First Bris Held in S. Maarten

Simcha Martin/Maarten is a Caribbean Island divided into two, with half of it belonging to the French and the other the Dutch.

Chabad Shluchim Rabbi Moishe and Sara Chanowitz arrived on the island 3 years ago, and since then have established the first synagogue there since its first synagogue was abandoned in 1781, the ruins of which can still be found on Front St., where a ‘Guavaberry Emporium’ now stands.

The Chabad center/synagogue is located in Simpson Bay Yacht Club above Zee Best, in a space that once held a Baptist church.

Recently, members of the Chabad House of Simcha Maartin, Moshe and Meira Hakimi, gave birth to a baby boy.

The bris, possibly the first one on the Island, was performed by Mohel Rabbi Yossi Srugu, who flew from Miami especially for the occasion. His trip was organized by Rabbi Levi Heber, who organizes brisses around the world.

The baby was named Li-Am at the Bris ceremony, which was an inspiring one for everyone present and for anyone who heard about it. “I explained the idea of “Birur Nitzotzos” and how everyone who lives there has a G-dly mission to make Simcha Maarten a home for Hashem,” said Rabbi Srugo.