To put together the year-end edition of the Sholom Times is usually straightforward: there’s holidays and events — apples, and honey. This year however, Hurricane Ian changed the tone of the season. Making landfall on September 28th, the storm shook our area to its core. Looking back, it certainly knocked us down, but with the power latent in the holidays, we were able to get back up.
In the days before Rosh Hashana, it became clear that something massive was coming. We all saw the map, the radar with red and white spots, spinning toward the heart of Venice. Like most schools, Chabad’s Hebrew School of the Arts was canceled. Despite the doubled enrollment and the excitement of children in the previous weeks, we simply could not know what was going to happen.
In that air of uncertainty, the sun set, bringing in the first night of Rosh Hashana. That night, we held hands in prayer that the storm should change course, and asked that the Guardian of Israel should protect us. We had a tremendous Rosh Hashana evening dinner, in line with the sages’ directive to celebrate and be joyous despite the day being one of judgment.
By the second day of Rosh Hashana however, the verdict was sealed — Ian was coming.
The next day, wind and flooding tore through our community. Power was lost, but hope was not.
Chabad becomes a command center
Immediately after the storm, Chabad of Venice was transformed into a command center for relief. The team at Chabad stocked each inch of space with supplies for those in need of goods, clothes, toiletries. Rabbi Sholom, together with youth volunteers, drove into North Port to deliver essentials to those trapped in their homes. The new couple, Rabbi Yosef and his wife Hadassa, hit the phones to reach out on behalf of loved ones, and organize volunteers to make house visits and deliver hot meals. Despite the destruction, most everyone was okay — shaken to tears, but able to break a smile at the arrival of our volunteers.
Through the coming days, people came in waves: some for food, others for support, some needed hotel rooms, others gas for their cars and generators. Thanks to hundreds of generous donors, a relief fund was established to provide this assistance, and the fund continues for those in need of resources to rebuild their lives.
And then the holidays came anyway
Six days later, Yom Kippur began with Kol Nidrei, and from wall to wall Chabad was filled with emotion. There was hardly a dry eye by the Neilah prayer, where we shouted Shema Yisrael, in one voice, as a community.
From there, Sukkot arrived, bringing with it the joy of a Chag Sameach. After the two-week roller coaster, we gathered together in the annual Klezmer in the Sukkah event with gratitude at having made it this far. Then by Simchas Torah, we held on tight to the Torah that taught us and teaches us how to overcome adversity and live as proud, joyous Jews.
Now we find ourselves at the precipice of Chanukah, the holiday of lights. With the passage of time, hope has begun to radiate in most everyone’s eyes. We’re eager to gather together once again, by the pure oil of the menorah, and with the light of a brighter tomorrow.
L’Chaim!
