HudsonJewish.org
Community Newsletter

Special Edition

Dear Friends:

 

As we continue to clean up from Hurricane Sandy, and the devastation that it left in our area, we are comforted and warmed by the outpouring of offers of help from various agencies, organizations and individuals. We will continue to provide you with information as the need arises, so that you may easily have access to resources and updates in our area.

 

By this time I hope that most of you have had power restored. For those who have not, there are various options available for assistance, including temporary housing, warm clothing/blankets, charging/computer stations, and more. For those whose homes were damaged and/or anyone who was displaced by the Hurricane, please reach out to HudsonJewish and/or your local synagogue for help. We are here, and are ready and willing to help in any way possible.

 

As we all start to rebuild and return to "normal", let us not forget to be incredibly grateful for the health and safety of ourselves and our families, the police, fire department, emergency workers and others who were there in our time of need, and of course all those who extended a warm hand, a warm meal, and a warm heart.

 

 

 

 

Warmly,

 

 

 

Michelle Levine, Chairperson
Hudson Jewish Community Forum, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation having 501(c)(3) status    

"HudsonJewish: Connecting Our Community"  

 

 

Hurricane Sandy
RESOURCES

 

 

For families with young children, the following site has activities and information for our youngest community members on understanding and coping with a hurricane:

http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/hurricane

 

Jersey City Sandy Recovery Center - This grass roots organization is running a community resource center at Barrow Manson, 83 Wayne Street (between Barrow & Jersey), Jersey City, NJ. You may obtain food, water, warm clothing/coats, and other necessary supplies from this volunteer organization. You may also volunteer to help or donate items. Their current high need items are: blankets, winter coats and jackets for all ages (especially girls), size 4 or 5 diapers, beans (canned), rice (uncooked), Mac & Cheese, canned meats, tomato sauce, ready-made foods, canned vegetables, soup, candles, flashlights, batteries (especially AAA), small bottles of laundry detergent, dish soap, all purpose cleaner, bleach, fixident, & feminine products. They are open daily from 9am - 8pm. For volunteer opportunities, to make a donation, or for more information on this wonderful organization, please go to their website at www.jcnjrecovery.org

 

Jersey City Food Distribution Centers - These centers will be open all week:

Country Village College Little League Field, 38 Sycamore Rd., Jersey City, 1pm & 6pm

The Hub, 360 MLK Drive, 1pm & 6pm

Curries Woods Community Center, 63-65 Ruby Terrace, 1pm & 6pm

Dr. Ercel Web Pool, 303 Van Horne Street, 1pm & 6pm

Boys & Girls Club, Grove/Grand, 1pm & 6pm

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 440 Hoboken Avenue, 5pm.

 

Food & Water will be distributed at:

Sip Avenue & West Side Avenue at 1pm

Marion Gardens Community Room at 1pm.

 

Jewish Family Services of MetroWest is here in Jersey City to help anyone in need due to the storm. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, JFS is here to help individuals and families who are struggling emotionally and financially from the devastation of the storm, and need support to restore a sense of normalcy. Their Livingston, Florham Park, and Jersey City offices are open and fully operational, and they may be reached at their temporary hotline number (973) 585-9250 to make an appointment. If you don't have access to a phone, you may walk into any of these offices, Monday through Friday from 9am-4pm, for support and guidance. The offices are located at (1) 256 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 105, Florham Park, NJ; (2) 570 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Suite 106, Livingston, NJ; (3) 921 Bergen Avenue, Suite 627, Jersey City, NJ. You can also connect with JFS online at www.jfsmetrowest.org . They can assist with access to FEMA and other government entitlements that will get you on the right track, as well as step by step guidance through the often confusing process of connecting with these agencies. They can provide information about benefits and resources for storm victims, and also offer emotional support for those struggling with the impact of the storm. Finally, they can offer limited emergency assistance for those greatly impacted by the Storm.

 

Office of Emergency Management - Your local office can provide information regarding shelter, food, and water distribution, as well as charging and warming stations. Please share this information with others in affected areas. They may be reached at:

 

Hudson: (201) 319-3871

Essex:     (973) 324-9750

Morris:   (973) 829-8600

Union:   (908) 654-9881

Sussex:   (973) 579-0380

 

FEMA may be reached at (800) 621-3362 or www.disasterassistance.gov to file a claim for damage to homes, property & vehicles.

 

Hoboken FEMA is going to open a disaster recovery center at Jersey City Museum today at noon http://t.co/FJZkutAK  


New Jersey City University (NJCU) community is offering those who have not yet had power restored, help. They are opening their ACS Lab in the Guarini Library on campus as a warm place to recharge your technology (bring your chargers/adapters) and access your email. The facility will be available to alumni and friends this week from 10am - 6pm, beginning Tuesday, November 6. For more information, please call Academic Computing at 201-200-3218 

SYNAGOGUE REQUESTS/UPDATES:

 

Cong. B'nai Jacob - The synagogue building did not sustain any damage during the storm. Most, but not all of the congregants are safe and sound. Some have had some flooding. Congregants in need are staying with fellow members who have opened their homes. No donations are needed at this time.

 

Cong. Mt. Sinai - The synagogue does not require any donations at this time.

 

Temple Beth-El of J. City - Working with Jersey City Sandy Recovery Center. The synagogue building did not sustain any damage during the storm (not even the roof!). Members whose homes were affected are staying with other congregants. If you know of anyone who needs a warm place to sleep overnight or stay during the day, please email Rabbi Hachen at RabbiHachen@betheljc.org

United Synagogue of Hoboken - The synagogue sustained extensive flooding/damage to their entire basement. All electrical, heating, and other systems were destroyed, and all items stored on that level had to be disposed of. A team of volunteers helped to clean out the basement this week, so that work could commence on the electrical and heating systems, to allow the synagogue to resume their regular activities as soon as possible. They require help in three areas; (1) They need Tower Style Space Heaters to borrow. If you have one, please email facilities@hobokensynagogue.org and copy office@hobokensynagogue.org to let them know how many you have and what kind. Please do not deliver any heaters to the synagogue at this time; (2) Generators are needed. They are seeing to take an inventory of generators in the community that could be available to borrow if necessary. Email facilities@hobokensynagogue.org and copy office@hobokensynagogue.org to let them know what you have, how much power, etc.; (3) Do you have space in your home to host a synagogue program or a workspace for a synagogue employee, such as a meeting or class for adults or a Learning Center class, or to have someone from the USH office work from your home for a day or a couple of days? If you are willing to consider this, please email your name, contact information, address, what kind of space you could provide, and any info about time of day and acceptable duration to Rabbi@hobokensynagogue.org and copy office@hobokensynagogue.org

 

HudsonJewish - If you or anyone you know has the capacity to donate/organize a large donation of food or supplies (blankets, batteries, diapers, etc.), please email us at Info@hudsonjewish.org immediately, and we will put you in touch directly with the organization(s) that are most in need of such assistance.

SYNAGOGUE/ORGANIZATION PROGRAM UPDATES

 

Bayonne Jewish Community Center (1050 Kennedy Boulevard, Bayonne, NJ)

 

-       The BJCC's annual Evening of Tribute, honoring leaders from United Way of Hudson County, has been postponed from its original date of November 3. A new date will be announced shortly, or you may call (201) 436-6900 for further information.

 

Cong. B'nai Jacob (176 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ)

 

-       Please join CBJ this Friday night, November 9, at 8pm for a post-Sandy special musical Kabbalat Shabbat healing service, with commemoration of Kristallnacht as well, which took place on this date November 9, 1938. There will be an Oneg Shabbat following services, and free off-street parking is available. All are welcome. Location: 176 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ

 

Temple Beth-El of J. City (2419 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ)

 

-       TBE invites you to join them at their Friday night Shabbat Service this week, November 9 at 8pm. This service will include a prayer for all those who suffered during this storm, as well as an opportunity to give thanks for those that came through unscathed and all those who have helped during the aftermath of the Hurricane.

 

-       The Abayudaya Brunch & Speaker from Uganda program has been rescheduled to Sunday, November 11 at 7pm. This benefit talk and music performance by Aaron Kintu Moses is being sponsored by TBE, and is free. Coffee and refreshments will be served.

 

Synagogue Leadership Initiative (SLI):

 

-       Synagogue Next - Alternative Models of Affiliation (Part 2 of their Synagogue Next Series) will still take place on Monday, November 12, at 6:30pm SHARP. For RSVP & location information, contact Nancy Perlman at NancyP@jfnnj.org or (201) 820-3904. 

"HudsonJewish" and the HudsonJewish logo are trademarks of the Hudson Jewish Community Forum, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation having 501(c)(3) status.  Our mission is to nurture and support Jewish life in Hudson County, New Jersey.
HudsonJewish: Connecting Our Community