Chaverim y'karim - dear friends,

 

Like so many of us, I have been so distraught thinking about the tragedy that unfolded last weekend at Camp Mystic - one of many devastated sites from the flooding in Texas.

 

I have read many newspaper articles and listened to a few podcasts that spoke about this horrific flooding of a century-old summer camp. I was particularly touched by the words of Sarah Cytryn, a veteran of a Jewish summer camp. The following appeared in a Times of Israel article about the flooding at Camp Mystic.

 

“When you choose to send your child to sleepaway camp, you join a small, quiet, powerful club. It doesn’t matter the religion of the camp — Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Catholic — or the focus of the camp — sports, theater, nature, health,” wrote Sarah Cytryn, who travels from her home in Israel each year to send her children to Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, where her family has longstanding ties. “What unites us is a shared faith: in the power of camp, in the people who dedicate their summers to shaping young lives, and in our belief that this experience will help our kids grow, thrive, and discover who they are.”

 

The loss of life at the Christian all girls "Camp Mystic," unfortunately now famous, hits home. I have just returned from an alumni weekend at my Jewish summer camp where I grew up. When I heard what these young women and girls have lived through - or died in - my heart breaks. One of the reports shared recordings and stories of counselors calming campers as they were being rescued. The voices of the campers singing their camp songs of and with faith reminded me how vital community, faith, safety, and support are. 

 

How fortunate are those who survived - how tragic the loss of life. 

How fortunate the bonds of love forged before this past weekend - how great they will be needed in the steps ahead toward mourning and healing. 

 

Our tradition teaches us to hold onto one another and in so doing, we keep God in the story ... for God is not the one who brings on the floods but God is the one lifts the broken hearted, who hearkens to prayer, and gives us strength when we are weary. For Jew and Christian, the lines from Psalm 23 provide solace and framing in this moment, "Yea, though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." With our arms, hearts, souls, and minds, we can bring no less than God's rod and staff to comfort, direct, hold, and love.

 

With that in mind, I am including links (see below) to a few organizations that have mobilized to lend support and resources to those who have been affected by this horrible tragedy. 

 

To the families of Camp Mystic, Cytryn wrote, “You are not alone. We are all standing with you.” May the memory of those who have died be remembered for the blessings they brought to life and may those whose homes have been destroyed, broken, and shattered find safety and care in the days to come.

 

L'shalom,

 

Rabbi Mark Cohn, 9 July 2025

 

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PERFORMING DEEDS OF G'MILUT CHASADIM (ACTS OF LOVING-KINDNESS)

 

The recent floods in Texas are a humanitarian disaster in need of many hands, hearts, and organizations. Below is a short list of three groups who are intimately involved with relief and/or similarly aligned with Camp Mystic, which was the Christian girls' camp so severely devastated by the flood.

 

Give as you are able. By donating to Jewish organizations (like Shalom Austin), you help make sure a Jewish presence is on the ground supporting our fellow Americans.

 

We Are Blood

Shalom Austin: Flood Relief Campaign

Foundation for Jewish Camp