Dear CRC Members and Friends,
As many of you know, our CRC campus sustained significant damage in the May 16 tornado — one of the most devastating disasters in St. Louis history. We are still assessing the full cost, but early estimates put the damage, particularly to our trees and landscaping, at over $30,000.
While we are committed to restoring and replanting on our property, we also know that this moment calls us to look beyond our own fences. As Jews, we are guided by the value of tzedakah — an obligation to pursue justice and care for others, even when we ourselves are in need. And we know our CRC community is generous and expansive in its vision of who belongs and who deserves our help.
That’s why we are launching the CRC Tornado Recovery and Tzedakah Fund — a way to raise funds to restore our property AND extend our support to those in our broader community who have been hit hardest by the storm.
Gifts to this fund will be divided equally:
- 50% will help CRC recover and restore our grounds, bringing back the natural beauty of our campus and ensuring CRC remains a welcoming sanctuary in the city.
- The remaining 50% will be shared equally, as a gift from our membership, between two trusted grassroots partners:
- 4theVille, which uplifts and preserves the historic Ville neighborhood; and
- InvestSTL, which strengthens neighborhoods and supports long-term recovery efforts across St. Louis.
- 4theVille, which uplifts and preserves the historic Ville neighborhood; and
Both organizations have been on the ground since day one, helping families and communities most affected by this disaster. By giving to this fund, we come together to rebuild CRC and offer a meaningful communal gift to those doing the daily work of repairing our city.
The fund will remain open through July 31, 2025. We invite you to contribute at whatever level is meaningful for you.
In addition to giving, many CRC members have asked how they can show up in other ways. Toward that end, we’ve launched the CRC Tornado Recovery Task Force — a volunteer effort made up of congregants who are lending their time and energy to cleanup projects, basic home repairs, and other hands-on recovery work across the community. Click Here to Learn More
These two initiatives — the Tornado Recovery and Tzedakah Fund and the Task Force — offer us meaningful ways to respond: through our dollars, our time, or both.
On behalf of the entire Board and Staff of CRC, thank you for considering being part of this sacred work.
Paul Wagman
Board President