Moore, OK – Vowing To Pay It Forward, Orthodox Assemblyman From NY Tours Oklahoma Wreckage

Moore, OK – Having been on the receiving end of disaster relief just a few short months ago, New York Assemblyman from Queens Phil Goldfeder wasted no time in flying out to Oklahoma City in order to provide relief and support to victims of Monday’s devastating tornado.

“Folks in Far Rockaway only survived because of the kindness of people throughout New York and across the country, Oklahomans among them,” Goldfeder, a Far Rockaway resident, told VIN News, in an interview from Oklahoma.

“When I first saw the photographs of the tornado ravaged area, it reminded me of the aerial photos of Breezy Point after Sandy,” explained Goldfeder. “The difference here is the sheer magnitude and the size of the devastation. It goes on for block after block. There are no streets anymore. No street signs. What used to be a city block or five city blocks is now just wasteland.”

Despite having personally witnessed the devastation and destruction of Hurricane Sandy, Goldfeder was awed by what he saw in Moore.

“I have seen horrific things post-Sandy. But nothing could prepare me for this,” said Goldfeder.

The assemblyman arrived in Oklahoma City yesterday with a suitcase full of kosher meals, hoping to offer relief, support, comfort and make a Kiddush Hashem.

“They never even made it to Chabad,” reported Goldfeder. “I dropped them off at the first relief center I passed.”

With recollections of Sandy fresh in his mind, Goldfeder took the opportunity to offer encouragement both to tornado victims and to relief workers.

“Just driving from the airport to the Chabad center, I saw relief tents with people collecting supplies, literally every few miles. I stopped at every one and thanked the volunteers for their help,” said Goldfeder.

Paying a visit yesterday to Oklahoma’s House of Representatives, Goldfeder reported that New Yorkers, some of whom are still trying to put their lives back together after October’s mega-storm, are hard at work preparing supplies to be shipped to Oklahoma.

“I informed them that we are coordinating with the OU and the National Council of Young Israel, working on getting truckloads of meat and food ready. Schools throughout my district have been taking up collections for the victims and I have been in touch with many of the organizations who were on the front lines during Sandy, including Achiezer and other local entities, making them aware of the help in order to help residents get back on their feet.”

Goldfeder received a standing ovation from House members, some of whom contacted him to tell him how appreciative they were of his visit.

“I spoke with the pastor of the First Baptist Church who said to me ‘Disaster is terrible, but look how it brings people together,'” said Goldfeder.

Goldfeder urged the public to do whatever it can to help out Oklahomans in their time of need and praised Rabbi Ovadia Goldman of Chabad of Oklahoma City for his tireless efforts.

“I can tell you from my own person experience that when we needed it, people were there for us,” said Goldman. “I went to a relief center and took a picture there and looking at the picture I realized that this was me, six months ago. This is eerily similar to what I saw in my own neighborhood. People need to turn around and give it back to the people who need it now.”

Donations can be made to Chabad of Oklahoma City’s toranado relief effort at http://www.jewishokc.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2230046/jewish/Tornado-Relief.htm