By: Diane Chabbott
Fifty-seven Yeshivah of Flatbush families were displaced from their homes, due to Hurricane Sandy. In the aftermath of the storm, the entire YOF family mobilized to help.
Every student and class in the yeshivah participated. Students, parents and staff responded immediately as students Natalie Sidaoui and Celia Tawil kicked off the effort with a clothing drive, gathering warm outerwear and other items which were distributed quickly to those in need. A team of high school seniors, with faculty, ran to pitch in with the massive cleanup needed in a teacher’s deluged home. One hundred sophomores and juniors gave out meals and blankets at a community center in Brighton Beach to stranded senior citizens.
A drive for the Seagate community resulted in coats, socks, sneakers, boots, children’s clothing, and baby food, loaded on a truck and on its way to help. All the students participated in a tzedakah drive. There was no hesitation as our young people opened their hearts.
For Shabbat, all sorts of bags filled with food and toiletries were distributed to the displaced YOF families and to people with no connection to the school. The materials in these packages were donated by students, families, faculty, staff and trustees. Dozens of students across all of our grades helped, even the little ones, with packing and delivering the packages.
When it was learned that the Yeshiva of Belle Harbor had lost its home, students responded immediately.
Aware of the great trauma accompanying such devastation, guidance professionals continue to speak with every class as well as to individual students, addressing emotional and physical needs. SAFE teachers are also involved in this aspect. The goal is to help students and families return to normalcy as soon as feasible.
The need for assistance will not soon be abated. Joel Braverman High School Head of School Rabbi Raymond Harari stated, “Although recovery will be long and arduous, we are gratified by the outpouring of support from all corners of our YOF family, which has displayed itself in expressions of empathy and compassion, monetary contributions, hosting families, food preparation, offers of clothing and much more.”
YOF Executive Director Rabbi Seth Linfield spoke with pride of the immense effort, saying, “This exemplifies YOF’s deep commitments to the Jewish values of helping those in need and repairing our world, as our entire school community embraces our responsibility to care.”
