A major relief effort has been ongoing. 50 Chabad Rabbis flew to Houston from around the country to help; offering counsel, bringing supplies and donations from their communities, and rolling up their sleeves to physically help with the cleanup.
The nation barely caught its breath from Houston when Hurricane Irma arrived. Personally, this one hit home. A close friend of mine and his family run the Chabad in S. Martin. The Island has reportedly
been devastated. My friend had to take shelter in an inner room - the Mikva - within the "hurricane proof" Chabad center after the door was shattered by the 185mph gale-force winds.
With 95% of the Island sustaining damage, the airport destroyed, and surrounded by ocean waters that have still not calmed, the island is isolated. There is no possibility yet for evacuation. Shabbat will take place in one of the remaining secure buildings. And with more storms on the way, help is yet to arrive.
While I am still processing all of this, here are a couple of thoughts:
1) Every tragedy affects someone's close friend. Every catastrophe is drastically affecting someone's family. That woman in the doctor's office is someone's mom. It's a matter of empathy to put ourselves in their shoes and feel their reality.
2) For someone going through hardship, the emotional support offered by friends, family, and random strangers is often just as meaningful as physical supplies. It lets them know that they are not completely alone on an Island.
3) A birthday is like a personal Rosh Hashanah, a time of growth, renewal, and reflection. As I celebrate my birthday this week as well as 2 of my sons' birthdays, I reflect and appreciate all of the blessings in my life, and am super thankful for what we have. Water, electricity, a roof over our heads. Health, safety, and even toys to quarrel over.
A woman arrives at the Western Wall to pray for her sick brother. A friend who accompanied her wishes her "May you have many worries".
Taken aback she asks to explain what kind of blessing that is.
Right now, the friend explained, you are so consumed by your brother's illness, that nothing else registers on your radar, everything else pales in comparison. When life is running smoothly, all of a sudden you notice the ripped shoelace, the overcooked eggs and the mess in the playroom.
May we all have many worries. And many many happy occasions to share together.
ב"ה