Hatikvah - A Blog About Life in Rabbinical School

Matt and Jen's blog about their adventures while Matt is in rabbinical school. Hatikvah, the name of the Israeli national anthem, means "the hope." This blog reflects their many hopes and adventures about their experiences during this process.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Hurricane Preparation Advice for the Shomer Shabbat


The National Weather Service is currently forecasting landfall of Hurricane Irene near North Carolina on Saturday and with potential impacts into the Boston to Washington D.C. metropolitan region on Sunday. Hurricane Irene has the potential to be a very serious storm that could impact a very large number of people across the Eastern Seaboard. The timing of Hurricane Irene is challenging for those who are observant Jews with regard to Shabbat.



The major principle of halacha involved in preparing for and responding to Hurricane Irene is that of pikuach nefesh docheh et HaShabbat, or "the preservation of life overrides Shabbat." The rabbis have always been lenient when it comes to risking life or limb. They are clear - do not attempt to observe Shabbat if your life is in jeopardy!1 There are already Hurricane Warnings2 issued for the Carolina coast. With any type of severe weather warnings, it is time to be more concerned about your life and the lives of your family than Shabbat.



With that in mind, these are my suggestions...



Pre-Shabbat in Hurricane Watch or Warning Zones



  • Assemble or restock your emergency evacuation kit.
  • Obtain and listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
  • Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).
  • Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.
  • Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.
  • Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
  • Fill your car’s gas tank.
  • Plan what to do if you have to evacuate: Decide where you would go and what route you would take to get there. You may choose to go to a hotel/motel, stay with friends or relatives in a safe location or go to an evacuation shelter if necessary.
  • Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and make plans for your pets to be cared for.
  • Evacuate if advised by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.
  • Leave your radio and television on and set to news or weather stations; use the volume control on the device during Shabbat.
  • Leave your computer and Internet on and pre-load local government and official weather and emergency websites into your browser! One helpful site is the National Hurricane Center
  • Prepare battery-powered flashlights and lanterns for power outages.


During Shabbat

  • If you are in a hurricane warning area, do not attend synagogue. Stay home with your family and monitor official sources for evacuation and emergency warning information. Daven at home!
  • Use your computer and Internet to monitor the situation by pressing Ctrl-R or Cmd-R on your computer to reload the webpage. This is not writing on Shabbat and again, it is pikuah nefesh.
  • If you are in a warning area and are ordered or encouraged to evacuate, do so using your automobile(s) and bring your evacuation supplies with you, even if it involves carrying.
  • If the power goes out, do not use candles (they are very dangerous). Use your flashlights and/or battery-operated lanterns.
  • Use your phone to call 9-1-1 or authorities in an emergency. Use your phone to contact friends or relatives who you made pre-storm arrangements for lodging.


For more information on disaster preparedness, visit Ready.gov's hurricane preparedness page.



Notes

1) “Whoever is swift in desecrating Shabbos in a matter that involves danger is praised” (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 328:13) and “One must desecrate Shabbos even if there is only a slight possibility that the situation is dangerous. One does not need a professional opinion or an expert physician. Whenever one is uncertain whether the situation is dangerous, he is required to desecrate Shabbos” (Shu”t Tashbeitz 1:54) (Rav Shimon ben Tzemach Duran, the Rashbatz, 14th century Spain).


2) Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.



(Much of the above instructions are adapted from Ready.gov and the American Red Cross)



The author, Matt Rosenberg, is a rabbinical student in Los Angeles and a former director of emergency services for the American Red Cross. He knows a lot about disaster and the halacha of disaster on Shabbat.