From the Desk of Rabbi Yosef Kantor

Bangkok, Thailand

By the Grace of G-d

POST CHANUKA 5782

December 2021

Dear  Friend ,

You know the story.

The Maccabees entered a Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple) that was desecrated and defiled.

No ‘pure’ oil was available in stock to kindle the lights of the Menorah.

Eight days was the minimum time needed to produce new oil.

The holy and brave Macabees didn’t want to delay the rejuvenation of the Menorah for one moment longer than necessary.

Thus, when they found one vial of ‘pure’ oil enough for one day, they kindled the Menorah.

THEY DID THEIR BIT.

Hashem made an OPEN miracle.

The oil that was enough for ONE day lasted for EIGHT days.

I would like to ask you to join in mirroring this miracle.

I am dealing with two kinds of mutually exclusive missions at the same time.

Dealing with the joyous adventurous travelers who have jumped through the hoops of Covid time travel. They are optimistic about the future.

And at the same time, I find myself consistently responding to the needs of the downtrodden and challenged who suffer from the still ongoing hurdles in Thailand’s opening.

Intellectually they are a paradox. Are things good? or not good? Is Thailand open or closed?

In reality both are true and coexistent.

Either way, what’s the difference for a generous Jewish heart like yours? I believe that your response to both groups is the same.

Whoever needs help, lets help them.

Each in their own way.

Here is what I mean.

Some people are living:

THE OPTIMISTIC DREAM, DREAMING OF BLUE SKIES and CALMING WAVES

And indeed (until midnight last night) Amazing Thailand had reopened thank G-d.

Test n Go packages means (as of last night his is temporarily past tense) that you can enter Thailand, get tested and after your first results come back you can tour Thailand freely.

This means that Chabad of Thailand is the hub of many young Jewish travelers once more.

Shabbat meals need to be served.

Kosher food.

Or just simply being here and doing the ‘Chabad Thing’.

And it is YOU that can make that happen!!!

What do I mean?

Eli got stuck here last week without money. He called the Israeli Embassy. They politely said that they couldn’t help. Chabad House would be the best place to go, they advised.

If I hadn’t seen it, it would be hard to believe, but here is what unfolded. Eli walked into Chabad House and said he needed money in Thailand. Mendy, at the Chabad House, knew someone who had money in Thailand but needed money in Israel. Eli’s parents deposited Shekel into Mendy’s Israel account. Eli got Thai Baht at Chabad House. Eli was saved from a very unsavory predicament. Instantaneously.

Incredulously, Eli exclaimed ‘I am not religious, but I cannot help but be overwhelmed with emotion.

WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WASN’T JEWISH?

YOU can make sure that people like Eli have a welcoming face and helping hands to turn to.

Eli may say that he is not observant, but he walked out of the Chabad House with a newfound bounce in his step and a heartfelt feeling of appreciation and JOY that he is a part of our special people’.

For Nina who came here just before Covid started, it is about providing financial and moral help as she is undergoing pioneering medical treatment that is only available in Thailand. The results of this treatment are miraculous for her. She needs your help in this miracle.

YOU can help her . Here is how.

Nina is so lonely as she is thousands of miles from her family.

Her favorite respite is the ‘pinat metayelim’ (backpacker lounge).

YOU can make sure that it is stocked with drinking water, Israeli coffee and cookies, so that the Jewish travelers can ‘hang out’ with camaraderie and celebrate the fact that they ‘belong’.

To the optimist in you, who dreams of the good times, I say, Chabad of Thailand has reopened. Ever growing numbers of travelers are traversing the country.

How will we sustain the reopening?

We are without enough sustaining ‘oil’.

The Chabad Houses pantries are depleted.

The supply chain has been broken over the past twenty difficult months and we have to restock our shelves with dry good and our freezers with chicken and meat.

At the most we have ‘oil for one day’.

W e are adopting the ‘game plan’ of the Maccabees.

Albeit relying on your help to be G-d’s agent to make miracles.

Nina and Eli are asking for YOUR help.

I know that YOU want us to reopen WITHOUT DELAY even though it may be tough during this uncertain time… and I know that I can count on you to join me in an optimistic approach to the coming weeks and months.

Please help that one days-worth of ‘oil’ GROW and INCREASE to be able to provide joy and life-saving help to those who need it.

YOU CAN PROVIDE THE MIRACLE.

YOU can provide Shabbat meals to a Jewish traveler for $54.

You can provide a day of coffee and refreshments at a Chabad House for $180.

You can be a heroic Maccabee and give a REPLENISHING grant of $1,800 to an individual Chabad House to give electricity to keep the lights and aircons on.

Yup, we have those adventurous souls who are here.. by the hundreds.

THEN I ALSO TO THE REALIST IN YOU.

In reality, the ominous developing variant is causing borders to slam shut…

oy vey. The Thailand headlines are talking about new restrictions.

This brings with it panic and desperation.

And now a new kind of help we are meeting up with.

People who land here and TEST POSITIVE upon arrival. This creates a HUGE MESS. Ten days in hospital.

A honeymooning couple is having to split up, she will go back to USA on the very first day of their trip and he will stay for ten days at hospital.

We fielded calls through the night regarding this moving case and many others.

Locally, the flood of requests for survival grants and help have not abated. It looked like the world would open and people could start to work and earn enough to keep their heads above water, however this seems to be delayed.

Marty lives here in Thailand and is suffering depression after nearly two years of lockdown.

He needs help to pay for his medications so that his depression doesn’t spiral dangerously out of control...

DT is about to be evicted and needs a few hundred dollars to maintain the roof over his head.

Discreet food baskets are still being delivered on an ongoing basis as Thailand is still struggling with a greatly impacted economy.

You can cover a weekly food delivery for $180

You can provide Marty a month of lifesaving medication for $540

What is certain is, that YOUR funds can make miracles for the Jews of Thailand both the travelers, as we reopen, as well as the needy and struggling local Jews who need your help and I turn to you with this personal request to help ensure that we conclude our financial year without disturbing debt.

Help us be FREE and AVAILABLE to help all of those who turn to us day and night!

THANK YOU MY DEAR FRIEND, for listening and for your generosity. And most importantly for your BLESSINGS and GOOD WISHES which gives us the spiritual energies to flourish and thrive.

May YOU be blessed to always be on the side of the givers, in good health, with nachas and prosperity, untill Mashiach comes and usher our world into its peaceful reality that we so eagerly await. AMEN

With blessing,

Rabbi Yosef Kantor

PS your gift of $180 will provide MIRACLES for the local Jews in need, as well as the young dedicated soldiers -  who travel to Thailand (and have already entered under Sandbox and Thailand Pass and ASQ programs).

Can I count on you to be there for these brothers and sisters, and the elderly and infirm who need your help?