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Martha Bergadine - 3-Nov-2006 - Katrina's Jewish Voices
About this film
Rosalind Hinton interviewed Rabbi Martha Bergadine on November 3, 2006 at Beth Shalom Synagogue in Baton Rouge. Martha helped the Jewish Federation of Baton Rouge handle the massive influx of Hurricane Katrina evacuees that poured into Baton Rouge during the aftermath of the storm. Her efforts included placing evacuees with households in the area, providing social services, and organizing search and rescue missions for both people and Torahs left behind in New Orleans. Martha Bergadine grew up in Michigan and converted to Judaism as an adult after meeting her husband Stan Zamek. They both decided to change careers at the same time and entered the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinanati. They were both ordained as Rabbis in 1996. They moved to Baton Rouge in 2000, where Stan became the Rabbi at Beth Shalom and Martha later joined the Jewish Federation of Baton Rouge. After Hurricane Katrina hit in August/September 2005, Baton Rouge experienced a huge influx of evacuees, and Martha helped mobilize the Federation to provide people with basic needs and social services. She also helped organize people to do search and rescue missions for people as well as Torahs…
Directors & creators
Jewish Women's Archive
Subjects
Jewish Women's Archive; Institute of Southern Jewish Life; Oral History; Martha Bergadine; Rosalind Hinton; Hurricane Katrina; Jewish Federation of Baton Rouge; natural disaster recovery; Hurricane Rita; Beth Shalom Synagogue (Baton Rouge); social service; Torah rescue; Hurricane Katrina evacuees; Katrina's Jewish Voices; "New Orleans, LA"
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