Jewish Facilities Hit Hard in Miami Area; Mt. Sinai Shelters Victims

Jewish community facilities in Miami, Miami Beach and the surrounding area suffered heavy damage to various buildings, and at the same time aided other victims of the disaster, as this city was struck by Hurricane Betsy, Leo Mindlin, editor of the Jewish Floridian, reported here today in a special dispatch to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Many properties owned by Jews suffered very heavy losses from the high winds and torrential rains that swept this area. Estimates of the total damages, however, were not available today.

Mount Sinai Hospital, at Miami Beach, began issuing instructions Monday to expectant mothers to come to the hospital. Persons in homes considered unsafe also were invited to take refuge in the hospital, The institution suffered extensive plate glass damage in the lobby and water flooding. The hospital was still continuing today to house and feed persons who arrived on Monday.

The YM-YWHA of Greater Miami reported extensive damage to its Miami Beach facilities, as well as to its new $750,000 building, the former Westbrook Country Club. Doors and windows were extensively damaged. Considerable flooding of the two “Y” facilities and damage to their roofs also were reported.

TEMPLES REPORT HEAVY LOSSES; MOST OF DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS, FLOODS

Temple Beth Sholom, in Miami Beach, still had no lights today. Water had flooded in from high tides blocks away, and damaged the house of worship.

The Jewish Home for the Aged in Miami reported it had suffered little damage, and that it had not lost power or telephone facilities at the height of the storm.

Sections of the distinctive copper dome of Temple Emanuel, one of the largest Conservative synagogues in the United States, were ripped out. Offices and cellar facilities of the synagogue were flooded.

Windows and floors in the Greater Miami Jewish Federation building were smashed and ripped out, and water damage was considerable, The storm knocked to the ground Temple Beth Am’s huge sculptured Torah scroll outside the building.

The Wolfson Auditorium and the Joseph H. Kaplan Chapel of Temple Israel of Miami were flooded when huge plate glass windows were smashed by the storm.