The Beth Israel Congregation of New Orleans lost its Torah scrolls during Hurricane Katrina. The first new Torah scroll came courtesy of an energetic Los Angeles teenager, Hayley Fields, who formed a non-profit called “Every Minute Counts.” By selling watches with this phrase engraved on it for $5.00 a piece, she raised $18,000 to purchase a new Torah for Beth Israel. On August 27, one year after the storm, she and her family came to New Orleans to present the scroll to congregation.

This image is a part of JWA's Katrina's Jewish Voices collection. Photo by Donna Matherne.