The Seder Must Go On
The Seder Must Go On
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Local organizations help Sandy victims celebrate Passover
full-time FEMA office still sits in the Breezy Point section of the Rockaways, providing help and support to hurricane victims. It is only one of several
The Metropolitan Council for Jewish Poverty has allocated grants of $2,000 to individual families for Passover food and supplies, and is providing free home repairs through its Project Metropair In addition, the organization recently partnered with 240 students from Heschel School to help hundreds of communities devastated by Sandy in Coney Island, Manhattan and Brighton Beach. Volunteers cleaned up storm debris (left), prepared a new warehouse for item storage, assisted low-income senior housing residents and more.
IN THE COMMUNITY FEMA locations still attempting to help those nationwide, and is a symbol of how Hurricane Sandy affected the New York and New Jersey region, especially Long Island. Sandy’s wrath may have occurred last year, but from the office’s daily traffic, it is clear that many families from the area are still struggling. On a national scale, the statistics from Sandy are staggering; According to the financial analysis firm IHS, the estimated cost of lost business activity was over $25 billion. The storm ruined 95,434 buildings in Nassau and Suffolk counties and left 4.4 million cubic yards of debris. According to Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, “Sandy’s devastation to residents and employers was beyond imaginable.” It’s safe to say Superstorm Sandy will never be forgotten due to its vast impact on Long Island communities. But what of the Jewish community that was affected by the storm? Community leaders say that as much as 40 percent of the Rockaway area’s Jewish population was displaced. In addition to the Rockaways, Jewish communities in a number of other areas, such as Belle Harbor, Long Beach and Woodmere, were badly damaged. Fortunately, Congress’ cutting of government funds is not going to affect Sandy funding, and even
Passover, as both national and local organizations work to ensure that people in need can appropriately celebrate the holiday. The average cost of food for a family of 10 is about $300, making it impossible for some people in the area to host a seder at their home. Monetary resources had to go toward
Achiezer will also be assisting families with finding hotels and replacing lost items, launching outreach projects and giving out thousands of dollars in gift cards. “We want to help families rebuild their home with as much dignity as possible,” Bender says. “Trying to reach out to the community on a regular year is over-
celebrating Passover in the affected areas this year, and these individuals are incredibly thankful for the supermarket’s efforts. According to Arlene Putterman, manager of public and community relations for the organization, “It is our hope that families impacted by Superstorm Sandy will be able to enjoy Passover. Our effort to
‘Trying to reach out to the community on a regular year is overwhelming enough, so attempting to help those affected [by Sandy] during Passover is that much more difficult.’ more pressing needs, such as home restoration. Buying food, however, is not the only problem: Families also lost other items necessary to make the seder, such as haggadahs, plates, special silverware. “Most people store their items in garage sheds, basements and vulnerable areas, which is where most of the serious damage occurred,” says Rabbi Boruch B. Bender of Achiezer Community Resource Center. Along with his lead case manager, Milka Keilson from Lawrence, Bender is working on providing resources to those affected in their community, a total of 1,500 families from Bel
whelming enough, so attempting to assist the residents of Far Rockaway help those affected during Passover is underscores Stop & Shop’s committhat much more difficult.” ment to the communities we serve and families who are in need.” The food donations will help Far he Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula Rockaway residents like Aryeh (JCCRP) also has a Hurricane Sandy Yanofsky celebrate the holiday: “In Team and has already assisted several the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, hundred families in the area. JCCRP many people have been thrown into social worker Hadassah Jacobowitz, financial turmoil,” Yanofsky says. who leads the team, says, “It is great to “This is in addition to those who had see that people are coming together in been struggling prior, and Sandy a positive way,” Jacobowitz says. Local businesses are also taking action to help those in need of Passover staples. On March 12, Stop & Shop Supermarket provided the
T
necessary to make the seder. The company is also donating paper plates and paper cups for the families to use, since many of their cookery items were destroyed in the storm.
M
eanwhile, UJA-Federation of New York is providing a service available called J*1*1, which allows those affected in the community to call or go online and find out information about seders in their area and other activities going on for the holidays. In total, there are more than 40 seders throughout the five boroughs, Long Island and Westchester listed with UJA-Federation’s J*1*1 this year. Community seders will be held the first two nights of Passover, Monday and Tuesday, March 25 and 26. Many families and individuals need to secure an apartment or are still staying with a friend because the storm has so badly damaged their household, and J*1*1 can advise these individuals of seders near their temporary residences as well. Chabad-Rego Park is hosting a Passover seder at Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA), 155 Beach 19th Street, Far Rockaway, specifically for Sandy victims. Organized with the help of the UJA-Federation and the Kings Bay Y, this particular seder is unique in that it will be a RussianEnglish ceremony. Temple Emanu-El in Long Beach will is expecting a large turnout for its
‘Stop & Shop’s enormous donation will go a long way to help a devastated community on their road to recovery.’ Chase Bank has instated a mortgage moratorium for Sandy victims. Although it will be costly, areas such as Long Beach are slowly making a comeback and expect to make a full recovery eventually. In the meantime, however, Jewish communities in these areas have a more immediate task at hand: to get through Passover with dignity and with all of the necessary staples to prepare a meal. With the holiday fast approaching (March 25 and 26), hundreds of Jewish families from the Rockaway Peninsula will not have the resources to prepare a meal due to the crisis. But those who were hit by the storm are not going to be forgotten this
Harbor to West Hempstead. Although Achiezer is a small organization, it has been a major force in helping with Sandy relief since the storm hit last year, with the backing of government and private organizations like FEMA and NYS Homeland Security. Emphasizing the urgent nature of the charitable contributions, Achiezer has created a donation hotline and instated distinguished ba’alei batim to act as trustees for Hurricane Sandy relief. They ensure that every donated dollar is being used to aide victims. Along with Bender, the trustees include Rabbi Yaakov Bender from Yeshiva Darchai Torah, Rabbi Zvi Bloom and Rabbi David Greenblatt. Besides helping with Passover,
JCCRP with over two tons of kosherfor-Passover food and supplies at the JCCRP’s headquarters, 1525 Central Avenue. In addition to Stop & Shop’s food drive, the JCCRP is hosting a kosher food pantry, stocked with plenty of goods for needy residents, including small household appliances. The pantry will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Last year Stop & Shop donated over $29 million through customer, vendor and associate contributions to local organizations in hundreds of communities in which Stop & Shop operates. The Stop & Shop donation will definitely make a difference for families
New York City Councilmember Donovan Richards presides over the Passover food Stop & Shop donated earlier this month to the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula.
exacerbated their financial issues. Stop & Shop has jumped in to do something to help those who desperately need the assistance. Their enormous donation will go a long way to help a devastated community on their road to recovery.” Stop & Shop’s Passover donations include matzoh soup, matzoh ball mix, matzoh meal, grape juice, apple juice and other canned goods that are
seder on March 26, and two Staten Island synagogues will be hosting community seders for Sandy victims: Temple Emanu-El of Staten Island and Congregation Toras Emes. The latter is collaborating with the Staten Island JCC to cater to families in need, using a portion of a UJAFederation of New York Connect to Recovery grant to the shul. —Bonnie Ellman
JEWISH TRIBUNE • MARCH 22-28, 2013
15
A
Local organizations help Sandy victims celebrate Passover
full-time FEMA office still sits in the Breezy Point section of the Rockaways, providing help and support to hurricane victims. It is only one of several
The Metropolitan Council for Jewish Poverty has allocated grants of $2,000 to individual families for Passover food and supplies, and is providing free home repairs through its Project Metropair In addition, the organization recently partnered with 240 students from Heschel School to help hundreds of communities devastated by Sandy in Coney Island, Manhattan and Brighton Beach. Volunteers cleaned up storm debris (left), prepared a new warehouse for item storage, assisted low-income senior housing residents and more.
IN THE COMMUNITY FEMA locations still attempting to help those nationwide, and is a symbol of how Hurricane Sandy affected the New York and New Jersey region, especially Long Island. Sandy’s wrath may have occurred last year, but from the office’s daily traffic, it is clear that many families from the area are still struggling. On a national scale, the statistics from Sandy are staggering; According to the financial analysis firm IHS, the estimated cost of lost business activity was over $25 billion. The storm ruined 95,434 buildings in Nassau and Suffolk counties and left 4.4 million cubic yards of debris. According to Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, “Sandy’s devastation to residents and employers was beyond imaginable.” It’s safe to say Superstorm Sandy will never be forgotten due to its vast impact on Long Island communities. But what of the Jewish community that was affected by the storm? Community leaders say that as much as 40 percent of the Rockaway area’s Jewish population was displaced. In addition to the Rockaways, Jewish communities in a number of other areas, such as Belle Harbor, Long Beach and Woodmere, were badly damaged. Fortunately, Congress’ cutting of government funds is not going to affect Sandy funding, and even
Passover, as both national and local organizations work to ensure that people in need can appropriately celebrate the holiday. The average cost of food for a family of 10 is about $300, making it impossible for some people in the area to host a seder at their home. Monetary resources had to go toward
Achiezer will also be assisting families with finding hotels and replacing lost items, launching outreach projects and giving out thousands of dollars in gift cards. “We want to help families rebuild their home with as much dignity as possible,” Bender says. “Trying to reach out to the community on a regular year is over-
celebrating Passover in the affected areas this year, and these individuals are incredibly thankful for the supermarket’s efforts. According to Arlene Putterman, manager of public and community relations for the organization, “It is our hope that families impacted by Superstorm Sandy will be able to enjoy Passover. Our effort to
‘Trying to reach out to the community on a regular year is overwhelming enough, so attempting to help those affected [by Sandy] during Passover is that much more difficult.’ more pressing needs, such as home restoration. Buying food, however, is not the only problem: Families also lost other items necessary to make the seder, such as haggadahs, plates, special silverware. “Most people store their items in garage sheds, basements and vulnerable areas, which is where most of the serious damage occurred,” says Rabbi Boruch B. Bender of Achiezer Community Resource Center. Along with his lead case manager, Milka Keilson from Lawrence, Bender is working on providing resources to those affected in their community, a total of 1,500 families from Bel
whelming enough, so attempting to assist the residents of Far Rockaway help those affected during Passover is underscores Stop & Shop’s committhat much more difficult.” ment to the communities we serve and families who are in need.” The food donations will help Far he Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula Rockaway residents like Aryeh (JCCRP) also has a Hurricane Sandy Yanofsky celebrate the holiday: “In Team and has already assisted several the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, hundred families in the area. JCCRP many people have been thrown into social worker Hadassah Jacobowitz, financial turmoil,” Yanofsky says. who leads the team, says, “It is great to “This is in addition to those who had see that people are coming together in been struggling prior, and Sandy a positive way,” Jacobowitz says. Local businesses are also taking action to help those in need of Passover staples. On March 12, Stop & Shop Supermarket provided the
T
necessary to make the seder. The company is also donating paper plates and paper cups for the families to use, since many of their cookery items were destroyed in the storm.
M
eanwhile, UJA-Federation of New York is providing a service available called J*1*1, which allows those affected in the community to call or go online and find out information about seders in their area and other activities going on for the holidays. In total, there are more than 40 seders throughout the five boroughs, Long Island and Westchester listed with UJA-Federation’s J*1*1 this year. Community seders will be held the first two nights of Passover, Monday and Tuesday, March 25 and 26. Many families and individuals need to secure an apartment or are still staying with a friend because the storm has so badly damaged their household, and J*1*1 can advise these individuals of seders near their temporary residences as well. Chabad-Rego Park is hosting a Passover seder at Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA), 155 Beach 19th Street, Far Rockaway, specifically for Sandy victims. Organized with the help of the UJA-Federation and the Kings Bay Y, this particular seder is unique in that it will be a RussianEnglish ceremony. Temple Emanu-El in Long Beach will is expecting a large turnout for its
‘Stop & Shop’s enormous donation will go a long way to help a devastated community on their road to recovery.’ Chase Bank has instated a mortgage moratorium for Sandy victims. Although it will be costly, areas such as Long Beach are slowly making a comeback and expect to make a full recovery eventually. In the meantime, however, Jewish communities in these areas have a more immediate task at hand: to get through Passover with dignity and with all of the necessary staples to prepare a meal. With the holiday fast approaching (March 25 and 26), hundreds of Jewish families from the Rockaway Peninsula will not have the resources to prepare a meal due to the crisis. But those who were hit by the storm are not going to be forgotten this
Harbor to West Hempstead. Although Achiezer is a small organization, it has been a major force in helping with Sandy relief since the storm hit last year, with the backing of government and private organizations like FEMA and NYS Homeland Security. Emphasizing the urgent nature of the charitable contributions, Achiezer has created a donation hotline and instated distinguished ba’alei batim to act as trustees for Hurricane Sandy relief. They ensure that every donated dollar is being used to aide victims. Along with Bender, the trustees include Rabbi Yaakov Bender from Yeshiva Darchai Torah, Rabbi Zvi Bloom and Rabbi David Greenblatt. Besides helping with Passover,
JCCRP with over two tons of kosherfor-Passover food and supplies at the JCCRP’s headquarters, 1525 Central Avenue. In addition to Stop & Shop’s food drive, the JCCRP is hosting a kosher food pantry, stocked with plenty of goods for needy residents, including small household appliances. The pantry will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Last year Stop & Shop donated over $29 million through customer, vendor and associate contributions to local organizations in hundreds of communities in which Stop & Shop operates. The Stop & Shop donation will definitely make a difference for families
New York City Councilmember Donovan Richards presides over the Passover food Stop & Shop donated earlier this month to the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula.
exacerbated their financial issues. Stop & Shop has jumped in to do something to help those who desperately need the assistance. Their enormous donation will go a long way to help a devastated community on their road to recovery.” Stop & Shop’s Passover donations include matzoh soup, matzoh ball mix, matzoh meal, grape juice, apple juice and other canned goods that are
seder on March 26, and two Staten Island synagogues will be hosting community seders for Sandy victims: Temple Emanu-El of Staten Island and Congregation Toras Emes. The latter is collaborating with the Staten Island JCC to cater to families in need, using a portion of a UJAFederation of New York Connect to Recovery grant to the shul. —Bonnie Ellman
JEWISH TRIBUNE • MARCH 22-28, 2013
15
