Superstorm Sandy took most by surprise; many do not remember it even knocking on the door. When Sandy stormed in, the Stern community responded immediately by helping out: providing assistance during and immediately after the storm, and still today, one year later.
Our institution prides itself on “enabling and ennobling.” It is important to recall the diverse ways that the Stern community handled the hurricane both on and off our campus that exemplified our mantra and values.
While many in the YU community were unsure of their own prospects, they did not hesitate in venturing out to help others during the storm. 600 students, faculty, and alumni assisted larger organizations like Masbia, Achiezer, Nechama, and Red Hook Relief, by cleaning out synagogues, removing debris, and distributing meals only hours following the storm. The response for participation was overwhelming.
Students at Yeshiva and Stern College also put together their own “homemade” relief efforts and ventured to downtown New York City to provide supplies and assistance to the many and any in need. Many students met with elderly residents who were homebound and unable to receive supplies had the students not provided them. The students most notably brought water and flashlights, but provided much-needed emotional support as well.
The Office of Housing and Residence Life stepped up to the plate as well, keeping all students stuck in Midtown up to date with constant emails and support. They preemptively answered questions that would arise regarding electricity, travel safety, and midterms/class reschedules. The students felt most loved when the dorm lounges were consistently stocked with (free!) Carlos and Gabby’s, Eden Wok, Danishes, and glow sticks. Students were never bored as the dorm turned into a quasi-summer camp with activities like ice cream-sundae-making, karaoke in the lounge, and movie and spa nights. When the campus was forced to evacuate, the Housing Office assured students that they would not be left in the dark.
Many nostalgically look back on the “Sandy Shabbaton” at the Wilf campus as a small taste of what a co-ed campus could look like. It was obviously speculated that YUConnects played a role in shuttling hundreds of Stern girls uptown for the extended weekend as names like “matchmaker” were thrown around to describe the storm. In all seriousness, the shabbaton reflected the quick and out-of-the-box thinking of the Housing Offices on both campuses and the hospitality of many who live in the WashHi community.
The annual YU Sefarim Sale took place during its regularly scheduled phase, January to March, which was also on the heels of Hurricane Sandy. It was impossible for the largest Jewish book sale in North America to ignore the dozens of shuls and institutions in the New York area that lost several thousand books in the storm. The Sefarim Sale staff launched the Sefarim4Sandy campaign, which would award one institution with $10,000 in sefarim and books to the winner of a Facebook vote. With 1400 online votes, the Young Israel of Oceanside, who lost 3 Torah scrolls and thousands of sefarim, was awarded the prize. They shul chose to share the earnings among the other six contest competitors.
The relief continued well beyond the immediate aftermath of the storm. YU’s Center for the Jewish Future has always provided students with volunteer and experiential opportunities during the summer session and added a Sandy Relief effort to the list of missions for Summer 2013. Co-sponsored by Nechama Disaster Relief, students rebuilt area institutions, worked with Masbia Soup Kitchens, and met with businesses and congregations who were still recovering from the storm months later.
Hurricane Sandy proved how the YU and Stern community continuously exemplify volunteerism at its best.