It has been nearly three months since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and the island’s recovery has been slow. The U.S. territory is struggling with shortages of food and medical supplies, and a full 45% of residents still don’t have power. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz blames Washington for failing to devote adequate resources…
The recent revelation that the hedge fund controlled by Boston billionaire Seth Klarman owns nearly $1 billion in Puerto Rican debt shouldn’t have surprised anyone following Klarman’s involvement in political issues. Klarman, a mega-donor to Jewish and other communal causes, has often chosen to utilize “dark money” when it comes to causes in which a…
Making a profit by purchasing cheap debt and selling it for a higher price is not illegal; indeed, Boston billionaire Seth Klarman has made much of his fortune that way. But it can be unpopular, especially when the indebted party is struggling. Klarman’s hedge fund, The Baupost Group, holds $911 million in Puerto Rico’s debt,…
A Jewish man flew down to Puerto Rico to help evacuate his sick friend to Florida as Hurricane Maria closed in a heart-warming tale. Elie Finegold, a native of Dallas, Texas, flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico to be at the side of his long-time friend Clovis Tobias, who had been evacuated to Puerto Rico…
(JTA) — UJA-Federation of New York delivered a planeload of humanitarian supplies to the JCC in Puerto Rico and returned a stranded retired New York firefighter in time for his son’s wedding. Firefighters in the city of Yonkers collected the supplies that arrived in Puerto Rico on Sunday morning in the wake of Hurricane Maria….
(JTA) — After he managed to bribe three van drivers to load their vehicles with aid supplies and drive him and his crew from the San Juan airport, Eli Rowe felt his humanitarian mission was off to a good start. Gas was scarce in Puerto Rico, but now all the food, medicine and hygienic supplies…
(JTA) — Puerto Rico’s three synagogues closed for Rosh Hashanah as Hurricane Maria pummeled the island. The synagogues, all in San Juan, canceled Wednesday evening services for the Jewish New Year and urged members to stay home, according to The Times of Israel. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning after causing widespread destruction…
The small Jewish community in Puerto Rico is preparing as best it can for the expected arrival of Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storm systems on record. “We’ve had just a few moments of some gusty winds, and some heavy rains for a short period of time. But this is going to increase…
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