Monsoon season and the heavy rains that come with it are an annual reality in Pakistan. But this summer, the country faced some of the worst flooding it has experienced in 80 years.
According to the New York Times, “Nearly 20 million people have been significantly affected…The number in urgent need is now about eight million and expected to rise. More than half of them are without shelter.” The estimated death toll of the floods range from 1,300-1,600 and the country’s infrastructure – especially its flow of clean drinking water – was severely impacted.
The situation in Pakistan is grim – but unlike the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti earlier this year, the UN said that disaster relief from at home and abroad has been slow to arrive and not enough to to meet people’s needs.
Recently, a group of students from Tufts University travelled with their local Hillel chapter to India with JDC Short-Term Service.
They visited India’s tiny but vibrant Jewish community in Mumbai, volunteering at the Bayiti Home for the Aged, visiting local Jewish sites and meeting members of the community. JDC has a significant history working in India (they started back in 1964) and their welfare and cultural programs have helped elderly and impoverished Jews, as well as supported social and religious programming and community building.
The photo journal below shares a glimpse of the meaningful and culturally-rich experience the students shared, as well as the impact they were able to have. All photos were taken by Tufts University student, Adam Shepro. To read his full captioned descriptions, click through to the Flickr page:
Find out more about the work that JDC does in India – and the rest of the world – here.
Last year, President Barack Obama amended the Patriot Day proclamation to make September 11th a nationally recognized day of service and remembrance. In the proclamation he wrote:
As we pay tribute to loved ones, friends, fellow citizens, and all who died, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideas and ideals that united Americans in the aftermath of the attacks… I call upon all Americans to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need, and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad…
Originated by the family members of those who lost loved ones on 9/11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance is an opportunity to salute the heroes of 9/11, recapture the spirit of unity and compassion that inspired our Nation following the attacks, and rededicate ourselves to sustained service to our communities.
In honor of the 9/11 day of service, people in towns and cities across the country are planning acts of service – large and small – to strengthen their communities and build stronger bonds with the issues and people they care about. The range of service projects being posted on 911dayofservice.org includes everything from reading to kids in an after school program, to organizing food drives, donating blood, spending a day visiting elderly people in the hospital, and giving funds to cancer research organizations.
Find out how you can help to make 9/11 more than “just another day” by doing an act of service or adopting a local charity here.
This post is part of a weekly series of Torah commentaries presented by the American Jewish World Service. It was contributed by Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster.
Taking time to celebrate our accomplishments allows us to see how far we have come and to plan with enthusiasm for the future. Parshat Ki Tavo envisions a time when the Israelites are living in the Promised Land and are experiencing the blessings of prosperity that they could only dream of during 40 years of wandering. The way that the Israelites appreciated and celebrated their harvest at that time provides a model for marking our accomplishments today, particularly the strides we make in repairing the world.
Check out this fascinating video made by Philanthropy Reports, which breaks down the impact that nonprofit organizations have on this country. Did you know, for example, that 6.5% of Americans volunteer for a nonprofit every day, averaging 2.3 hours/day? That equals the work time of 7.6 million employees. And did you know that 83% of all donations made to non-profits are made by individuals?
If you’re a volunteer, board member, non-profit employee or donor or philanthropist this video is a must watch! And even if you’re not, it is still an interesting look into one of the country’s most important sectors.
Repair the World works to inspire American Jews and their communities to give their time and effort to serve those in need. We aim to make service a defining part of American Jewish life.
