow bridge;
the important thing is not to be afraid

-Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav

In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy, the Union for Reform Judaism is activating its Hurricane Relief fund to collect donations for those suffering in the Hurricane’s wake.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those adversely impacted by Hurricane Sandy,” said URJ president Rabbi Rick Jacobs.  “The magnitude of damage is difficult to comprehend, as is the work that will be necessary to even begin restoration. But we know our nation, and our community, will rise to the challenge.”

Isaac Nuell, the URJ Disaster Relief coordinator, will serve as the key point of contact. He noted, “As we have done in the past, we will work with our congregations and with local agencies to determine how to most effectively allocate the funds we receive.”

You may donate to the URJ Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund here. Updates will be posted on the URJ web site, along with prayers, emergency guidelines, and information on additional ways to help.

May the memories of those whose lives were lost to Hurricane Sandy remain with us for blessing.

Photo courtesy of Reuters/Lucas Jackson.

Yesterday, following weeks of fast-moving wildfires spreading across the state, Governor John Hickenlooper officially lifted the fire ban in Colorado.  Extreme fires have burned throughout Colorado since late June, devastating thousands of acres of land and causing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. At its height, ten major fires were burning throughout the state, marking the worst wildfire season the state has ever seen. Read more…

One year ago yesterday, we turned on our TVs and opened the newspapers to news about the record-shattering earthquake and tsunami that struck the northern coast of Japan. The disaster killed 19,000 people and unleashed the greatest nuclear crisis in a quarter century.

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