Hurricane Ida

On Wednesday night, many of us experienced the remnants of Hurricane Ida as it swept through our community. We did not have the worst of it. Even though some have experienced flooding, downed trees, and leaking windows, few have lost their homes or their livelihoods (as of this moment). This is not the case in Louisiana. People are in need of food and shelter and that bit of extra that will allow them to rebuild. With that in mind, we are attaching a list put together by the New York Times of reputable organizations (local and national) working to help the victims of Hurricane Ida recover. Click HERE for the link.

Our changing weather patterns are part of climate change. In this year where fires burn and hurricanes rage, we as Jews will begin to observe the shmita year -- the year the land rests. It is the Sabbatical year mentioned in the Torah. For us, it is also an opportunity to reflect upon our interaction with the environment around us. We will be looking at this interaction more closely during Rosh Hashanah as the new year begins. I invite you to think about the ways in which we as individuals can make an impact, both in our own lives and in the company of others.

I wish you a year in which our actions reflect the promise made long ago,
that we are stewards of the earth.