Weekly On-line Rabbi's D'var-Torah
October 31, 2024
29 Tishri 5785
Rosh Chodesh
Noach
When we talk about Noah and the flood, we tend to think about its duration of forty days and forty nights. It’s true—that’s how long it rained. However, the aftereffects of the flood lasted much longer. According to the Torah, Noah and his family spent 370 days on the ark. The experience of the flood did not end when the rain stopped. It had only just begun.
The same is true today. It’s been a little over a month since Hurricane Helene made landfall in North Carolina and the city of Asheville became flooded. The State of North Carolina has estimated that the rebuilding of Asheville will take approximately $53 billion. It will take more than forty days and forty nights for the people of Asheville to recover.
It’s been a few years since Billy Jonas performed and taught in our community, but he brought a special spirit to our sanctuary when he visited with his homemade instruments (If you want to hear some of his music, just click here.) I am writing about Billy today because he and his family live in Asheville. They are part of a Jewish community estimated to be about 2,500 people. In the days immediately after Helene, Billy reported that cell service was virtually nonexistent, the internet was completely down, there was no electricity, and his family had to clean things in a creek because there was no running water. Things have gotten better, but they’re not back to normal yet.
The road to recovery will be a long one for Billy, his family and his neighbors. Hopefully, we’ll be able to bring Billy back to our community some time soon. One way to support him during this challenging time would be to purchase some of his music or merchandise on his website. If you are so inclined, you can send him a donation through PayPal: @BillyJonasMusic. Or if you prefer, you could make a contribution to the Emergency Relief Fund set up by the Charlotte area Jewish Federation.
Hurricanes and floods come quickly, but their impact tends to stay awhile and leave slowly.
Shalom,
RAF.
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