Temple News

I hope everyone is well and staying healthy.  I am thus far encouraged by where we are with COVID following Mardi Gras and hopeful that we will be able to keep up our forward progress.  Please know that we are in the process of reevaluating all of our COVID and mask protocols and making more plans for upcoming future events.

            That’s the good news.  The bad news, the heartbreaking news is what we read coming from Ukraine, as the crisis there continues because of the aggressive attacks by Russia.  Our hearts go out to all of the innocent victims in Ukraine.

            Ukraine is not just any other country to us Jews.  It currently has a Jewish population of over 100,000 people.  And so many Ashkenazic Jews in this country and all over the world can trace their roots back to the cities and towns of Ukraine.  Many Jews are trying to escape.  The Jewish communities there are doing everything they can to survive – including providing shelter and needed supplies – but they need our help.  Let us be among those whose broken hearts move them to action.

            I believe there are many ways that we can help.  I am grateful to Arnie Fielkow, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, for his leadership and passion in helping out those in Ukraine. I want to encourage you to go to the Jewish Federation website (jewishnola.com) where you will find ways that we can support the important work of the Jewish Federations of North America, who have people on the ground lending a hand in Ukraine as we speak.

            2 other very important ways we can help out:

• World Union for Progressive Judaism (wupj.org) – The WUPJ is the international network of Reform and Progressive Judaism.  The WUPJ supports congregations across the globe, and has long been involved with communities in Ukraine.  The World Union has set up a Ukraine Crisis Fund and they need our support.
• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (hias.org) – HIAS has been supporting Jewish refugees and immigrants for over 100 years.  They are currently helping to get Jews out of Ukraine and to Israel and to closer safe havens.  They are doing wonderful work and need our support.

Our tradition teaches us that it is not up to us to complete the work, but we are not free to turn a blind eye and not do our part.  I urge you to lend a hand, get involved, and do all that we can to help.

Thank you for your support.  See you at Temple!