Shabbat Shalom from Sam: When the Water Rises

As the floodwaters rose across Greater Indianapolis this past weekend, I found myself scouring news sites and social media, trying to comprehend the damage throughout our community. By Saturday evening, I was overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction. I wanted to help but did not yet know how.

Around 7:30 pm, I texted my colleague and friend Gregg Hiland, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, to ask how he and his team were holding up. “Anything the JCC can do to help?” I asked. Just a few minutes later, Gregg replied: “This flooding is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

There was a heaviness underlying our exchange. We both lead organizations entrusted with the care of thousands of people, and the full impact of the flooding was still unfolding. We did not have answers. We simply knew we needed to be ready to respond.

Later that evening, Jewish Community Relations Council Executive Director David Sklar told me he was heading to Rocky Ripple — an area that was impacted significantly — to fill sandbags. “I just feel like I have to do something,” he said. “I can meet you there,” I responded, glancing at the clock. It was already 8:30 pm. “Don’t worry,” he told me. “I just need to help.”

Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Deputy Executive Director Rebecca Schalit-Newman and I had also been texting throughout the day. The Federation was ready to amplify ways people could respond. Jewish Family Services Executive Director Rachel Katz and Clinical Director Julie Sondhelm reached out, too. “We are here,” Rachel said. Each of us in our own way was ready to respond. 

Throughout the weekend, Jewish community leaders, JCC staff, and community partners called, texted, shared information, and tapped every connection we had. We worked to understand the damage, including the losses facing some of our own staff and members, while continually asking where we could make a difference.

By Sunday morning, our concern had become coordinated action. Our JCC welcomed people who needed temporary access to our facility. We opened our doors to first responders working around the clock to assess the damage and keep our community safe. Alongside other Jewish agencies, we connected with the American Red Cross and local partners to better understand what families needed most.

Some of the people we were helping were members, colleagues, and friends. Many were strangers — at least, they were strangers before this weekend.

As I watched our community mobilize, I kept thinking about the story in the Torah in which God directs the Israelites to build the mishkan, the sacred dwelling place they would carry through the wilderness. “Take from yourselves an offering to God,” the Torah instructs. The people brought gold, silver, copper, wool, and more. They brought what they had, and their offerings were so abundant that Moses eventually had to ask them to stop giving.

The holiness of the mishkan came from more than its gold-covered walls and sacred objects. It came from the people who built it together. Each person offered something, and their individual contributions created a sacred home for the entire community. Because the mishkan was movable, that holiness traveled with the people wherever they went.

That is exactly what I witnessed this weekend. Our community became a living mishkan. David brought his hands to fill sandbags late into the night. The Federation brought its reach. Rachel and Julie at Jewish Family Services brought their readiness to care for those in need. Gregg brought partnership and trust. First responders brought courage and stamina. Our staff brought their time, relationships, and deep commitment to people facing tremendous loss.

No person or organization could meet every need, but each brought what they could. Together, those offerings became something sacred. The holiness was not confined to a sanctuary or a building. It moved through text messages, sandbags, open doors, shared information, and the simple but powerful assurance, “We are here.” It moved toward members, colleagues, neighbors, and people we had never met.

This is the community I believe we are called to be. One that does not wait until every question is answered before stepping forward, and one that understands our responsibility to one another. We are a community that moves toward people who are hurting and brings whatever it has to offer.

The mishkan we built this weekend stretched across organizations, neighborhoods, faiths, and relationships. It was flexible enough to respond, strong enough to carry others, and open enough to welcome strangers. May we continue building that kind of community, not only in moments of crisis, but every single day.

Click here to support flood relief efforts.

Shabbat Shalom,

Sam Dubrinsky
Chief Executive Officer