Friends,
I imagine that many of you, like me, have been riveted to your televisions and newspapers over the last many days heartbroken by the terrible devastation in New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast. As some of you may know, I recently accepted a position as student rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Biloxi, MS, and after days of disrupted phone and email service have finally been able to be in touch with the community there.
While the full condition of the synagogue building is not yet known, the synagogue president has heard from local reporters that there is substantial roof and structural damage. Arrangements had been made to take the shul's Torahs to Alabama before the storm, but there is not yet confirmation that this was successful. Flood insurance is virtually non-existent in flood zones like Biloxi and most of the synagogue's rebuilding expenses will not be reimbursed.
In addition to damages to the Beth Israel building, several congregants have homes that are either destroyed or severely damaged and unlivable. Again, the full extent of the community's loss is not yet known as most residents are still outside of the area and under directive of the state government not to return for fear of dysentery and infection.
For those individuals and/or communities that are looking for ways to be of help, the congregation has asked for donations to be made to the Congregation Beth Israel Building Fund and sent to either one of the following addresses:
Congregation Beth Israel
PO Box 7156
Gulfport, MS 39506
Congregation Beth Israel
c/o Annie Tucker
210 West 103rd Street, 3B
NY, NY 10025
Money from this fund will be used both for synagogue rebuilding as well as for the financial support of the congregation's member families.
Thanks in advance for your support and please feel free to be in touch if you have further questions.
All the best,
Annie
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