CJP and the Greater Boston Jewish community stand with the many residents of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover as they mourn the victim and pray for the recovery of the many injured by last night’s fires in the Merrimack Valley.

We remember Leonel Rondon, 18, the young man who died as a result of the explosions that caused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and businesses, injured at least 25 people, and disrupted the lives of thousands of others.

At the same time, we are also closely following developments in the Carolinas as millions face imminent danger from flooding and wind from Hurricane Florence.

We have reached out to the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation and other community leaders in our own state and to our federation partners in North Carolina and South Carolina to explore how we can best support those affected to rebuild and recover. CJP will be assessing the needs in the Merrimack Valley in the coming days and will post information on how you can help on our website. If your family has been affected by the fires and needs to find a host family for shabbat and/or Yom Kippur, please email Lori Kagan at lorik@cjp.org.

Additionally, our partners at Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) have established a fund to offer immediate aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Find out more here.

During our High Holiday liturgy, we acknowledge our human vulnerability. We also affirm that we are a compassionate community of learning and action who can take collective responsibility for one another and our world.

Let us keep all of the victims of these two tragedies in our hearts.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Marc Baker
President and CEO