United Hebrew in St. Louis has joined a variety of congregations in Joplin, Mo. to plan an interfaith service at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 20 at the Landreth Park amphitheater in Joplin. UH joined representatives of five Christian congregations, Joplin’s United Hebrew Congregation and the Islamic Society of Joplin in organizing the service, titled “Remembrance, Recovery, Responsibility.” 

Organizers said the service will include readings, prayers, meditations and music from the different faiths represented in the community in order to remember the victims of last year’s devastating tornado in Joplin and reinforce the community’s dedication to the rebuilding of Joplin. 

Cantor Ron Eichaker of United Hebrew in St. Louis is directing the music for the service and plans to attend with United Hebrew’s Organist and Assistant Music Director David Cohen. 

After the tornado struck Joplin on May 22 last year, United Hebrew in St. Louis led a collection effort and filled a large U-Haul truck, a commercial cargo van and a congregant’s pickup with supplies, clothes, bedding, water and food, which they delivered to Joplin. 

Eichaker and his wife, Heidi, traveled to Joplin last July after the former student rabbi serving Joplin emailed St. Louis Jewish community leaders, asking if they could visit Joplin and lead services.

“Back in July I had promised the community that I would not forget about them and that I would be here to support them in any way I can,” said Eichaker in an email. Since then, he has organized Torah sessions through Skype (an online video conferencing program) for the Joplin congregation.  

He also used Skype to take part in planning sessions for the interfaith service.

“Joplin still has a long way to go and several of the congregations represented are still recovering from the damage. This event is intended to help the community look forward in a positive way,” said Eichaker.

Paul Teverow, a board member at Joplin’s United Hebrew (Joplin’s sole synagogue) and one of the event’s planners, said an interfaith service “seemed an appropriate way to remember” the lives lost during the tornado and the massive destruction it wrought in the community.

The National Weather Service website states the tornado claimed 162 lives. Joplin had a population of 50,150, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

Teverow, a history professor at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, said eight of the congregation’s 35 families experienced varying levels of destruction due to the tornado—but no injuries or fatalities. The congregation itself was not damaged from the tornado. 

Teverow said the rebuilding efforts in Joplin have been steady, but ongoing. 

“If you were to come here not having been here before you’d probably be struck by the number of vacant lots. You can clearly see the path of the tornado. But for those of us here that remember the devastation, we’ve been impressed with the clean-up efforts and the continuing reconstruction.”

Teverow said he the upcoming service could become an annual event—or lead to new interfaith partnerships.  “We hope that even as the memory of the tornado may fade, the interfaith collaborations continue,” he said. 

In addition to the United Hebrew congregations of Joplin and St. Louis, the committee for the interfaith service includes representatives from First Community Church, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Episcopal Church of Carthage, Islamic Society of Joplin, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and South Joplin Christian Church.