Katrina Updates

List of Jewish New Orleans evacuees on Internet

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is continuing to compile a list of New Orleans Jews and their current locations. The Federation’s Web site, www.jewishnola.com, has lists in both alphabetical form and by relocation community.

OU first response in Memphis

On Thursday, the Orthodox Union presented a $20,000 grant to the Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South, to assist with the education of 21 students from New Orleans that are now enrolled there.

While in Memphis, Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, OU executive vice president, also met with the national president of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, Jordan Katz, who is also now in Memphis.

According to a release from OU, Rabbi Yisroel Shiff of Beth Israel Congregation in New Orleans, said the shul “is ruined.” The rabbi’s house is completely submerged and many congregants’ homes are destroyed.

Many congregants will relocate, but others look to return to New Orleans and rebuild the community.

Delayed Bat Mitzvah

On Sept. 3, Brandi Moore of Long Beach, Miss., was supposed to have her Bat Mitzvah. Because an uninvited guest — Hurricane Katrina — came to town and leveled the coast, services were cancelled.

On Oct. 15, she will have her Bat Mitzvah — in St. Thomas. Rabbi Starr of the St. Thomas Synagogue contacted United Jewish Communities to see if there were a student whose Bar or Bat Mitzvah was cancelled by the hurricane.

The St. Thomas community is flying Brandi and her parents to the island for Yom Kippur, which will be that Thursday, and then will host her celebration that weekend. The family will stay in a two-bedroom condo, and the congregation will host a party in Brandi’s honor.