Friends In Need
New Orleans cantor and family find relief in Metro Detroit.
ROBIN SCHWARTZ
Special to the Jewish News
la
e's a cantor without a congregation
and they are a family without a per-.
manent home. That's the predica-
ment of Cantor Joel Colman, his wife, Jackie,
-
and their 17-year-old son, Josh, of New
Orleans.
Like the tens of thousands of other people
displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the cantor
with Temple Sinai in New Orleans and his
family are here in Metro Detroit trying to
regroup and rebuild their lives.
"It's like living in a nightmare," said Jackie
Colman. "Even though we're safe and with
friends, it's so surreal. You see the photos on
TV and you think that's happening to some-
one else — not us," she said.
"Not knowing what's happening from day to
day is hard," said Cantor Colman. "You're
opening a bank account in West Bloomfield
and you're thinking to yourself, 'Why am I
doing this? I live in New Orleans.'"
For a few days, the - Colmans and their two
Labrador retrievers, Jazz and Ben, were camped
out at the home of longtime friends Elissa and
Hal Leider of Commerce. Cantor Colman is a
past regional director for the B'nai Kith
Youth Organization and has taught high
school in Texas and in Israel. He also has
served synagogues in New York and
Connecticut.
Cantor Colman grew up in Oak Park, grad-
uated from Eastern Michigan University and is
a childhood friend of the Leider's son.
"They lost everything," said Hal Leider.
"They called and asked if they could stay
with us and we said, 'You don't even have to
ask,"' he said.
The Colmans arrived in Michigan with the
two cars they packed with some clothes and
personal belongings before they evacuated. At
the time, they only expected to be gone for
three days, but everything changed when the
city of New Orleans flooded.
The Colmans believe their home is up to its
roof in water. "All of our papers, pictures,
memorabilia — all the things you take for
granted are in our house," Jackie Colman said.
They don't yet know the extent of the dam-
age to their synagogue building.
On top of everything, Cantor Colman is a
chaplain for the city of New Orleans Fire
Department and an amateur radio emergency
coordinator. He would normally be in the
middle of the relief effort.
"Our congregants' homes are severely flood-
ed and that's what's so tragic," Cantor Colman
said.
"Your heart breaks for these people," he said.
"He's raring to go back and try to help and
do what he can, but he has to take care of his
family first," said Hal Leider.
Right now, the family's first priority is their
son Josh, a high school senior and a 6'2"
offensive lineman who was the co-captain of
his school's football team. He's already been
enrolled at Walled Lake Northern High
School, where he started attending classes this
week. He also joined the football team.
"People have been really warm and welcom-
ing here," Josh said.
"It's been nice to have that after the experi-
ence we've had."
Temple Israel, the West Bloomfield syna-
gogue where the Leiders belong, also has taken
the family under its wing. An anonymous
donor came forward with a two-bedroom
apartment, which the family moved into on
Tuesday. Other congregants have donated fur-
niture and clothing. The synagogue is also pro-
viding part-time employment for Jackie
Colman, who is a Hebrew school teacher.
In all, the synagogue is involved with relief
efforts locally for four Jewish families from
New Orleans. Each of these families has a tie
to Metro Detroit through a Temple Israel fam-
ily.
"It's the most horrific emotional experience
I've ever been a part of," said Kari Provizer of
Farmington Hills, director of Temple Israel's
Robert Sosnick Family Life Center.
"It's incomprehensible, you can't even imag -
ine what they're going through," she said.
"Temple Israel has been fabulous," said
Cantor Colman. "They've been so gracious
and helpful — I don't know what I can do for
them when it's all over." 0
Hal and Elissa Leider of Commerce flank longtime friends Jackie
and Cantor Joel Colman of New Orleans, who were displaced by
Hurricane Katrina.
Mark Enfield, Elissa and Hal Leider, Josh Colman of New
Orleans and Shari Enfield at Temple Israel's Labor Day picnic.
The Enfields and Leiders are from Commerce.
Temple Israel is coordinating a community effort to collect donations and items for the Colman family and other victims of Hurricane Katrina under Caring
Community members Carolyn Marks and Gail Young. Contact Kari Provizer, (248) 661-5700, for information on how to help.
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