Midland temple
deals with
aftermath; Flint
Jewish community
offers help.
MAYA GOLDMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jews in the D
H
istoric flooding has
devastated several
cities in mid-
Michigan after two dams in
Midland County broke.
The flooding displaced
about 10,000 people from
their homes. Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer declared a state of
emergency May 20, urging
people to evacuate from the
affected areas.
The eastern Michigan
Jewish community has
jumped in to offer assistance
to those who’
ve been affected
by the floods. Steven Low,
president of the Flint
Jewish Federation, said
his organization has had a
connection to the tri-cities’
Jewish community for years.
When Low heard about
the floods, he immediately
began to contact people he
knew in the area, including
members and leaders of
Midland’
s small synagogue,
Temple Beth El.
“We’
re waiting to hear
from community members
and leaders about what they
need from us,” he said. “All
of the Jewish institutions
here are standing by to assist
as we can.”
Low said it’
s still too early
to know exactly what the
needs of the Midland-area
Jewish community will
be, but the Flint Jewish
Federation may be able to
provide temporary housing,
food or financial assistance
and grants. They also have
a bus and van that they
could send to help transport
displaced residents.
“It’
s a little trickier to offer
volunteers, given the COVID
crisis, but to any extent that
we can do that and maintain
14 | JUNE 4 • 2020
Mid-Michigan
Floods
“On the front
lawn of many
homes, you see
washers, driers,
carpeting, beds,
mattresses,
couches, you
name it ... it
was literally
heartbreaking.”
— RABBI YISROEL
WEINGARTEN
AP PHOTO/CARLOS OSORIO