Dear Friends,

Our congregation’s response to the disaster has been extraordinary.

So many of you have offered your help and sought opportunities to support our neighbors at this terrible time. Even those physically unable to assist, have shared thoughts, prayers and funds—all of which mean so much to our community. Each of you is engaged in tikkun hanefesh (caring for people at their time of need), about which I spoke on Yom Kippur.

I wish to provide you with a brief update on how Central is supporting the relief effort:

• We are working with professionals throughout the impacted communities to point us toward those most in need.
• We have delivered cooked meals and carloads of blankets and warm outerwear to the Rockaways.
• We are hosting lunches for a group of seniors on the Lower East Side and dinners for displaced residents of a rehabilitation center this week.
• We have provided a list of ways our congregants can help on our website, which includes a Central Synagogue Hurricane Relief Fund.

More opportunities are being organized as needs continue to evolve. We are maintaining a list of congregants who wish to be notified of urgent needs. If you would like to be added to this list, please let us know.

We say modim anachnu lach, a prayer of thanks for all that we have received and all that we are able to give at this time.

Warmly,

Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein