As much satisfaction as the members of the Temple Beth Tikvah team received
from the structural restoration, we also enjoyed the spirit restoration we witnessed in our homeowner. When we arrived on April 17th, the house was dilapidated. The windows were grown over with foliage. The inside of the home was reminiscent of a cave, dark and impersonal. Jimmy's personality reflected his abode. Although friendly, he didn't talk much and stayed inside.

Gradually the house began a metamorphosis, and the homeowner did likewise. As light came into the house, Jimmy's inner light began to shine outward. By the end of our six days of restorative work, the man who previously sat inside anonymously watching TV, was walking around outside for hours. Talking to the team workers, telling stories from his service in the Korean War, talking about the history of his neighborhood; that is the Jimmy I'll remember. But perhaps the most gratifying words came from Jimmy himself.

He said, "Ya' know, I've got all these neighbors coming over telling me how nice my house looks. Hell, I didn't even know I had some of these neighbors!"

It was truly a labor of love,
...Rick

Rick Kenin
Commander, United States Coast Guard