Sept 24, 2017

It is a beautiful, sunny Sunday morning and I am enjoying the early quiet at Tina’s family farm in Shiner, Texas. We head back to Houston today, and tomorrow I’ll be joining JFS to meet and help families from West Houston who were flooded by the Reservoir release. We’ll arrive with grants, counseling, and volunteer legal assistance, but, I have no illusion that it will be sufficient. I expect it to be a long and sad day.

During this morning’s calm, I read a beautiful article from the Houston Chronicle, shared with me by several people. (All of you know I don’t do newspapers)

It begins:

One of the central prayers of the High Holy Days, known as Unetaneh Tokef, dramatizes these themes through stark poetry. It depicts God as a judge enthroned on high, recording all our deeds and assessing our lives accordingly. “On Rosh Hashanah it is written,” goes the prayer, “and on Yom Kippur it is sealed: How many shall pass away and how many shall be born; who shall live and who shall die; who in good time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire … .”

That last one – who by water – is raising eyebrows and questions this year, as so many families and institutions in the greater Houston’s Jewish community have suffered from floodwaters. Are we really supposed to believe that God sends floods to punish people?

The remainder of the article is an extremely thoughtful response by local Houston Rabbis, to this difficult text in this even more difficult time. Here is the link: For Houston Rabbis, Harvey was a reminder we are here to serve

As I send you emails on what I am finding and learning here, I am struggling a bit on whether it is fair or right to ask for donations. For the most part, I think not – but, this morning I am going to share one opportunity. There is a specific need right now, and if you are interested, your support would powerfully multiply and echo the Rabbis of Houston.

This is the scoop:

The vast majority of donated relief funds have, (and should have), specific parameters for disbursements – such as food and housing. However, we are also finding very pressing needs for items that may not meet these parameters, and unless they are granted specifically, the needs cannot be met. It is a very powerless and haunting feeling.

JFS is hoping to set up a “wish-list registry” for individual donors to visit, so they can donate to a specific need, for a specific person. A very generous congregant at Herzl did just that last week after I explained that a young woman who used her bike for transportation had her bike damaged in the flood, and needed funds to either repair or replace it. From ask to need answered! And in less than 15 minutes! It was overwhelming and heart-warming.

Until Houston JFS has the time/breathing room to set up the “wish-list registry”, I have arranged with Linda Burger, the JFS CEO, that people can donate directly to Houston JFS, and earmark it for her “Discretionary Fund”. She will ensure that these funds meet Hurricane Relief needs that are important and would otherwise go unfunded.
Here’s the link to donate: http://www.jfshouston.org/giveonline.php / Please mark it to the: Linda L Burger CEO Discretionary Fund
And, if other people ask you how they can make an immediate and tangible difference, feel free to share this!

Thinking of all of you! And sending my wishes for an easy fast.