United for Jamaica: The Chabad Response to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica

When, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with winds reaching 295 km/h and widespread damage across the island, the Chabad-Lubavitch network and the local Jewish community immediately sprang into action.

In this emergency, the Chabad of Montego Bay — Chabad of Jamaica — led by Rabbi Yaakov Raskin and his family, distinguished itself by responding swiftly to assist the local population, despite the severe structural damage sustained by its own center.

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The Role of Chabad of Jamaica

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane:

• The windows and doors of the Chabad center were destroyed by the winds, and the solar panels and air-conditioning units were torn away.
• Rabbi Raskin ordered that the Torah scrolls be moved to the mikvah room to protect them from flooding.
• Despite the heavy damage, the center quickly became a relief hub, providing meals, a generator, phone charging stations, and shelter for community members and Jewish tourists stranded on the island.
• A fundraising campaign was launched to cover the estimated damages (nearly US$900,000) and support ongoing relief efforts.
  👉 jewishjamaica.com

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Our Commitment as Chabad Italy

From the heart of our mission — providing support, community, education, and care — we want to relaunch this call:

We invite all Chabad communities in Italy and friends of our network to become aware of the severity of the situation in Jamaica.

We ask you to participate: through donations, by spreading the message, through prayer and action. Even the smallest gesture can help turn suffering into hope.

Let the theme of global solidarity remain central to our work: it is not only about repairing a damaged building or providing a meal, but about showing that Jewish brotherhood knows no borders — that “doing good” never stops, no matter the distance or the language.

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How You Can Help

• Join the support campaign launched by Chabad of Jamaica.
  👉 jewishjamaica.com
• Share this story and appeal within your communities, synagogues, and Jewish schools across Italy.
• Organize community gatherings, moments of prayer, and local fundraising events in your Chabad centers: let’s bring this message of help to life.

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Conclusion

It is in moments like these that the Chabad network shows its strength — not because everything is easy, but because even when the house is damaged — as in Montego Bay — we immediately start moving forward.
As Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, head of Chabad of Jamaica, said:
“We pray, we help, we act.”

This is the motto we see in action on the ground and wish to share.
Source: Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters

As Chabad Italy, we join this effort and invite each of you to be part of the response.
Every contribution, every word, every act of kindness counts.