When representatives of Lubavitch-Chabad were seen rushing to the scene after TWA flight 800 burst into a fireball off New York, rumor had it that a delegation from the movement must have been on board.
There were no members of the movement on the ill-fated flight, but offering relief in the wake of disaster seemed to be natural for them.
“Because of our proximity to the area, we were in a position to help immediately,” said Rabbi Leib Baumgarten, director of Lubavitch of the Hamptons. “Instinctively, our staff all came out to help.”
Lubavitch representatives, who often help out in the aftermath of disasters, spent the night of July 17 at the Coast Guard station helping rescue and recovery workers and overseeing proper handling of the victims’ bodies.
The crash killed all 230 people on board.
Baumgarten and Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Long Island, also provided eyewitness accounts to the media about the aftermath of the crash.
Meanwhile, Lubavitch volunteers helped comfort the victims’ families and led them in prayers.
“We felt it was our responsibility to extend whatever help we could to whomever we could,” Baumgarten said. “While we can’t explain why such a tragedy happened, we can reach out to the families and offer strength and support.”
Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, a Reform rabbi who is executive director of the American Jewish Congress’ New York Metropolitan Region, participated in an interfaith service held for victims’ families. “This tragedy of catastrophic proportions that transcends religion, nationality and creed became personal for me,” Rosenbaum said, adding that “what happens to one person anywhere affects all people everywhere.”
Meanwhile, B’nai B’rith has established a fund to help the families of the victims.
The organization’s Disaster Relief Fund has donated an initial $10,000.
“As the world mourns this horrendous catastrophe, we hope that the cause of the crash is soon learned,” said Tommy Baer, president of B’nai B’rith.
“Hundreds of bright futures were instantly extinguished in the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the relatives of those killed in this tragedy.”
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