More than 30 Jewish Groups urge Congress to Pass Comprehensive Disaster Relief

National Council of Jewish Women, Dayenu, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and Union for Reform Judaism Lead State and National Jewish Organization Sign On Letter Supporting Comprehensive Disaster Relief

Dear Senator/Representative:

On behalf of the undersigned 31 state and national Jewish organizations, our hearts go out to the people impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Homes and businesses are decimated, families are displaced, workers are on hold, money is tight, and food is scarce. 

The social, economic, and health impacts on vulnerable communities cannot be understated. The climate crisis increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that make existing inequalities and injustices worse for people with low-incomes, people of color, Indigenous People, women, and individuals with disabilities — creating economic disruptions, displacement, and a deeper power imbalance caused by a lack of bodily autonomy and power.

As Jews, we believe that the moral test of a nation is how it treats its most historically vulnerable people. When Congress considers disaster relief to respond to these current crises, we urge lawmakers to pass a comprehensive recovery package with program flexibility for emergency nutrition assistance and housing. In addition to traditional disaster relief funding to support rebuilding of homes, businesses, and other infrastructure, the recovery package must also include robust funding for childcare, home health care, paid leave, public transportation, counseling, and other supports necessary to ensure stability and support for everyone impacted by the hurricanes. 

Looking ahead, as you work to finalize the 2025 budget, we also encourage you to make significant investments in mandatory and discretionary programs such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and other programs to ensure more resilient community rebuilding in the long-term. While we work to provide immediate assistance and recovery support, we must safeguard funds that invest in clean energy and climate solutions that can help avert future disasters.

Jewish tradition is clear about our obligation to protect the widow, orphan, and stranger. This commandment — repeated no less than 36 times throughout the Torah — not only teaches us to protect those in need and ensure that they can access the social safety net, but also to ensure that all members of our community have their physical, emotional, and financial needs met regardless of gender, marital status, age, race, or citizenship status. Times like this require that we come together to urge our lawmakers to do everything in their power to save lives and help individuals, small businesses, and communities recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. 

Signed,

Ameinu

Avodah

Aytzim: Ecological Judaism

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action

Central Conference of American Rabbis 

Congregation Kneseth Israel

Dayenu

HIAS

Jewish Community Action

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Jewish Democratic Council of America

Jewish Labor Committee

Keshet

Lilith Magazine

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

National Council of Jewish Women

Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies

Rabbinical Assembly 

Reconstructing Judaism

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Society for Humanistic Judaism

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

The Den Collective

The Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN)

The Workers Circle

TischPDX

Union for Reform Judaism

Women of Reform Judaism

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism – WLCJ

Zioness Movement

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