Robert Loewy
Robert Loewy was born in 1950 and grew up in Hempstead on Long Island. He came to Louisiana to serve as the rabbi for Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie. He is actively involved in Jewish communal organizations, including Jewish Community Day School (formerly New Orleans Jewish Day School), the Rabbinic Council, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. After Hurricane Katrina, Rabbi Loewy lost his position teaching at Loyola University but served as an instructor until the storm. He is married to Lynn Loewy, a teacher and writing coach, and they have four grown children.
Robert discusses his family background, childhood experiences, education, and career path. Coming to New Orleans, he says the city is a Jewish community as opposed to a community where Jews live. He talks about his role as one of the senior rabbis in the New Orleans area and the Reform community more generally. After Hurricane Katrina, Robert and his family - and many others from New Orleans - evacuated to Houston. Rabbi Loewy used to work at Congregation Emmanuel and was familiar with the Houston area. A few days after the storm, he led a thanksgiving service at Congregation Emmanuel. Rabbi Loewy told about the decision to stay in Houston and put his daughter in school. He also discussed the gathering of his staff and his board. Two things needed to be done: gathering the congregation and gathering resources. He sent out an email SOS for a Rabbi's discretionary fund and immediately received $50,000. Rabbi Loewy talked about how decisions were made for the High Holidays. There were services in Houston, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Metairie. He shares the importance of gathering around meals and having Shabbat dinner at Ralph and Kakoos in Houston. He had a young man named Joe Lieberman lead services even though his bar mitzvah was postponed. Robert describes the flooding of Gates of Prayer and the problems establishing his congregation in Metairie. They could have services for Yom Kippur in a stripped-down Gates of Prayer. Finally, Rabbi Loewy reflects on tzedakah and the themes of his High Holiday sermons following the storm. He sees the synagogue's goal as giving a sense of calm and respite from everyday chaos.
