More than 1,000 Jews who fled Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma spent Shabbat hosted by a number of Atlanta synagogues this weekend. According to Aish.com, Adam Starr and Ilan Feldman, two local rabbis who had taken part in efforts to aid the Jewish community of Houston following Hurricane Harvey decided they had to do something to help their coreligionists fleeing the sunshine state.
A command center was set up by members of the Atlanta Jewish community, sending out the word on social media that they would host anyone in need of a place to stay.
“It feels like family,” Ilana Parsons, an evacuee from North Miami Beach, said during a post-Shabbat gathering at an Atlanta Young Israel. “We’re overwhelmed by the kindness, friendliness and compassion of the Atlanta Jewish community. They go the extra mile, putting welcome signs all over the shuls and in yards.”
“Everybody’s opened their doors and made you feel like you’re doing them a favor,” her husband added.
On Sunday the Israeli cabinet approved $1m in relief funds for the Jewish community of Houston. Hurricane Harvey killed dozens and left hundreds of thousands homeless. The Jewish community was also hit hard, with thousands of families affected. Kosher food has started to trickle in but the community is expecting a shortage during the period leading up to the High Holidays.
"The city of Houston was hurt badly last week, and the Jewish community, 70% of which lived in the flooded neighborhoods, was hit hard,” said Diaspora Minister Naftali Bennett. "Schools and synagogues were flooded and can't be used. The old-age home and JCC were damaged, and hundreds of families will remain homeless. From talks we've had over the past week with the heads of the community and Israel's Consul General we learned the damage is vast, and the rehabilitation will take years. For years the Jewish communities stood by Israel when it needed their help; now it is our turn to stand by Houston's Jewish community.”
