Support for Haiti’s Victims

As the world watched the catastrophe unfolding in Haiti, the tragic events hit home at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh where many distraught members of the staff, originally from Haiti, have been trying to track down their relatives and friends in that earthquake-ravaged island. A service was held in JHR’s chapel on January 14th, led by Rabbi Simon Feld, as a gesture of support for these members of the Jewish Home family during the crisis. Rabbi Feld asked attendees to pray for survivors and loved ones. “Our hearts go out to those who are missing and injured,” he said. He recited a prayer for all those who had perished in Haiti. A second service was held on January 15th to accommodate the staff members who couldn’t attend the first one as a result of their schedules.

Snerte Leger, a member of JHR’s kitchen staff, also spoke to the group, describing the terrible conditions that have resulted from the earthquake and saying, “everyone here knows what is going on in Haiti. We need to help the Haitian people.”

Chuck Berkowitz, JHR’s Executive Vice President, asked everyone to consider what to do as a group. The residents of JHR had contributed to a charity fund established to aid victims and their families, as did many members of the staff and the Board of Directors. A meeting was held after the service to discuss where to direct the funds so as to reach the greatest number of people in Haiti. As of January 29th, almost $8,000 in funds was donated.

Rabbi Feld, JHR’s full-time chaplain, and Mr. Berkowitz, a licensed clinical social worker, offered grief and bereavement counseling to anyone who felt the need to talk to someone.

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