Joplin, MO

Every other weekend during the academic year of 2004-2005 I had the pleasure of serving the United Hebrew Congregation in Joplin, MO as their student rabbi.  During my third year of rabbinical school the small but dedicated Jewish community helped teach me what it means to be a rabbi.  They helped me decide to go into the pulpit rabbinate after my ordination.  I found out the other day that luckily no member of the Jewish community was seriously injured from the tornado, but the community does need help.  The Jewish community of St. Louis (where I am from) is leading an effort to assist them, and so is this year's student rabbi from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati Ariel Boxman.  May the Jews in Joplin have a Shabbat Shalom.