Meyerland Minyan begins flood clean up
 |
|
Rabbi Yossi Grossman
|
Members of Meyerland Minyan and a cadre of volunteers worked through the night May 27, drying out their flooded shul.
The Orthodox synagogue’s location at S. Brasewood Boulevard and Chimney Rock Road was among the last areas of Southwest Houston to drain, following deadly flooding during the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 26, thus delaying the start of clean up efforts.
The 30 or so volunteers who packed the shul after sundown Wednesday evening were making up for lost time, however, tearing up sodden flooring, cataloging damaged property and ritual items and boxing up books.
“Our immediate needs are to get the place cleaned up and have professionals come in to start repairs,” said Meyerland Minyan Rabbi Gidon Moskovitz. “We also have several families who are in real need of financial help.”
The rabbi said seven of the congregation’s 65 member families currently are displaced from the storm.
The flood left the synagogue, itself, in financial need, the rabbi added. A special fund has been established; donations can be made at meyerlandminyan.org.
The synagogue took about a foot of water during the storm, destroying flooring, furniture and some 200-300 books. Questions have been raised over what damages the landlord is responsible for and what the synagogue’s insurance will cover. An adjuster is expected to visit the property later this week, the rabbi said.
Rabbi Yossi Grossman was part of a team tasked with sorting through damaged books.
“Thank G-d everyone is safe,” Rabbi Grossman said. “As Houstonians, we’ve all been here before. We have an amazing community that pulls together to get through times like these.”
The Grossmans hosted four families at their Meyerland home during the flood. Linda Freedman Block, another volunteer that night packing up books, hosted no less than 19 people at their home on Braesheather Drive.
Linda’s husband, Nelson Block, waded through chest-high water to help ferry young children and neighbors across the street onto high ground. Once inside their home, the Blocks got their neighbors into dry clothes, provided meals and started up their laundry. Linda took the opportunity to teach everybody how to play mahjong.
“We had a real Block party,” she told the JHV.
The Block’s children belong to Meyerland Minyan. When Linda learned a clean-up effort had been organized Wednesday evening, she dove straight in.
“I have lots of energy, tape and boxes,” she said. “They need help – I’m ready to go!”
Across the room from the book operation, 9-year-old Mimi Jacobson was running a wet-vac over a depressed section of floor. She was joined by her sister and their mother.
“It’s important to help other people,” Mimi said. “We all need to help.”
Mari Barkhausen, another volunteer, was laying out sodden and soiled prayer shawls across a table. Her brow was furrowed as she gently performed the task.
“I’m here to help the community pick up the pieces and start over,” Barkhausen said.
Meyerland Minyan began meeting at Rabbi Moskovitz’s home, following the flood. However, volunteers were prepping a space at the synagogue for Shabbat services this weekend.
“We’re focused on getting through this,” Rabbi Moskovitz said. “We’re taking it day-to-day.”
The Orthodox synagogue’s location at S. Brasewood Boulevard and Chimney Rock Road was among the last areas of Southwest Houston to drain, following deadly flooding during the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 26, thus delaying the start of clean up efforts.
The 30 or so volunteers who packed the shul after sundown Wednesday evening were making up for lost time, however, tearing up sodden flooring, cataloging damaged property and ritual items and boxing up books.
“Our immediate needs are to get the place cleaned up and have professionals come in to start repairs,” said Meyerland Minyan Rabbi Gidon Moskovitz. “We also have several families who are in real need of financial help.”
The rabbi said seven of the congregation’s 65 member families currently are displaced from the storm.
The flood left the synagogue, itself, in financial need, the rabbi added. A special fund has been established; donations can be made at meyerlandminyan.org.
The synagogue took about a foot of water during the storm, destroying flooring, furniture and some 200-300 books. Questions have been raised over what damages the landlord is responsible for and what the synagogue’s insurance will cover. An adjuster is expected to visit the property later this week, the rabbi said.
Rabbi Yossi Grossman was part of a team tasked with sorting through damaged books.
“Thank G-d everyone is safe,” Rabbi Grossman said. “As Houstonians, we’ve all been here before. We have an amazing community that pulls together to get through times like these.”
The Grossmans hosted four families at their Meyerland home during the flood. Linda Freedman Block, another volunteer that night packing up books, hosted no less than 19 people at their home on Braesheather Drive.
Linda’s husband, Nelson Block, waded through chest-high water to help ferry young children and neighbors across the street onto high ground. Once inside their home, the Blocks got their neighbors into dry clothes, provided meals and started up their laundry. Linda took the opportunity to teach everybody how to play mahjong.
“We had a real Block party,” she told the JHV.
The Block’s children belong to Meyerland Minyan. When Linda learned a clean-up effort had been organized Wednesday evening, she dove straight in.
“I have lots of energy, tape and boxes,” she said. “They need help – I’m ready to go!”
Across the room from the book operation, 9-year-old Mimi Jacobson was running a wet-vac over a depressed section of floor. She was joined by her sister and their mother.
“It’s important to help other people,” Mimi said. “We all need to help.”
Mari Barkhausen, another volunteer, was laying out sodden and soiled prayer shawls across a table. Her brow was furrowed as she gently performed the task.
“I’m here to help the community pick up the pieces and start over,” Barkhausen said.
Meyerland Minyan began meeting at Rabbi Moskovitz’s home, following the flood. However, volunteers were prepping a space at the synagogue for Shabbat services this weekend.
“We’re focused on getting through this,” Rabbi Moskovitz said. “We’re taking it day-to-day.”