Thanks from a Sandy Victim

Dear JNet,

In the wake of Sandy’s horrific devastation, there have been many tragic tales of woe. Lives have been lost, people have been severely injured, and the property loss and damage were unbelievable.

Thank G-d, my family and I were spared from these, and we were fortunate enough to share our home with friends from Far Rockaway and Bayswater for the first few days after the storm. All we lacked was power. So, when the forecast predicted a temperature drop and it was clear that power and heat would not be restored immediately, I began to worry.

But worry was the last thing I needed to do.

When I mentioned my concern to Rabbi Yossi Zwiebel my JNet chavrusa of six years, he immediately swung into action. He was actually insistent that we stay at his own home, but since my family feared being an imposition, my chavrusa instead took it upon himself to find us accommodations right across from 770 on Kingston Avenue and very much in 770’s spiritual shadow. But after a few days, it became clear to us that we couldn’t extend our sojourn there because of shluchims’ earlier reservations for their annual conference.

So for about a week, we reluctantly—though with smiles on our faces—moved into the home of my JNet Chavrusah and his family, where we enjoyed a tremendous spiritual “shot in the arm,” and delicious home-cooked meals.

They opened up their home and hearts to us as they have done to countless other guests, reminding us of and reinforcing the Rebbe’s message and Chassidic teaching that all Jews are really one body that functions properly only when all the limbs are in sync and operating as one.

Simply put, yasher koach, JNet!

Adam Sanders