by Dovid Zaklikowski – Lubavitch.com
The photo of a rabbi reaching through the prison bars embracing the inmate on the other side, begs for background.
Nati Hadad, who captured the image that soon went viral, says it was a heartbreaking moment. He had gone with the Chabad rabbi to bring food to the young Israeli prisoner whose desperation was driving him to the brink.
“You do not want to find yourself in a prison in Thailand, where there are no beds or bathrooms, just a small pipe with water and a hole to relieve yourself,” Hadad said. “Just from seeing these prison cells you could become sick.” Hadad runs a local business and knows the lay of the land well enough so that he’s begun helping foreigners stay out of trouble.
Koh Samui, an exotic Island, where some 50,000 Jewish tourists coming through the country during the year, could also be a place where foreigners could get into trouble. “While it is not often, it happens from time to time that we have to attend to prisoners, mostly from Israel,” said Rabbi Mendy Goldshmid.
As the local address for everything Jewish, Goldshmid and his wife Sara field calls from many tourists who need assistance “with doctors, the police or prison wardens.”
Hadad waited when the prisoner asked to pray with the rabbi. Goldshmid leaned forward and prayed with him. The inmate reached through the bars for the rabbi’s kippah, placing it on his head before reciting the Shema prayer.
As Goldshmid, now covering his head with his sleeve, and the prisoner, prayed, Hadad heard their quiet sobs. “Tremors went up my spine during those emotional moments in the prison wall,” Hadad says. “They were the most heartbreaking moments in my life and I began to cry like a small child.”
Hadad said that since he and the rabbi have taken the time to educate visitors about local law, where to be careful and how to deal with locals, there has been then a fifty-percent drop in these kinds of issues.
“I have the greatest admiration, which I cannot describe in words, for all that the rabbi does here in Koh Samui,” says Hadad.
Goldshmid deflects the compliment. “Isn’t this what I am here for?” He says, pointing to Hadad’s generosity for always willing to give up his time to help another.
Together they hope to educate tourists, even before they arrive to the country, to further lower the risk of such problems.
What law did he break. How long is he incarcerated. What can the Jewish community do to help him.
Its ridiculous if innocent people are imprisoned for mysterious reasons. The israeli foreign minister should be made to sort this out with thailands foreign minister. Any other government could participate too if their citizens are also victims
I am so proud to be a Lubavitcher !!!
Ps. Iy”h I will be taking on a hachlota tova thanks to this beautiful inspection.
I love these positive articles, very motivating and Isperational !!
Best Shlicah in the world!
Dear Mendy and Saral’e
Keep the good work
So proud of you both
A real Mesirus Nefeah a true Chesed Ahavas Yisroel
Help thous lost souls to find their way home
So sad!
why was he in prison
i feel so bad for the prisoners, it must be really be tuff to be in there, i pray that hashem helps them
Maybe publicize the rules here for avoiding trouble in foreign countries?
very beautiful article and so sad for the prisoners.
what are the imprisoned for?
I got all choked up reading this! Unbelievable work by our shluchim – truly love for every jew.
such a moment of unity and love!
dreadful but beautiful.
So proud to be part of the chabad ethos. ashreinu
hashem should give strength and happiness to the lives of the rebbe’s shluchim.