After the storm • Chabad of Oklahoma: There were miracles

Deadly tornado struck last night in Oklahoma in the United States claimed the lives of at least 91 people. Hundreds of others were injured. Among the dead were 20 children also caught in a school building which collapsed. The storm, the intensity of 300 mph, caused damage in a radius of 50 miles from Oklahoma City.

Rabbi Ovadia Goldman, Chabad emissary in Oklahoma City, said that the Jewish community hit in the tornado is very small, and still is not clear - at conversation with him - what happened to them.

"We're sitting here in my office, Chabad Center, and trying to contact all the Jewish families living in the area who were affected. I can say that there were visible miracles that the tornado passed there is a non Jewish school, and next to it an ultra-Orthodox Cheder. The non Jewish school was badly hurt, children killed or wounded, and in our Cheder no child was hurt.

"Furthermore of what we know there was not even serious damage to property, because many were hurt by trees which flew in the air due to the wind's power. What I can tell at this moment, is that there is destruction at the scene, the phone lines are cut off, so we still cannot make contact with all the people. We are waiting for it to pass, as soon as possible and we we're going to stock up on food and all that is needed and go down the area to see who needs help.

"We also set up here at Chabad Center a temporary shelter, for anyone whose home was damaged and needs help. We are looking for missing persons within and outside the community. We have four rabbis for rabbinical advice to victims who are traumatized. We are working with law enforcement and offer shelter, especially for families with children who need a place to stay and older citizens.

"At the same time we are collecting essential items like water, toiletries, and items for children, and in addition we are collecting money for various organizations that need money immediately."

The Rabbi even published on the website of the community, which called for anyone who has a relative or friend who lives in the affected area, to call and inform the rabbi so that the established staff could get to out and check the condition. Rabbi Goldman added that as far as he knows also synagogues in the affected area were not affected.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!