Shluchim Face a Flood Again

By Chabad.org

Mushka Kazen was just a teenager when Hurricane Katrina unleashed its vengeance on Louisiana and flooded her family’s hometown of New Orleans in the last week of August 2005.

Back then she helped her Chabad emissary parents in a massive effort to assist residents as they struggled in the wake of the storm, trying to put their property and lives back together.

Eleven years later, she and her husband, Rabbi Peretz Kazen—the recent co-founders of Chabad of Baton Rouge, Louisiana—are now part of community-wide efforts to help friends, neighbors and other residents as large swaths in and around the city that’s now submerged under swirling water.

The National Weather Service has reported more than 24 inches of rainfall in the past few days. Swollen rivers are expected to continue to rise. As many as 100 roads are closed in the state.

The floodwaters have been reported to have claimed at least five lives and displaced as many as 20,000 people, according to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. Another 10,000 people are in shelters. The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized some 1,700 rescue personnel to handle the ongoing situation.

On Sunday night, President Obama declared a state of emergency, and called for plans to assist in the response and recovery efforts.

“We had been expecting to host people for Shabbat,” says Mushka Kazen. “When our guests called on Friday to cancel due to the rain, we realized that things were rapidly getting worse.”

The Kazens packed up their two daughters and drove to New Orleans for Shabbat and the subsequent fast of Tisha B’Av. “We were driving through ponds of water on the streets,” recounts Rabbi Kazen. “And the roads that we took then are completely impassable today, so we are thankful to have gotten out when we did.”

He and his wife have been in constant contact with their community. “More than a dozen people we know have been evacuated with minimal supplies,” reports the rabbi. “They need kosher food, clothing and other basics to tide them over in the short term. People at home are also not all able to get out, and everyone needs to know that someone cares for them. Some people need groceries; others need help with paying for their hotels or rentals. Right now, that’s our focus.”

As the extent of the devastation becomes clearer in the days and weeks ahead, the Kazens plan to provide some assistance to help people make their homes habitable once again.

Muska Kazen’s own parents—Rabbi Zelig and Bluma Rivkin, who have co-directed Chabad of Louisiana since 1973—were central to the Jewish efforts to help beleaguered residents of New Orleans overcome the flooding and related damage that shattered their city in Katrina’s wake.

Their efforts received national recognition when, on Sept. 21, 2005, President George W. Bush declared:

“Rabbi Rivkin brought teams of students to New Orleans, and southern Mississippi, and other communities hit by the storm. He called in folks to help.

“He didn’t say, head away from the storm; he said, let’s take it right to the middle of the storm area to help people. They helped rescue stranded people; they distributed bottled water and self-heating kosher meals; they cleaned up and helped salvage homes; they provided spiritual support for those who lost loved ones. And one of those rescued from New Orleans put it this way: In the days after Katrina hit, Chabad saved lives.’ ”

“It’s going to be a journey for our community,” says Rabbi Kazen, “but we are here for each other, and I have faith that we will rise above whatever comes our way.”

Click to contribute to Chabad of Baton Rouge’s flood-relief efforts