After Hurricane Melissa Hammers Jamaica, Chabad Shelters and Aids Community Amid Rescue Effort

Hurricane Melissa smashed into the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms recorded. The country’s Chabad house, led by Rabbi Yaakov and Chaya Raskin, installed extra freshwater tanks filled with 5,000 gallons of water and topped up the 500-gallon tank on the diesel generator. 

With pallets of non-perishable food on the ready, locals gathered at the Chabad House in Montego Bay on the island’s northern coast to shelter from the storm. 

The protective plywood covering windows, doors, and the iconic sign outside Chabad’s Kosher Hot Spot: “ARK — Acts of Routine Kindness Center,” were ripped off by the powerful winds. Those inside retreated to an interior “safe room” away from the winds, with mattresses barricading the entrances. The entire building shook, with water coming in from all sides, as Montego Bay bore the brunt of the hurricane’s eyewall.

Before the hurricane hit, the Raskins reached out to every Jew they know on the island, asking them to share the location where they’d be riding out the storm. Rabbi Raskin plans to travel to the isolated mountain towns of the island’s interior after the storm, looking after each member of his flock, just as he did last summer after Hurricane Beryl pummeled the island.

Some 350 Jews call the island home year-round, while 200,000 Jewish tourists visit the country each year, where they find kosher food, Torah classes, services and Shabbat accommodations at Chabad. Now, calls, and messages came in from trapped tourists. “We’ll bring them to Chabad,” Chaya Raskin said. “That’s what we do. We pray, we help, we do.” The Raskins, aided by Chabad volunteers flown in from the U.S.A., are traveling the island, delivering food, water, clothing and medicine to survivors, many of whom have been left homeless by the storm.

“Jamaica is a nation of faith, and we are gathering in repentance, prayer, and charity, encouraging everyone to stay positive,” Raskin said. “We turn to G-d, and He will protect us all.”

To support Chabad of Jamaica’s hurricane relief efforts, visit www.jewishjamaica.com/melissa.