The only synagogue in Christchurch, New Zealand, survived a massive earthquake.
The fate of the city’s Chabad house remains unclear, however.
Saturday’s tremor, registering 7.1 on the Richter scale, ripped through the city in the south island at around 4.30 a.m., causing an estimated $1.4 billion in property damage. There were no fatalities.
Rabbi Mendel Goldstein, the American-born director of Chabad of New Zealand, told JTA that the earthquake – the country’s worst since 1931 – razed part of the roof of his dining room while his wife and three children were sleeping.
“We scrambled to find the kids, pick them up and hold them beneath the doorposts,” he said.
“When we felt it was slowing down we took them out of the house into the parked car and hunkered down for about two hours,” Goldstein said. “No one was seriously hurt although quite a few elderly people are still in shock over the earthquake,” he added.
But the fate of the city’s Chabad House, which is home to the country’s only kosher restaurant, is unknown because the area has been cordoned off by authorities due to the extensive damage.
“It’s in the hardest hit area,” Rabbi Goldstein said. “The Chabad House serves as the community center.”
Rabbi Goldstein went to the city’s only synagogue, Canterbury Hebrew Congregation, just hours after the quake on Saturday morning.
“The shul just finished renovations last Wednesday; the building was overdue for some strengthening for quite some time. Coincidentally the repairs were completed and the shul was virtually unscathed by the earthquake.”
“We’ve been visiting older members of the community. We delivered them some drinks and food and made sure they know someone is there for them.”
Rabbi Shmuel Kopel, another Chabad rabbi, flew from Dunedin to Christchurch Sunday to help Rabbi Goldstein with relief efforts for the city’s 2,000 Jews.
Boruch Hashem!
They are all safe and well B”H, and are all the community members.
is everyone safe – and well?
hashem yerachem! ad mosai!
its not part of the link.
just contact them to see how you can donate!
hashem yerachiem!
Please take a moment to visit
http://www.chabadnz.org/tools/feedback.htm
and donate generously