JULY 1 • 2021 | 31

Services of South Florida and 
Mishkan Miami: The Jewish 
Connection for Spiritual 
Support, are providing financial 
assistance, chaplaincy support, 
crisis counseling and social ser-
vices to people impacted by the 
tragedy. They have established 
a fund to help with expenses, 
and Jewish federations elsewhere 
have been sharing that link with 
their members.
The Young Israel of Bal 
Harbour and The Shul of Bal 
Harbour were serving as col-
lection sites for much-needed 
supplies for the families of those 
missing and for people who have 
been displaced. Because of the 
massive outpouring of support, 
they are no longer collecting 
specific items, though emergency 
funds are being raised to help 
with financial needs.
More than a dozen kosher 
restaurants in the area have been 
delivering meals for the emer-
gency personnel, volunteers and 
relocated families, as well as to 
the family reunification center.
While much focus has been 
placed on ways people can 
help those most affected by the 
disaster — donating to various 
charities set up to the help the 
victims, praying, reaching out 
to friends and family who may 
be impacted — Chai Lifeline 
points out that people also have 
to check in with their own fam-
ily, particularly how children are 
handling the news, even if they 
don’t live anywhere near Surfside 
and are not directly connected to 
events there.
“When crises strike, it’s only 
natural to react with feelings of 
fear, confusion and helplessness,
” 
said Chai Lifeline CEO Rabbi 
Simcha Scholar. “
Addressing the 
worries of our children can be a 
particular challenge, but it’s crit-
ical that we provide them with 
accurate information alongside a 
sense of real security and ample 
space to express their feelings.
”
To that end, Chai Lifeline’s 
Project Chai is making available 

tips and guidelines on “Helping 
Friends and Family in Times 
of Loss” and“How to Talk With 
Children During a Crisis.
” The 
Project Chai Crisis Intervention 
Team also has a 24-hour cri-
sis hotline for people directly 
impacted by the collapse.

JEWISH SUPPORT
Additionally, Jewish groups have 
been expressing general senti-
ments of support to those on the 
frontlines.
“
As an organization ded-
icated to healing the world, 
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist 
Organization of America Inc., 
sends its support and sympathy 
to the families impacted by the 
tragic condominium collapse in 
Surfside, Miami,
” said Hadassah’s 
national president Rhoda 
Smolow and executive director/
CEO Janice Weinman in a joint 
statement. “Our prayers go to 
those missing with the hope that 
they will be rescued quickly, and 
to those injured, we extend our 

hope for a speedy recovery. Our 
sincerest condolences to those 
who have lost loved ones. May 
their memory be for a blessing!”
Agudath Israel of America 
noted that “this is a time for ach-
dus [‘unity’] and tefillah [‘prayer’] 
for the safety of those still 
trapped. Our hearts go out for 
those lost, injured and for those 
still awaiting news of their rel-
atives’ status.
” The organization 
also included a listing of missing 
individuals and a request for 
people to pray for them.
Agudath’s South Florida 
director, Rabbi Moshe Matz, 
added, “Our office has fielded 
many calls of concerned family 
members and friends search-
ing for information about their 
loved ones, for guidance and for 
support. The pain and fear is 
heartbreaking, and we share in 
their sorrow. As the hours and 
days ahead continue to bring 
many challenges and show the 
significant needs that will need 
to be met for the survivors and 

their families, we must remain 
engaged and focused.
”
In its statement, the National 
Council of Young Israel said, 
“We hope and pray that the 
dedicated first responders at the 
scene are able to locate additional 
survivors, and we extend our 
heartfelt condolences to those 
families who have sadly lost 
loved ones. The Jewish commu-
nity has endured far too many 
calamities over the past year, and 
we encourage everyone to engage 
in prayer and perform acts of 
benevolence with the hope that 
we will be spared from any fur-
ther hardship.
“We urge people to give what 
they can to those individuals 
and families whose lives have 
been impacted by this horrible 
catastrophe,
” the statement con-
tinued. “They need our love and 
support, and it behooves all of us 
to be there for them.
” 

ISRAELI AID
Israel has sent an elite IDF engi-
neering team to Florida to help 
in recovery efforts.
The delegation will assist in 
rescue efforts by mapping out 
the disaster site, identifying 
victims and survivors, and sup-
porting local rescue forces, the 
military said in a statement. The 
delegation is being led by Col. 
(res.) Golan Vach, commander 
of the National Rescue Unit in 
the IDF Home Front Command, 
and includes Foreign Ministry 
representative Guy Giladi, Israel’s 
former Deputy Consul General 
in Miami.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali 
Bennett spoke with Florida Gov. 
Ron DeSantis on Saturday eve-
ning, conveying condolences on 
behalf of the Israeli public.
Israel stands by the U.S. at this 
difficult time, said Bennett, add-
ing that everyone is praying for 
the well-being of the wounded. 
The premier added that he had 
instructed all Israeli government 
agencies to render whatever 
assistance may be requested. 

TOP: Israeli Consul-General of Miami Maor Elbaz Starinsky speaking 
with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 25. BOTTOM: An IDF search-
and-rescue team arrives at the site of the deadly high-rise residential 
building collapse in Surfside, Fla. 

ISRAELI CONSUL-GENERAL MIAMI/TWITTER/JNS
GIORGIO VIERA/ AFP/TIMES OF ISRAEL