Helping rebuild New Orleans

Former DJCC Chair Mary Rita Weissman, her husband, Norm, and DJCC Director Marc Jacob put on hard hats and got to work in New Orleans last month, helping to gut a local YWCA battered women’s shelter and day-care center to prepare it for reconstruction. The only full-service YWCA in the area, the building had been flooded by 4 feet of water during Hurricane Katrina a year and a half ago. “It was pretty amazing to see the effect of Katrina firsthand even 18 months after the hurricane had hit,” Jacob said.

The three were attending the JCC Association Leadership Retreat and Executive Seminars. These biannual meetings are usually held in Florida or Arizona; this year’s meetings were held in New Orleans to show support to the embattled city and its JCC. Last January, JCCA presented the New Orleans JCC with $250,000 raised with the help of many JCCs.

Before ripping out rotted drywall and carting away moldy debris, we toured the damaged areas where many Jews had lived. We visited Beth Israel, an Orthodox synagogue that suffered devastating flooding. Once we arrived at the YWCA, we put on masks and worked under the supervision of Nechama: A Jewish Response to Disaster. Nechama has been in New Orleans for more than a year, handling the time-consuming and expensive demolition required before people can rebuild.

“As we were traveling to the YWCA, we looked around the bus and wondered whether this Day of Caring was intended just to make us feel good,” said Mary Rita. “The board isn’t exactly a bunch of young kids. We probably bring the group’s average age down. When we saw the damage and the amount of work that had to be done, it was more than a little daunting. Once we arrived at the Y, everyone started knocking out damaged walls, carting off debris and ruined toys, furniture and office equipment. Everyone worked nonstop for the three hours we were there. We were truly amazed at what we got done, how much we accomplished and what a difference our work made inside and outside the building.”

“We are truly appreciative for the opportunity to contribute in this small way,” said Norm.