Over 129 people have lost their lives, and many families lost their homes after the Guadalupe River overflowed its banks and swept through central Texas on July 4.
Individuals and organizations across the United States have jumped into action to help with rescue and relief efforts, including the Jewish community, which was quick to organize fundraisers and relief responses in the wake of the disaster.
Rabbi Yossi and Malkie Marrus, who run the Chabad of Boerne, Texas were among the first to rush to provide aid to the victims of the disaster.
The Marruses originally weren’t supposed to be in Texas this summer. They had been scheduled to lead a Birthright trip to Israel and visit family in South Africa, but both trips were canceled.
“Hashem clearly puts us where we’re supposed to be,” Rabbi Marrus told Jew in the City.
The Marruses, who founded the Chabad house just a few years ago, have been checking in on the about 120 Jewish families they know of in the area affected by the floods, but they’ve also been providing aid to anyone who needs it, Jewish or not.
“Thank God, everyone we directly knew was safe. But very quickly, we realized this was much, much bigger than the Jewish community,” they said.
“We have a sacred responsibility to make sure the Jewish community is doing everything it can to help other human beings,” Rabbi Marrus added. “Because we’re all created in the image of Hashem, and human beings are suffering.”
Among the aid the Chabad house has provided is chainsaws for first responders to clear debris, fridges for fire stations to store donated food, and funds for families who have lost everything.
A dedicated team of volunteers has been working to assemble and distribute pallets of supplies at the Chabad center. “People are in dire need of medical supplies, food, water, and clothing,” Rabbi Marrus told Chabad.org. “We are here to support them and the first responders who’ve been working around the clock for days.”
Within a day after the disaster, Shalom Austin, a hub for Jewish organizations in the Greater Austin area, launched a Flood Relief Campaign to gather aid for those affected by the floods. In a matter of days, the campaign collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from thousands of donors, alongside hundreds of packages of essential supplies.
“The devastation from the Central Texas floods is heartbreaking beyond words. Families have lost loved ones, homes have been destroyed, and communities we care about deeply are facing tremendous loss.”
“In the wake of this flood and the destruction it has caused physically, emotionally, and psychologically, we are witnessing an outpouring of compassion and resilience. Neighbors helping neighbors, communities rising to meet the needs,” Shalom Austin CEO Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus said.
“This tragedy has touched so many Texans and people across the country and globally, including our summer camp communities, places where lifelong friendships are built and where generations have found joy, learning, and belonging.
“Every act of generosity brings hope and healing. It brings light to those who need it most. Thank you for your compassion, your prayers, and your action. Together, we live our values, bring light into the darkness, and help one another to bring sukat shalom, to bring a shelter of peace, to those in need.”
Shalom Austin has also established a volunteer-led Texas Flood Relief Campaign Allocations Task Force to ensure the funds are used and distributed in the best way possible.
The Eliashar family was among the many families in Texas who were forced to start over with nothing after the floods washed away their home.
Crissy Eliashar was at home with her three children and a friend when the floods hit, narrowly escaping the waters after a neighbor woke them and alerted them to the danger. The family escaped with the clothes on their backs while the flood swept away their home, their car, and everything they owned.
“Last night we narrowly escaped the floods with our lives. My brave babies held on to each other and their beloved dogs while we waded out of our sliding house and into a raging river formed under and behind us,” Eliashar posted to Facebook. “We need everything.”
Families at the Eliashar’s Jewish day school, Austin Jewish Academy, have jumped into action, setting up an online fundraiser to help them rebuild. Within a week, the fundraiser has already raised over $115,000.
Jewish camps express solidarity after disaster strikes Texas summer camp
One of the sites hit hardest by the floods was Camp Mystic, a local Christian summer camp, where at least 27 campers and counselors lost their lives.
Jamie Simon, acting CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, stressed that “In the Jewish community, we know the power of camp.”
“We know it as a sacred space where children find their voice, counselors discover their purpose, and lifelong friendships are formed under starry skies. We know it as a refuge where values are lived, joy is abundant, and community is built in song, sweat, and spirit,” Simon added. “That’s why our hearts are broken alongside the camps in Texas who are grieving unimaginable loss after this week’s devastating flood.”
“While our traditions, affiliations, and identities may differ, we are united by a profound belief that camp shapes lives. In times of joy and in times of sorrow, camp is where we gather to grow, to lead, and to heal. And now, it is where we must gather our compassion and strength to support our fellow camps in need.”
Simon stressed that Jewish camps are ready to help in any way needed, “whether through direct support or emotional solidarity.”
“In Jewish tradition, we are taught that comforting the bereaved and aiding those in distress are among our highest responsibilities. May the memories of those lost be a blessing, and may the resilience of the camp community — so deeply rooted in care and purpose — carry us forward together,” Simon added.
Camp Young Judea-Texas, which is located in the Texas Hill Country area but on higher ground, expressed its condolences as well.
“To the brave camp directors and staff who gave their lives protecting children, we honor you. Their heroism reflects the very best of our camp community,” the camp said.
How can I help?
There are a lot of different ways to help the communities hit by the floods.
The Chabad of Boerne has set up a page here where you can donate or sign up to volunteer.
Shalom Austin has another donation page, available here.
If you’re looking to help the Eliashar family get back on their feet, the fundraiser for them is available at this link.
Many other local organizations are raising funds for disaster relief too, including a fund dedicated to long-term therapy for survivors of the disaster at Camp Mystic and a fund to help families affected by the flood afford to return to camp.
GoFundMe has also set up a dedicated page here for verified fundraisers for those affected by the floods, to ensure that donations go to where they’re needed and not to scammers who may be taking advantage of the situation.
The local Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has also set up a relief fund here where they’ll collect funds to distribute to vetted local organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery services and flood assistance.
