“They cooked up a storm – Shaar synagogue was a five-star shelter”

The front page of the Westmount Examiner (1935-2015) on Thursday, January 22, 1998, about the shelter provided at the Shaar during the Ice Storm.

Transcription:

They cooked up a storm
Shaar synagogue was a five-star shelter

They came from all over the west end, seeking warm shelter, a hot meal, and perhaps a friendly smile. Five days later, when life had finally returned to normal for most, they regretfully left with warm memories of all their needs met plus new friends, special attention and even fun. The shelter from the storm of the century that Shaar Hashomayim provided so the community during the ice storm has been dubbed by many of the evacuees as The Five Star Shelter. When the reality of the storm was becoming too clear to many Montrealers, Jonathan Schneiderman, member of the congregation and resident of NDG, who was one of the first to lose power, realized just how critical this thing could get. “I recognized that come nightfall more and more residents without power would be getting colder and hungry. I contacted Judith Shreiber executive director of the congregation and suggested the synagogue be used as a shelter. She agreed that is what a synagogue should be doing and responded immediately not only with agreement but with resources. Jose Dos Santos, the building supervisor, immediately took over managing the logistics. He contacted chef Tanya Mendes who was enjoying a well deserved post-holiday vacation. Mendes came in with her staff of six and started to cook, originally for the few, and by the end of it feeding ever 300 at a time, plus take-out tor every person when they were returning home. Within a few days her son. J.J. and her husband John were conscripted as well.

(See VOLUNTEERS, page 3)

Cook Tanya Mendes, with aid from Otylia Bogal and others, made meals for 300.