December 29, 2004
Jewish Responses to the Tsunami
Via Presence. The Orthodox Union has set up a page for donating to relief efforts. It includes a beautiful statement from Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb:
Every person of good faith feels the pain and agony of the victims of this week’s disaster in the Far East, which killed tens of thousands of human beings and wrought great havoc to untold millions of lives. The Orthodox Jewish community grieves for the loss of life and empathizes with those who have had their lives shattered by the loss of family and the dislocation of their homes and communities.Viewing the images of hundreds of innocent human beings—all created in the image of God—whose lives have been tragically and painfully lost by this natural disaster, is a heart-breaking experience. We offer tearful prayers for the victims and for the survivors.
via Tamar of Israpundit: Information on how to support Chabad (Lubavitch) of Thailand.
I write to you in the midst of the mounting humanitarian disaster effecting Southeast Asia.As the only Jewish service agency in the country dealing with this
catastrophe, our offices and staff in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Ko Samui have put everything else aside, working 24/7 to assist those in need and comfort.I therefore turn to my colleagues for urgent help in funding our
humanitarian efforts during the crisis, Chabad of Thailands response to the crisis was immediate and is growing daily.Rabbi Nehemya Wilhelm was dispatched to the scene of the tragedyin Phuket to aid in the rescue efforts where he is making the rounds of the hospitals, identifying bodies, arranging medical help and transportation for survivors, connecting survivors with each other, and helping the Israeli government in coping with this terrible ordeal.
Thailand's three Chabad Houses, staffed by six full time Rabbis and twelve Rabbinical trainees, were immediately converted into crisis centers where dazed survivors are
o receiving medical help
o receiving free meals
o receiving funds for new clothing
o placing free international phone calls (and same for internet use) to their loved ones to inform them of their whereabouts
o being helped in their efforts to locate their friends as of yet unaccounted for.Chabad volunteers are standing by at the local hospitals to visitthe injured and provide them with kosher food and any other help needed.
Provincial? Maybe. But there's nothing wrong with that. Posted by SoccerDad at December 29, 2004 09:27 PM | TrackBack