Jewish Response to New Orleans
by Michael HoffmanMonday, October 29th, 2007
American Jews, like Americans generally, opened their hearts and wallets to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A lot of the giving went through the Red Cross, but for many Jews it was important to find a Jewish response. In reaction to this desire, the main organs of Jewish philanthropy set up funds to help.
But here we are, two years later. New Orleans is in trouble. The response to Katrina from all levels of government has been inadequate. New Orleans had problems long before the hurricane and the destruction only has exacerbated a long list of problems.
I am very excited to say that a new continuing Jewish response to help New Orleans is being launched by AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corp. AVODAH puts young Jews to work in a year-long program of service. While working locally, these folks live communally and study both how to make change in the world and the Jewish connections to social justice. Right now, AVODAH has houses in New York, Washington and Chicago. Starting next fall, AVODAH will be in New Orleans putting “boots on the ground” to help the city recover.
I am on the national Board of Directors of AVODAH and yesterday, in an all-day meeting in New York, we decided to greenlight the expansion to New Orleans. We will need to raise money for this effort, and there are lots of logistical challenges. But we all felt that in running a national service program we could not avoid addressing New Orleans. Our broader goal is to invigorate Jewish life in America with the values of service and we hope that this effort can help energize a new generation of Jewish leaders to step up and act.
Learn more about AVODAH and make a donation while you’re at it. And if you think New Orleans isn’t still in need, have a look at this recent piece by Robert Greenwald.
