Updates - Chabad Chai - South Tampa
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Updates

Update 4 - Post Yom Kippur

Not the Yom Kippur we had planned, but one we will never forget. With our Chabad house uninhabitable, we moved to services to our home, with only limited power for kol nidrei. At 10:30pm we were blessed to have a commercial generator from the Governor’s office that gave us lights and AC for the rest of YK. While most of our community has yet to return to Tampa from their evacuations, dozens of people came by over YK as we were the only physical prayer services in South Tampa. Yes, we were tired physically and mentally and emotionally drained, but our prayers were pure and undoubtedly received by our Heavenly Father. The joy of our limited breakfast, which Dina concocted from thin air, is proof of our indomitable soul. Now on to Sukkot!! #tampastrong #chailife #bendbutneverbreak Please continue to support our Hurricane relief efforts as we work to help our community get back on its feet Rabbi Mendy Dubrowski

Update 3 - Pre Yom Kippur

Dear Friends, Baruch Hashem, thank G-d! We are excited to report that we will be hosting our Yom Kippur program as scheduled at our home as the Chabad Center is still unsafe. If you are in Tampa for Yom Kippur please join us starting this evening at 6:45pm for Kol Nidrei. We ask you to reply to this post to confirm your attendance and for the exact address. I know that much has changed over the last week, but one thing remains the same: we are stronger when we are together. Yom Kippur will undoubtedly be different this year, but we have each other and our trust in Hashem that all is for the best, and brighter more joyous days are ahead. We want to thank the Governor's office for arranging this commercial generator, which will allow us to host services for our community and hopefully provide more support starting on Sunday. As the Day of Atonement approaches, allow me the opportunity to wish you and your family a sweet new year. May you and your family be inscribed in the Book of Life for goodness, kindness, health & prosperity. We know the power of Tzedaka before this special day. I would like to personally ask you to support our relief efforts so we can help others overcome this obstacle and celebrate a joyous New Year. www.chabadchaicenter.com/Hurricane Hope to see you tonight at our home but if not, I wish you a meaningful Yom Kippur wherever you may be. I know many of you have always celebrated Yom Kippur with us for many years and can't join us this year. Make no mistakes you will be with us in our hearts and souls. Gmar Chatima Tova Rabbi Mendy & Dina Dubrowski KOL NIDREI -October 11 -6:45 pm SHACHARIT - October 12 - 9:30 am YIZKOR - October 12 - 12:00 pm NEILAH - October 12 - 5:45 pm Services will be held at The Home of Rabbi Mendy & Dina

Update 2 - Post Storm

Dear Friends, It has been a mixed day: tragic and gut-wrenching but also inspiring and hopeful. We've now emerged from the storm and fully grasp the enormity of Hurricane Milton's impact on our community. In Hillsborough County, 75% percent of people are without electricity. That translates to roughly 600,000 people! Major flooding in South Tampa and around rivers or lakes has caused significant water damage in people's homes, including ours, where water soaked our precious family room. Wind gusts of 100 - 120 MPH have brought 50ft trees down and littered our homes and streets with branches. Some community members have lost their homes due to trees falling or wind ripping away roofs. These are each on their own devastating, but put together it can be paralyzing. Yet, the hundreds of messages I've received over the last 24 hours reveal the beauty of the human spirit, and the true definition of "Am Yisroel", one nation one family. Each person has put their own challenges aside and is concerned only for how to help others. It its truly remarkable how connected we are. This inner strength and reservoir of resilience will empower us to support each other and ourselves as we rise and shine once again, here in beautiful Tampa. Thanks to your support we have begun distributing hot meals, cold drinks, generators, and lots of hugs. When the storm began we coordinated efforts with volunteer EMS service Hatzolah from Miami, and Chavivim Search & Rescue units from Brooklyn. Now our efforts transition to relief. We have secured a group of volunteers coming up this Sunday to help clean & salvage homes. Many of you have been asking about plans for Yom Kippur. Currently, we don't have a definitive answer. Our Chabad Center still needs power and is leaking soiled water into the main room. Our home has water damage and requires mold removal. We hope to be able to host our own services, but if we can't, we will invite everyone to join us in North Tampa at Chabad of Tampa Bay. We are so appreciative of the many people who have contributed so far to our relief efforts, both in time and in contributions. We know the Torah encourages us to give extra charity before Yom Kippur to seal and secure a great year ahead. As we stand 12 hours before this holiest of days, please consider making a generous gift to our Relief efforts, and may you and your family be blessed with good health, happiness, and success in all you do. Please follow this link to make a one-time donation to help us in our need. www.chabadchaicenter.com/hurricane May each of you be sealed in the Book of Life for a life of peace, love, and joy, and may we always be there to support and hold each other because that's what family does. Rabbi Mendy & Dina Dubrowski 813.943.6864

Watch Rabbi Mendy evacuate the Torahs

Due to an abundance of caution our Sifrei Torahs have been evacuated North. They represent the life and soul of our community, and please G-d they will return immediately after the storm passes.

WATCH HERE!

 

Hurricane Milton Update from Chabad Chai

 The Storm track continues to shift south, then back north, and it is still uncertain where it will make landfall, expected around midnight tonight. 

If you’ve decided to stay local, you should be off the roads by early this afternoon at the latest. 

If you lose power, G-d forbid or there is extreme flooding in your neighborhood. Please let us know, and we will try to arrange a rescue for you. We attended the Emergency Preparedness Meeting with TPD last night and have coordinated a plan with trained volunteers from NY and Miami and the TPD Chief. 

Please do what you can to stay calm, as difficult as it might be, especially if you are caring for children or elderly individuals. 

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Yom Kippur Services: We are coordinating with Chabad centers in Florida, Georgia, SC, and NYC, for those who have evacuated and won’t be back in time for Yom Kippur. They’re happy to welcome you for services. If you’d like help connecting with a Local Chabad, please call/text us at 813.943.6864

Details for Yom Kippur Services at Chabad Chai are TBD. We will make sure to update you as soon as possible.

Safety Check-Ins: We are in touch with search and rescue teams that have staged in Central Florida, and we’re coordinating efforts with the Tampa Police Department, If you’re staying in the area during the storm, let us know so we can check in after it passes.

Stay safe, and don’t hesitate to reach out.

RMD & ND

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