|
Relief for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Click here to contribute online to hurricane relief via URJ
Shabbat services on September 2nd were dedicated to prayer and tzedakah for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Rabbi Koren's sermon focused on Jewish responses to this tragic event as our sacred community gathered to respond through prayer and tzedakah to our brothers and sisters throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida who are truly in need of our help. During services, those present who knew others affected by Hurricane Katrina were asked to say their names aloud so that we could offer a prayer on their behalf.
Those attending services were encouraged to bring a check (made out ahead of time to the Union for Reform Judaism-Hurricane Relief or Temple Emanuel-Hurricane Relief) and to make their donation then. Normally, we do not ask for donations of money on Shabbat; however, given the magnitude of devastation, we needed to act fast to save others lives (in Hebrew we call this piku-ach nefesh). Our tradition tells us that in order to save a life, we can violate even the most time-honored aspects of the Sabbath.
Rabbi Koren's sermon
Rabbi Yoffie on the Reform Movement's response to Hurricane Katrina
|
