By Liz Halpern
BOULDER, Colorado–Hi there! My name is Liz Halpern and I grew up in Boulder/ Throughout the devastation of this flood, I have seen countless people coming together to help each other out. However, one group in particular, really peaked my interest. That is Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm and Chabad at the University of Colorado. Despite the fact that Rabbi Wilhelm’s building and home were both flooded, he hosted over 100 students for a a pre-fast meal for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. In addition he managed to have services for a few hundred students in the lobby of his building while many synagogues around town canceled their services on the holiest day of the year for Jews.
However, Rabbi Wilhelm’s incredible work does not stop there. As soon as the holiday was over Saturday night (it began Friday night), he was organizing incredible clean up efforts. He had over 100 students and alumni volunteer to come and clean up strangers homes. He has been receiving calls from people he doesn’t know asking for help more than once every 15 minutes. Students have gone out in groups and have significantly helped families.
This is one of his Facebook posts from last night (Sunday, Sept 15): “What a day it has been. Over 100 students signed up to volunteer during the next week. Every fifteen minutes another family calling for help. And the work has only just started. If you want to sign up to volunteer or if you need help (including financial help), sign up here.
www.jewishcu.com/flood
And here is a note I just received in my inbox:
Rabbi Wilhelm,
You should be very very proud of them! We were overwhelmed with help – I lost count of how many students showed up with smiles on their faces, willing to do whatever we needed. They helped get the carpet out from under the exercise equipment, and then helped move the soggy (and very heavy) carpet and pad that we had already torn out to our alley. Even though I said we really needed the help for the lifting of the weight equipment, so they were free to go when that was done, they stayed to help scrape carpet pad off the floor (it had been glued down) and took old carpet tack strip. Caroline even offered to bail water out of our window wells.
“I think between 8 and 10 people came over. We got home very late last night, and were overwhelmed with the cleanup – but the students took care of what would have taken us hours.
“We are very grateful for their help. Thank you so much.”
Not only is he sending out students, he himself and his family, including two of his sons (age 10 and 8) are helping as well. But knowing Rabbi Wilhelm, this is no surprise. The real amazing part is that he is doing this with very limited funds, but he doesn’t even see that as an issue. He knows that the community needs help, so he is helping. He is helping with labor and with funds. His work is truly incredible and this is another example where he has helped the students and greater Boulder community as he goes above and beyond any call of duty.
This is a link to his facebook followed by the Chabad at the University of Colorado’s facebook.
More incredible stories are featured on both of these pages, in addition.
Rabbi Wilhelm has a
webpage and blog for the disaster relief he is operating, which I highly encourage you to check out.
Most importantly, please, if you can, take the time to donate. Colorado is one of the most beautiful states and there is a lot to do to repair it, but the first priority comes to our people, we need to start with the people. And simply put, we need funds and labor. So, please
help us if you can by donating, go to
www.jewishcu.com/flood. You can also help us by forwarding this email to your friends and family.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering a donation,
Liz Halpern
University of Colorado Graduate 2012
Boulder, CO Resident Since Birth