Rays of Light
The following are snippets based on personal conversations with the main actors of the stories.
January 5, 2005
Dear Chabad Rabbis,
I just want to tell you an incredible story that someone told me today.
An associate of mine's family was on a family trip to Thailand for 10 days. They wanted to spend Shabat on one of the small islands but at the last minute they decided that it would be more Shabistic to spend Shabat on the mainland in the Chabad house. The Chabad house literally saved their lives because it ends up that the island they were thinking of going to was the worst hit of all.
Heaven and H…
A eighteen year old survivor was repeatedly stating "this is such a hell" when she recalled that just moments before the disaster they were commenting that "this is such a heaven". In her words "I did not know that Heaven and Hell are so close".
Saved by Rope
A couple who was diving off the coast near the scene of disaster at seventeen meters depth when they felt the wave pull off their mask. The rope that the boat lets down enabled themselves to surface and to survive (one of them broke several ribs from being banged around but is happy to be alive).
25 Meters and Safe
Another young man diving, at 25 meters down, did not feel anything, came back to the island and was flabbergasted to see the devestation..
Ferry
A couple relates. "We were on the ferry and as we approached Phi Phi the ferry almost capsized but ultimatley managed to stay afloat. The survivors came to recite the Thanksgiving blessing.
Glasses for Family
Uncle and nephew lay in different hospitals. The uncle was in Phuket hospital looking desperately for this nephew. The nephew was in Bangkok hospital looking desperately for his uncle. They did not know whether the other was alive. Till they both called Rabbi Nechemya who told them the good news. As Rabbi Nechemya bought the uncle glasses in Phuket, Chabad staff were buying glasses for the nephew in Bangkok.
Toys for Finnish orphans
Unfortunately some vacationing Finnish families were badly affected. The children of one family are mourning the loss of their father and praying for the recovery of their mother. Rabbi Nechemya bought toys for the unfortunate children to try and help keep their mind of this terrible tragedy.
Local Family of five Safe
A local family of five had made plans to be on one of the Islands that was the worst hit. For some techincal reason they cancelled their trip several days earlier....
Another Local Family Saved
Another local family was to fly to one of the ravaged islands at 7:00 am of that fateful Sunday morning. They missed the 7:00 flight (probably much to their dismay...) and were rescheduled on a later flight. Upon boarding their rescheduled flight, they were promplty ordered off the plane as the news of the tsunami became known.
Baby Survives With Parents
A couple with a baby lost temporary sight of their infant as he fell out of their grasp into the swirling murky waters. Miraculously, the nanny who had accompanied them felt something in the waters near her feet. It was the baby... who survived and is safe and sound together with mother and father.
Full Moon Party Saves Scores
The full moon parties of "ko phangang" were held on Sunday night. According to the "experts" in traveler movements, the bulk of Israeli youngsters traveled away from the disaster areas before the wave hit, in anticipation of the "full moon parties" near Ko Samui.
One Week Before New Year...
As full as the islands were last Sunday, they were set to be even more full come New Years....
Family Survives in Phi Phi
From yet another family - this one visiting from Australia this just in:Hi Rabbi Kantor. Gabby and myself , Zachary and Eli were on Phi Phi Island when the wave hit. it was a miracle we lived.
Tefilin Safe and Sound
I have just arrived back in my home country South Africa having survived the tsunami in Phuket
I would like to share with you one of my experiences during that nightmarish period.
After the water had subsided in my hotel I returned to my room to find as expected it was totally flooded and almost all my possessions ruined however I did manage to retrieve my passport, air ticket and money all very wet indeed and in absolute perfect condition with not a single drop of water upon them my bag with my TEFILLIN which I had put on only 30 minutes prior to the first wave. the TEFILLIN bag was on a very flimsy table and must have floated on the water as the level of water in my room as indicated by the water line on the walls was chest high, much higher than the table height.
Mike W.
Safe and Sound Thanks to Tefilin
Mr. Phillip V. who survived the Tsunami relates the following story. I was praying with my Tefilin in my room before I went downstairs from my hotel. This meant that I had not yet started walking on the beach which would have put me in grave danger. My wife and two children had gone down to the pool when for no apparent reason they decide to leave the pool early and go to the breakfast room which was on the second floor. The wave hit just moments after they left the pool, washing away everything in its wake. The family is all safe and sound and finishing their holiday in Bangkok.