Our hearts and prayers go out to the residents of Moore, Oklahoma this morning, following the devastating mile long tornado which flattened homes, a hospital, and two schools. The death toll currently stands at 91 people, including 20 children and I am sure we will hear of more losses throughout the day.
Our tradition teaches that both prayer, and action are appropriate responses to tragedies such as this. Below is a link to a news article describing a number of ways to donate, as well as a post from a rabbinic colleague of mine in Oklahoma which includes a prayer.
Please take a few moments to pray for all of those affected by this tragedy and then make a donation to help those in need.
2. Facebook Post- Rabbi Abby Lynn Jacobson of Emanuel Synagogue in Oaklahoma
For those who have sent private messages, thank you for thinking of my, of my family, and of all of Oklahoma. Facts about the Jewish community, in case you need them: The three synagogues, the Federation offices, and the Hillel were all far from the tornado’s path. So far as we know, there have been no fatalities or major injuries to the Jewish community, and damage to houses has been reparable. We are joining with the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma City, NECHAMA, and whomever else we can to help the people who have been affected by the tornado. Below is a prayer I have composed. With whatever text and in whatever manner you choose, please pray especially for the two-dozen missing children whose elementary school came down on top of them.
Lord our God, we stood before You just a week ago to receive the Ten Statements of Your written law. We stood, as though with our ancestors, and listened to the Torah reader chant descriptions of the smoking mountain, the thunderous rumbling, and the long-awaited voice of God.
This afternoon, the people of central Oklahoma did not stand to hear the voice of God. We sat, we paced, and we huddled. We listened to the voice of the meteorologists and watched as dark clouds swirled together over a cone of destruction. The rain fell upward, not down, and the thunderous roar of the swirling winds carried, and we saw the awesome power of God. This was not Shavuot-the Feast of Weeks that marked our days of freedom. This was minutes that seemed like years and trapped us into watching the same images of destruction.
Merciful God, a great and powerful windstorm has passed, and it has torn apart the buildings and shattered the rocks before You. You told Elijah, the prophet, that You were not in the windstorm. Please, then, be in the still, small voices of the children crying out to be found. Be in the voices of the rescuers calling out for survivors. Be in the cries of those who are lost and of those who have lost.
May it be Your will that those who are missing be found alive and be cared for well, and may the people of central Oklahoma find strength in You and in one another as we rebuild what we can.