By: Alixandre Glasser
Rabbi Robert Loewy sits in an office that has no carpeting and no walls. His synagogue, which just a short while ago was flooded by about a foot of water, is now gutted and plagued by mold. Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans, fell victim to Hurricane Katrina.
On Aug. 28, Loewy, Rabbi at Congregation Gates of Prayer, and his family fled Metairie to a friend's home in Houston, Texas. When they realized the severity of the storm they were forced to flee to Waco, Texas, where Loewy's in-laws live. Loewy and his family later returned to Houston and rented an apartment there for three months.
Congregation Gates of Prayer members, as well as members of Temple Sinai and Touro Synagogue, the only three Reform congregations in New Orleans, were also forced to evacuate throughout the Southwest.
It seemed as though Katrina came right in time to spoil both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for New Orleans; however, Loewy and his colleagues, Rabbi Busch and Rabbi Cohn were determined to observe the holidays regardless.
Working cooperatively with his colleagues Loewy conducted services for the Reform community at Stude Concert Hall of Rice University, Houston, for Rosh Hashanah. About 175 people were in attendance for Rosh Hashanah evening services. Yom Kippur evening services were conducted in The Unitarian Church in Baton Rouge, approximately 125 people attended.
Yom Kippur day services were held back in Metairie in Loewy's sanctuary and offered a sense of realistic hope. "This morning, I invite you to hope with me, to hold onto a vision of the future," said Loewy, in his Yom Kippur day message. "I'm not naive, I know that not all of our businesses will be back, not all of our friends and family will return, not all of our schools will reopen."
Around 500 people attended Yom Kippur day services to hear not only the words of hope Loewy offered but also the harsh reality he was willing to face. On this day, 500 people attended services as one.
"It was heartening for a community to come together," said, Loewy.
Perhaps the strength Loewy possessed to triumph over the storm originated during his childhood. As the son of Edwin J. Loewy, retired Nassau County Family Court Judge, and Janet S. Loewy, he learned at a young age the importance of religion.
Edwin and Janet Loewy were founding members of a West Hempstead Reform congregation. They passed their interest in Judaism to their son who, as a young adult, was active in Nassau Community Temple Youth Group, President of Long Island Federation of Temple Youth and Vice President of the National Federation of Temple Youth.
After ordination from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in 1977, Robert Loewy moved to Houston where he was the Rabbi at Congregation Emanu El from 1977-84. In 1984 Loewy became the Rabbi at Congregation Gates of Prayer and a resident of Metairie, where he has lived ever since.
When Edwin and Janet's West Hempstead congregation closed its doors it was only natural for them to join Central Synagogue of Nassau County in Rockville Centre. Loewy's grandparents were among the first founding families of Central Synagogue.
After 57 years in Hempstead, Edwin and Janet Loewy moved to the
Village of Rockville Centre in July. Although their son was never a
member of Central Synagogue, Edwin and Janet Loewy said they and Rabbi Marc Gruber rejoiced in the knowledge that Loewy survived the hurricane and was able to give holiday services regardless of the unfortunate situation.
"We're very proud and pleased that he has taken on not only his immediate family," but all those who needed him, said Janet Loewy.
On Oct. 11, Loewy returned to his home in Metairie. He currently lives on the second floor of his house, because of flood damage, while his family remains in Houston.
Approximately 40-50 percent of Loewy's congregation has returned to the area. For 10-20 percent of his congregation life after Katrina means never returning to the New Orleans area, said Loewy. "Time is measured in BK and AK," said Loewy in his Rosh Hashanah evening message," "before and after Katrina."
