Student volunteers clear out flooded synagogue in New Orleans

[Behind the Aegis]

NEW ORLEANS - Standing on moldy and debris-covered floors, college students cleaning up a synagogue paused for a prayer service - the first at Beth Israel since Hurricane Katrina flooded it with more than 3 meters of water three months ago.

The dozen or so students were among roughly 50 from colleges across the country who have come to New Orleans to spend their winter break helping with recovery efforts at the century-old synagogue, as well as at area homes and schools left damaged by the storm.

The students, wearing face masks and gloves, hauled out to the synagogue's front lawn books, furniture and holy items such as a shofar - a ram's horn used in holiday rituals.

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