New Orleans Jewish Endowment Foundation - Hurricane Relief Fund

Sandy Levy, Director of the New Orleans Jewish Endowment Foundation for 14 years, describes the loss and needs of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Sandy asks that donations for the New Orleans Jewish community be sent to:
Jewish Endowment Foundation Hurricane Relief
Beth Shalom Synagogue
9111 Jefferson Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
* please make checks out to: "Jewish Endowment Foundation Hurricane Relief"

On a personal level as a lifelong New Orleanian and on a professional level as the Jewish Endowment Foundation Director of New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina is The Unimaginable Nightmare.

At 4 a.m. on Sunday, my rabbi and his wife went in one car and I drove my 91-year-old mother and brother in my car. We evacuated New Orleans and went to Jackson, Mississippi. We experienced the effects of a category one hurricane and lived without power and water for 36 hours, but that was a walk in the park compared to what so many had to endure in the next days.

Once in Mississippi, we got rooms at a Days Inn Motel. We felt so fortunate to have a roof over our heads while we watched news coverage of those in New Orleans fighting for their lives. As the hurricane hit, we just felt thankful to be safe and our hearts ached for those in danger.

As the hurricane passed, we remembered our homes. While my home is close to the river and may not have flooded, it is likely to have suffered wind and looting damage. The home of my mother and brother, located near the 17th Street Canal, is under 8-10 feet of water. They have lost everything and their home will need to be demolished. Again, more fortunate than many others, they have insurance.

We are the lucky ones. So many lost lives, loved ones, homes, jobs and hope for the future. We, the lucky ones, are obligated to reach out and help the less fortunate.

The Jewish communities of Baton Rouge, Houston, Atlanta and Memphis are doing everything that they can for us, but more help is needed. Today funds are needed to provide housing, food and all essentials for individuals. Tomorrow, once the needs of our agencies and synagogues have been evaluated, funds will be needed to rebuild.

I am going to Baton Rouge to be closer to New Orleans so I can help raise funds that can directly address these monumental needs. The New Orleans Jewish Endowment Foundation, a tax-exempt organization established in 1967, has created a Hurricane Relief Fund. We have opened a special bank account at our Whitney bank's office in Baton Rouge.

Please send checks to:
Jewish Endowment Foundation Hurricane Relief
Beth Shalom Synagogue
9111 Jefferson Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Donations will be used to help the New Orleans Jewish community. It will also be used to reach out to the New Orleans Black community, which has been so devastated by this disaster. Contributions to this fund will go directly to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can give. Each donation will be greatly appreciated. A thank you will be forthcoming, but it will take us some time to get our mail system up.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. The extent of this tragedy is yet to unfold.

Sandy Levy
Director of the New Orleans Jewish Endowment Foundation
Email: skljef@aol.com
Site: New Orleans Jewish Endowment Foundation