Today was exhilarating to say the least. Although we were exhausted by the end, it was the type of tired where you felt complete and accomplished. We woke up early, to begin a hard day’s work with Habitat for Humanity. I was amazed to see, despite the lack of sleep, that everyone possessed an enthusiastic smile and was excited to help make a difference. For us, it was not just nailing boards and neatening lawns, it was a warm feeling knowing that we built a home. We built a place for a family to grow, prosper, make memories, cry, laugh, and everything in between. We created that atmosphere. It was therefore not surprising to see the surrounding enthusiasm because there was a reason. The idea that we were a small gear in a larger machine that would one day make a loving home, that was a common thought threading through every single mind in the group.
Eliana (center) works with her team on leveling the ground before placing grass down.
We came from different schools, states, and denominations of Judaism, but in the end, we were all here together, united under one mission. With Habitat for Humanity, we all wanted to lend a hand in giving to someone in need. After this, we went and took a ride to the Ninth Ward. We sat down in front of the rebuilt levees, ones that broke during Hurricane Katrina taking the lives and homes of others with them. To see the sight a falling community right before our faces cannot be compared to reading about it in a newspaper or seeing a special about it on TV. This was not a distant place; these were real people struggling to rebuild their lives that were washed away. Our hearts dropped at this depressing sight. However, Jewish learning always finds a way to bring light to what seems like the darkest of situations. As a group, we learned about the Rambam’s view on the different levels of giving charity. The highest of those levels is to enable a person to become self sufficient. This brought back the previously felt warmth and enthusiasm once again. Each and everyone of us knew that we achieved this level of giving for we helped build a house where someone else can hope and dream and create a better future for themselves. As we walked away, although we all looked the same, we were changed. We had a new perspective as to what it meant to give and what an impact that can make. It was only one day, not even 24 hours but the power of those hours is something that I will never forget.