Since childhood, I have loved the tradition of reaching up
to kiss the mezuzah; knowing that the six Hebrew words written on parchment and
secured inside the box connected me with God and my people. “Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheynu Adonai Echad”
translated to mean, “Listen! People of Israel, Adonai is our God; Adonai is
ONE.” This one sentence is often considered to be the heart and soul of the
Jewish people – a reminder of how we walk in the world and walk with God or
Godliness.
August 25th marks the day that Houston received a
very unwelcomed guest that unleashed destruction of our homes and damage to
some of our synagogues. Hurricane Harvey's devastation remains overwhelming. While my own home
was(mostly) spared, I wanted to do something concrete to help friends going
through the challenges of losing their homes and belongings. I knew others would
be there to help them fix their structures and replace their “stuff,” yet I
wondered if that powerful touchstone of Jewish life, the mezuzah, would receive
adequate attention. It is in this wondering that an idea emerged – to provide
each family with a new mezuzah to restore their spirits, nourish their souls,
and renew their faith.
As a Jewish Educator, when I want support with a task, I
network with my friends and colleagues via Facebook including the thousands of
Jewish educators connected in a group called JEDLAB. Within an hour, the
response for the Mezuzah Project was joyfully and overwhelming! Friends (Jewish
and non-Jewish) requested my address so they could send me the kosher scrolls
to go into the mezuzah. Colleagues and
friends alike are pursuing avenues and resources to help me provide a mezuzah
with a kosher scroll inside for every Jewish home that was devastated in Houston.
My hope is that as I continue to reach out to local congregations, Jewish
Family Service, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and by word of mouth,
that together, we will find those who are in the process of rebuilding their
homes and lives in Houston.
Wouldn’t it be AMAZING to reach out to other Jewish families
and communities beyond Houston that are reeling from the effects of nature’s
fury?
If you are interested in sending kosher mezuzah scrolls or
mezuzahs, please send them to:
Chava Gal-Or
c/o Temple Sinai
13875 Brimhurst Drive
Houston, Texas 77077
c/o Temple Sinai
13875 Brimhurst Drive
Houston, Texas 77077
If you are called to participate in what is now called Door
l’Door: Mezuzah Rescue and Replacement, please connect with me by mail at the
above address or via email at MezuzotProject@gmail.com.
Donations towards this project can be made out to Chava
Gal-Or with Mezuzot Project in the memo section of the check or via PayPal. Please note that Door l'Door is not yet a nonprofit; but I am in the process of creating 501(c)(3).
