'It was a result of a fundamental Jewish value of kindness and concern.'
'A value that extends beyond our own and on the premise that when we are ok, we are supposed to look up and look around to see who is not.'
'And do something about it.'
The Orthodox Union, the oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, has launched a two-week emergency campaign to raise funds for much-needed oxygen concentrators for India.
The Orthodox Union is asking individuals or families in the Jewish community to donate $18 each to help India with the aim of collectively acquiring and donating 50,000 oxygen concentrators, each one capable of helping up to 1,100 people.
"We are hopeful that providing oxygen concentrators will further strengthen the relationship of the Jewish people with India" Rabbi Moshe Hauer tells Rediff.com US Contributor Abhijit Masih.
Tell us about the Orthodox Union and its mission..
The Orthodox Union is an organization that represents and conserves the broad orthodox Jewish community throughout the United States and Canada and to a certain degree the entire world.
We provide services to those who follow a kosher diet, services in support of synagogue infrastructure, many educational programs, advocacy for our community with government as well as trying to properly represent and galvanize our community according to our religious values.
How did you decide upon this campaign to help India?
The coronavirus has been a crisis for everybody in the world.
Our community, like everyone else, was deeply affected by it.
Here in America, thank God, we have reached a point where the worst is behind us with the success of the vaccination drive in this country.
As this was happening, we saw and read about the blooming and growing crisis in India and we felt that while we could personally breathe easier in relative to the pandemic.
This also gave us the space to be able to be there for others who were now facing the kinds of difficulties that we had faced before.
It was a result of a fundamental Jewish value of kindness and concern.
A value that extends beyond our own and on the premise that when we are ok, we are supposed to look up and look around to see who is not. And do something about it.
What specifically inspired you to help India through this campaign? Was it the images of suffering on television and press?
I can't speak of a specific image. There is a whole film, a collage of images that we have all seen and the staggering numbers that were coming across.
Is the decision to help India, in these difficult times also because India has a unique connection with the Jewish people?
As a nation that has never oppressed the Jews and in modern times, is a reliable ally of Israel.
That is something we are very aware of and do truly appreciate as well.
Still, we feel that it was the crisis that was the primary mover.
The crisis, that was being experienced by other human beings, by other suffering human beings.
The Dawoodi Bohras have converted the mosque complex into a COVID-19 vaccination centre for all communities. Photograph: Kunal patil/PTI Photo
Do you believe that this campaign of providing oxygen concentrators, will further strengthen the relationship of the Jewish people with India?
We would certainly be hopeful that it would do that but more than anything else we hope that It will first improve relationships between human beings anywhere and everywhere.
Where we move away from this terrible fracturing of our global and national societies. And learn to look and to concern ourselves with the ones who are beyond ourselves.
People who face very different tests than us in life and who we may never even have met but share the image of God.
That they deserve the same kind of kindness, compassion, safety and security that we seek for ourselves.
What has been the response to this benevolent campaign?
We have been very moved by the expressions of gratitude and appreciation that we have received from those we have interacted with in trying to accomplish this project and from many others.
It seems that the people in India are very generous in their gratitude and very sensitive in expressing appreciation. It's a really beautiful thing to see.
What about the logistics behind providing the oxygen concentrators to India? Are plants being set up in India or will complete units be sent?
The units are being sent to India and there is a sophisticated system in place.
There are other organizations working in partnership with us to implement the project and an artificial intelligence system that is deploying these units throughout the country based on critical research.
Rabbi, have you ever visited India or had the chance to see the beautiful and historical synagogues in Kochi and Mumbai?
No. I have not had the privilege to do so. I do hope that I get a chance to visit someday.
How do you see the India-Israel relation progress in future?
We see it progressing both as a strategic and humanitarian partnership.
Of two nations that are both working to build themselves and to foster concern and goodwill in the world around it.
There are many gifts that each country brings to the world and can share with each other.
Practical, technological, industrial gifts, as well as attitudes and a pasture of cooperation and partnership.
Do you think the personal relationship between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu is the reason why the India-Israel relationship has blossomed in recent years?
Beginning with Mr Modi's 2017 visit to Israel, the first Indian prime minister to do so.
That was a profound expression of outreach and it has certainly gone a long way in building that relationship.
I was particularly moved by one of your videos, where you mentioned that 'Family is the most basic block of society.'
What message would you give to the families in India who may have lost a member of their family to COVID-19?
The grief of such a loss is incalculable.
In our tradition, when someone sustains a loss of someone dear to them, we spend the days thereafter surrounding them with existing families and friends and with prayer.
The way we gain strength is by recognizing that while there has been a hole created in our lives but there are still others that are there that stand with us.
When a family member is lost, every other family member becomes that much more important.
That much more an essential part of the support system that we all need to live.
While we have lost one piece of our self, we have to bring together all the other pieces.
There is a Biblical verse that asks us not to express overwhelming grief when losing someone dear to us.
So we are there for each other and we also remember our ultimate heavenly Father who will always be there with us.
At the same time, while we focus on what we have lost, we also focus on what we still have.
Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
