"You can see the mark on the doorframe where the water stopped," our group's guide said.
I raised my arm to point it out to the other visitors. It was easily 10 feetabove the ground.
The Board members of the JWAwere touring the Beth Israel Congregation building in New Orleans as part of our follow-up to the "Katrina's Jewish Voices" project. We were from all over the country, but only one of us had been in New Orleans during the storm.
As I raised my arm, I felt for the first time theforceof the surging water, the sense of helplessness in the face of a power I could not control, alter, or appeal to for mercy. "How do you overcome something that big?" I wondered to myself. "What would I do if I were here then?" I knew I would not have the resources as an individual to do anything but flee in fear.
Thank you for reminding us of the people of New Orleans.
What the Beth Israel and the Gates of Prayer congregations have done collaboratively in response to this disaster gives me hope that in community we can find common higher ground, that in a civilized society we are never alone, and that together we can find new purpose and faith to build a greater civilization. I won't forget that moment in the lobby, but I also won't forget what other brave and generouspeoplehave done to further this hope.
"You can see the mark on the doorframe where the water stopped," our group's guide said.
I raised my arm to point it out to the other visitors. It was easily 10 feetabove the ground.
The Board members of the JWAwere touring the Beth Israel Congregation building in New Orleans as part of our follow-up to the "Katrina's Jewish Voices" project. We were from all over the country, but only one of us had been in New Orleans during the storm.
As I raised my arm, I felt for the first time theforceof the surging water, the sense of helplessness in the face of a power I could not control, alter, or appeal to for mercy. "How do you overcome something that big?" I wondered to myself. "What would I do if I were here then?" I knew I would not have the resources as an individual to do anything but flee in fear.
Thank you for reminding us of the people of New Orleans.
What the Beth Israel and the Gates of Prayer congregations have done collaboratively in response to this disaster gives me hope that in community we can find common higher ground, that in a civilized society we are never alone, and that together we can find new purpose and faith to build a greater civilization. I won't forget that moment in the lobby, but I also won't forget what other brave and generouspeoplehave done to further this hope.