CHABAD OF THAILAND

BS"D


Dear Friends,
I write to you in the midst of the mounting humanitarian disaster effecting Southeast Asia. As we are the only Jewish service agency in the country dealing with this catastrophe, our offices and staff have put everything else aside, working 24/7 to assist those in need. I therefore turn to you for urgent help in funding our humanitarian efforts during the crisis.

Chabad of Thailand has responded to the crisis by dispatching Rabbi Nechemya Wilhelm to the scene of the tragedy in Phuket to aid in the rescue efforts. The three Chabad Houses of Thailand staffed by six full time Rabbis and twelve Rabbinical trainees have been turned into crisis centers where survivors can come and place phone calls home, or try to find their friends as of yet unaccounted for, have a free meal, receive funds for new clothing and medical help as needed.

Chabad volunteers are standing by at the local hospitals to visit the injured and provide them with kosher food and any other help needed. The Chabad Rabbis and their wives are also counseling the survivors who are in a state of emotional trauma.

Chabad is providing free international phone calls to those who wish to call home and inform there loved ones of their whereabouts. The free Internet service available at the Chabad centers is functioning as usual.

Between our three Thailand locations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Ko Samui, we have fielded several thousand phone calls from Israel, trying to help families locate their relatives. We have been instrumental in notifying Israelis in Thailand who have not been affected by the quake, to contact their families back home. The Israeli Consul in Thailand, Yakov Dvir, contacted Rabbi Wilhelm for help in locating hundreds of Israelis who are stranded in the ravaged seaside towns of Thailand. Israel’s Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom acknowledged that the Israeli Foreign Ministry has sought Chabad's help in locating Israeli citizens in Thailand.

As the initial efforts of search and rescue wind down the grim work of identifying bodies and counseling bereaved families will keep the Chabad staff fully occupied in the immediate future. In addition we are helping clothe, feed and accommodate the survivors of this natural disaster who are appearing at our doors in Bangkok as they slowly try to make their way home.

The initial estimate of expenses incurred to our organization as a result of this Tsunami is in the tens of thousands of dollars. Since we don't have prior experience, it is possible that hospital expenses as well as transportation of bodies for burial may also become a significant expense as the situation unfolds.

Please contact us at phone number (24 hours for emergencies) (661) 837 7618

Or email rabbi@jewishthailand.com 

Thanks in advance for your assistance in this most important Mitzvah

To help us in our humanitarian mission of Ahavat Yisrael and Tzedaka in the aftermath of the Tsunami please click here to donate online at

http://www.chabadthailand.com

Banking Details:

Citibank N.A.

830 Port Washington Blvd

Port Washington, NY 11050

SWIFT: CITIUS33

ABA(Routing) # 021000089

account # - 77859470

American Friends of Chabad of Thailand

 
Bangkok Bank

Head Office 333 Silom Rd Bangkok

Swift code BKKBTHBK

Telex # TH82638

Acct # 101 5580788

Acct name:

Joseph Kantor for Lubavitch