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ROBIN SCHWARTZ
Special to the Jewish News
li
urricane Katrina evacuee
Rachel Powell of Jefferson
Parish, La., sat clapping and
smiling in the main sanctuary of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Southfield — in unfamiliar surround-
ings and a long way from the place
she used to call home.
Powell and dozens of other evacuees
seeking refuge in Metro Detroit got a
good hot meal, a warm welcome and
some food for the soul during a musi-
cal Friday Night Fever service and
Shabbat dinner at the synagogue on
Sept. 9. Like the other survivors in
attendance, Powell lost her home and
everything she owned in the hurri-
cane. She's a mother of six children,
with a baby on the way. Incredibly,
Powell is also helping care for five
other neighborhood children her fam-
ily took with them when they evacu-
ated.
"It's so utterly overwhelming to
think this is what's happened to
them," said Elaine Block-Victor of
West Bloomfield.
About 450 people took part in the
service, which included special
appearances by Rev. Kenneth Flowers
from Greater New Mount Moriah
Baptist Church in Detroit and the
Metro Detroit Area Fellowship Gospel
Choir.
"We want them to know their
plight reaches across religious and
racial lines and touches all of
America," said Rabbi Jonathan
Berkun.
"We want to bring them into our
spiritual home and embrace them as
human beings, fellow citizens and
people of faith," he said. "We want
Rachel Powell center, ofJefferson Parish,
La., with her six children and other
children she brought up from Louisiana
are greeted by Shaarey Zedek congregants.
The Metro Detroit Area fi'llowship
Shabbat at Shattrey Zedek.
fig_i at Kabbala?!
Coming Together
Shaarey Zedek hosts New Orleans evacuees
at Shabbat dinner.
J tv
9/15
2005
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