Hurricane Harvey first made landfall in the Corpus Christi area late Friday, slamming the towns of Rockport and Port Aransas. It continued up through the bay area and into Houston, bringing with it a storm surge of devastating proportions.
Homes and businesses are under water. Today, more than 30,000 displaced people are being housed in 230 shelters across the state, and Chabad-Lubavitch of Texas has mobilized to respond to the disaster.
Since the very first moments of the storm, Chabad’s network of Shluchim—there are 30 in Houston, the Bay Area and as far down as Corpus Christi—have been providing rescue, food, housing and support to anybody affected by the widespread flooding and destruction. They have been joined by hundreds of volunteers, helping to deliver and coordinate assistance around the clock.
On Aug. 31, Verónica G. Cárdenas, a photo-journalist based in the Rio Grande Valley on the south Texas border, documented the relief efforts of Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler, co-director of Chabad Coastal Bend, headquartered in Corpus Christi.
Prior to the storm, forecasters had predicted the worst for the coastal region, and Schmukler had evacuated with his wife, Nene, and four young children to McAllen, 150 miles southwest.
Since then, the rabbi has been spending his days and large portions of his evenings in the coastal region, delivering supplies and food, helping to clean homes and businesses, and providing comfort to those who have lost, in some cases, everything.
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Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler, third from right, prays at Chabad-Lubavitch of McAllen Texas, before departing on a relief mission
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler spends time with his wife, Nene, far left, and children, Tonia, Cherna, Leib and Mendel, who are temporarily living in McAllen, Texas
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler says goodbye to his wife and children before departing for Rockport, Texas
A truck belonging to Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler delivers supplies and aid for victims of Hurricane Harvey
Aiden Prater, a volunteer with Chabad, delivers supplies in Rockport, Texas
Rabbi Schmukler greets an individual who has been negatively impacted by Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler removes debris with an individual affected by Hurricane Harvey
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler delivers water to an individual affected by Hurricane Harvey
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler maps out the area with Bob Guy, a member of the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, before beginning local cleanup
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler comforts an individual, who lost his home and other belongings
An individual assess damage at his home in Rockport, Texas
Rabbi Schmukler with volunteers Dr. David Ryan, Alex Ryan and Mitch Stuart removing debris from a local home
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler embraces and comforts Ed Flower, a business owner whose store was destroyed in Port Aransas
Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler prays in front of a destroyed business in Port Aransas, Texas
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Naftoli and Nene
September 5, 2017 12:22 pm
You are the best!
We love you!
In the know
September 4, 2017 2:26 pm
These shluchim live with real mesiras nefesh. Their heart is 100 percent Rebbe. They have to home school their kids, no yeshiva, no school, no pizza shop, no frum friends for their kids.They live faraway from friends and family.
Shluchim in small towns are very special people who do not get the hurrah that shluchim in big cities get, live in much more challenging circumstances and make the biggest difference.
I salute them for their mesiras nefesh. The photo is a beautiful kiddush Hashem shomayim. We need more like these types in our world. May Hashem repay their sacrifice
May the community be healed along with the whole region
September 4, 2017 12:52 pm
affected, as well as, the entire world from all of it’s awesome challenges, in the best possible way, immediately, with the coming of משיח כאו forever. K’siva V’Chasima Tova!
I am very moved right now.
September 4, 2017 1:27 am
These shluchim are the real deal.
I feel like i need to do something…
oy ribonoi shel oilom!!!
Big Z Schapiro
September 3, 2017 11:19 pm
Yes I agree 100% it is a big Kiddish Heshem
Kol Hakavod!
September 3, 2017 10:55 pm
beautiful Kiddush Hashem.
Nene and Naftali
September 3, 2017 10:24 pm
There are very few shluchim like these two! They are the real deal. We are lucky to know them.
Emulating the Rebbe, whose name means comfort
September 3, 2017 9:31 pm
I am extremely moved by the picture of this shliach hugging Mr. Ed Flower, emulating the meshaleiach, whose name means comfort. “God is close to the brokenhearted.”
May Hashem help all these people rebuild
September 3, 2017 7:09 pm
And be even better than before
And until the second that happens, may HAshem give them all comfort and strength
Moshiach NOW
More shluchim coming
September 3, 2017 6:40 pm
A group of shluchim from the northeast are coming to Houston in two days to help out
We should all be so proud of all of our shluchim especially in Texas
The Rebbe certainly must be
So moving
September 3, 2017 6:11 pm
Thank you for making us so proud. You are an example of the beautiful chasid of the Rebbe. Your parents should be very proud of you. They taught you well.
Much nachas, Rabbi Efraim and Chana!
Dovid
September 3, 2017 5:52 pm
Major kidush hashem
So proud!!
September 3, 2017 4:59 pm
Go corpus Christie!!!!
Big Kiddush Hashem
September 3, 2017 4:53 pm
Very impressive. Kol Hakavod.
Ch'er
September 3, 2017 4:32 pm
Wow.
How do you find words of comfort for an individual who just lost EVERYTHING.
yes I know that Hashemite has greater plans. Etc etc. but emotionally. It’s strength
Go schmukler
September 3, 2017 4:13 pm
Amazing work you do…
Keep making the Rebbe proud!!
Incredible and heartwarming!
September 3, 2017 3:44 pm
Good for you rabbi Schmukler! Your actions are really awe-inspiring and have really given me some food for thought about what is really important in life.
You are the best!
We love you!
These shluchim live with real mesiras nefesh. Their heart is 100 percent Rebbe. They have to home school their kids, no yeshiva, no school, no pizza shop, no frum friends for their kids.They live faraway from friends and family.
Shluchim in small towns are very special people who do not get the hurrah that shluchim in big cities get, live in much more challenging circumstances and make the biggest difference.
I salute them for their mesiras nefesh. The photo is a beautiful kiddush Hashem shomayim. We need more like these types in our world. May Hashem repay their sacrifice
affected, as well as, the entire world from all of it’s awesome challenges, in the best possible way, immediately, with the coming of משיח כאו forever. K’siva V’Chasima Tova!
These shluchim are the real deal.
I feel like i need to do something…
oy ribonoi shel oilom!!!
Yes I agree 100% it is a big Kiddish Heshem
beautiful Kiddush Hashem.
There are very few shluchim like these two! They are the real deal. We are lucky to know them.
I am extremely moved by the picture of this shliach hugging Mr. Ed Flower, emulating the meshaleiach, whose name means comfort. “God is close to the brokenhearted.”
And be even better than before
And until the second that happens, may HAshem give them all comfort and strength
Moshiach NOW
A group of shluchim from the northeast are coming to Houston in two days to help out
We should all be so proud of all of our shluchim especially in Texas
The Rebbe certainly must be
Thank you for making us so proud. You are an example of the beautiful chasid of the Rebbe. Your parents should be very proud of you. They taught you well.
Much nachas, Rabbi Efraim and Chana!
Major kidush hashem
Go corpus Christie!!!!
Very impressive. Kol Hakavod.
Wow.
How do you find words of comfort for an individual who just lost EVERYTHING.
yes I know that Hashemite has greater plans. Etc etc. but emotionally. It’s strength
Amazing work you do…
Keep making the Rebbe proud!!
Good for you rabbi Schmukler! Your actions are really awe-inspiring and have really given me some food for thought about what is really important in life.
S.A.
NYC