In the article “Lessons of Hurricane Katrina for American Jews,” Karla Goldman explores the impact and destruction of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans community and the Jewish community’s response to the storm. She incorporates the current Covid-19 pandemic and describes the disaster response strategies to Katrina and applicable lessons gathered from the 2005 hurricane to the pandemic. One overarching similarity that Goldman mentions between the two crises is the disproportionate effects on the African American and other minority communities due to a lack of access to health care and public safety. Ultimately, she criticizes the American federal and state government’s continued inability to respond effectively to times of crisis, yet displays how through coming together in times of need, the Jewish community can develop its independent disaster response to assist those in their local communities.

Goldman’s argument is strengthened by her use of listing the valuable lessons learned from the response to Hurricane Katrina and their application to the COVID-19 pandemic. She writes, “History matters…Do not dismiss mainstream Jewish institutions…We are in this together…Put on your mask first…Money isn’t everything” (186-187). Another strength of the article’s argument is Goldman’s overview of the specific successful responses to the Katrina crisis, especially those directed by the Jewish community. These included a systematic effort from the Jewish community, fundraising, mental health services, and food assistance. All of these efforts can be extended and applied to the Covid-19 crisis. Goldman mentions Jewish oral histories collected from Katrina. I believe that something that could have been included to strengthen her argument is the oral histories of Jewish survivors of both Hurricane Katrina and those experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic. A first-hand account of both tragic experiences may strengthen the argument and provide additional insight into the response of the Jewish community and its impact on it. Goldman writes, “As with COVID-19, however, the most devastating impact of Katrina was felt by the city’s poorest, mainly African-American, residents, while people with more resources and white skin privilege were better prepared to navigate the crisis” (184). She highlights that communities of color are more heavily affected in times of crisis like Covid-19 and Hurricane Katrina. However, Goldman fails to pose potential solutions to this problem. While she surfaces effective response strategies implemented during Katrina, they are not targeted to the African American community. She additionally admits that the United States federal and state government have not made much progress in disaster response since Katrina. Rather than proposing solutions, she merely exhibits hope that Covid-19 will result in positive change for the African American and other minority communities.

Goldman, Karla. “Lessons of Hurricane Katrina for American Jews, 2020 Edition.” Jewish Social Studies vol 26, no. 1 (2020): 181.