Students mobilized and with unbridled energy and passion worked to raise money and to collect the needed goods for victims of hurricane Katrina. One thousand cardboard boxes were donated by Abe Esses and his son, alumnus Jeffrey (’93), and were filled with new clothing, baby products, toys, school supplies, cleaning products and toiletry items.

For days, the lobby of the Upper School was filled with overflowing bags of donations. Students spent their lunchtime and free periods sorting, packing, taping, labeling and loading these wares and they found fun ways to raise money. Hundreds of heart shaped buttons that read “RELIEF FOR KATRINA VICTIMS” were sold and Moishe’s Moving Company donated a mammoth, eighteen wheel truck that left for Houston, Texas fully loaded with our students’ collections.

The entire school heard from Ms. Aliza Weinberg, of the Tanakh Department, whose family has been leaders of the New Orleans community for generations. Ms. Weinberg spoke anecdotally about her childhood in that unique city, one rooted in American and Jewish history. Hearing directly from someone we know well, from our own school community, talk intimately about the devastating losses, put a personal face to this calamity and helped us feel more personally connected to the victims of Katrina. To listen to Ms. Weinberg’s entire address, click on Lectures.

Our students’ efforts and generosity reflect our school’s mission and the vision of Rabbi Lookstein who sees the ideal Ramaz student as a youngster whose “…inner ear will be sensitive to the question God asked of Isaiah, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ and who will answer, as Isaiah did: ‘Here I am; send me.’”