Temple Shalom’s One Family responds to Hurricane Ian with loving acts of kindness

By Deborah R. Fidel, JD, MAJPS

Upon three things the world stands: on Torah, on service (prayer) and on acts of loving kindness.” (Pirkei Avot 1:2)

Before the hurricane even hit our area, Temple Shalom’s One Family sprang into action. Since the storm passed, it has been a flurry of activity as our members, Bruce and Carol Sherman, chairs of the “Rainbow of Hope” project, got organized and mobilized to assist our members and community. Here are some examples of the acts of lovingkindness performed.

Led by Tussy Shnider, our dedicated team of helpers called our most elderly members to make sure that everyone had a plan to be safe for the duration of the natural disaster.

Immediately after the storm, we sent a survey to the whole congregation to gather information about who needed what and who could provide assistance. Temple Board member Jessica Rosen then organized the information to help us coordinate our response.

Members opened their doors to neighbors and friends needing power, a hot shower or a dry space. Let me take this opportunity to personally thank Rabbi Boxman and her husband, Asher, for so graciously opening their home to my husband, Bob, our yellow Labrador and me, when we had no electricity and water. Some who own rental homes even gave their properties to other members with nowhere to go — at no cost. Past president and realtor, Debbie Zvibleman, graciously helped members find new homes and rentals.

In the days after the storm, Rabbi Miller and his family oversaw a collection of more than 10 truckloads of supplies for the shelter in Lee County. Since that time, we have held three additional collections, filling 24 additional vans with small household appliances, towels, cleaning supplies, air mattresses, personal hygiene items and new clothes for the residents of several hard-hit areas.

Lisa Lauber, Di Karpman and a couple other members of our Havurah made multiple trips to River Park and Harmony Shores Mobile Home Park to deliver cleaning supplies and stacks of piping hot pizzas, donated by Alta Villa Pizza and Trattoria, as people gathered to collect what they needed to repair their homes.

Others comforted their friends after tragic losses by bringing lunch, flowers and good cheer and began helping them to literally pick up the pieces as they sorted through their belongings and carried them out to the curb.

Cantor Azu’s volunteer drivers delivered catered dinners to affected members to raise their spirits and let them know One Family cares about them.

Dozens of Temple members pack thousands of nutritious meals with our partners from Meals of Hope every week, in an ongoing effort chaired by Bruce Sherman.

My Havurah led a food drive for the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Veora Little led a team to Sheltering Pines, a mobile home park on San Carlos Island, to pull up floors and knock out dry wall for people whose homes were severely damaged.

Even our teens are showing up for One Family! Sophia Baer and mom, Claudia, and Zachary and Sammy Sissman, with mom (and immediate past president), Daryl, have cleaned up members’ homes and property damaged beyond repair.

In response to the blood shortage in our hospitals, resulting from the influx of patients from Lee County, Jane Perman arranged a blood drive so that members and neighbors could share in the mitzvah of giving life.

Temple Shalom’s talented clergy, Rabbi Miller, Cantor Azu and Rabbi Boxman led a healing service that soothed and comforted those in attendance and on livestream.

Arline Kaplan, Ph.D. and Leslie Wasserman, M.A. shared their services as counselors in an informative session about the effects of trauma on our lives and well-being.

Many, many members gave financial assistance for those struggling after this natural disaster. To date, we have collected over $30,000!

Working in partnership with other synagogues in our region, we are channeling resources to replace damaged equipment at the Temple Beth El preschool in Fort Myers.

And last, but certainly not least, Bobbie Katz is overseeing a group of wonderful note writers, to let all our donors know how much their gifts mean to those affected by the storm.

I am certain that I have forgotten some of the mitzvahs and the mensches who performed them but know that your acts of lovingkindness are a credit to the Jewish community of Southwest Florida. Thank you, one and all, for all you have done, for all you do and for all you continue to do to support each other and our fellow Floridians. Hurricane Ian may have knocked us down, but it didn’t knock us out, thanks to you!