Help Make History in Iceland

For the first time in history, Iceland, the land of fire and ice, is starting its very own Chabad House and Jewish center.

Together with their daughters, Chana and Batsheva, Rabbi Avi and Mushky Feldman will be moving to Reykjavik to open a warm Jewish home for the local community as well as the tens of thousands of Jewish tourists.

Rabbi Avi Feldman grew up in Crown Heights and his wife Mushky (nee Namdar) was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Feldmans’ arrival will herald a new era for Iceland’s tiny Jewish community and fulfill a number of firsts for Iceland’s long but sparse Jewish history. The Chabad Jewish Center will be Iceland’s first institutional Jewish presence; Avi Feldman will be the country’s first permanent rabbi; and aside from congregations formed by British and American troops during World War II, theirs will be the first synagogue in Iceland’s 1,000-plus years of history.

Merkos Shlichus bochurim visited Iceland over the past few years, most notably Rabbi Berel Pewzner and began a connection with many local Jews.

The Feldmans visited Rejkavik for Chanuka, undaunted by the fact that sunrise is at the astonishing hour of 11.20am!

They returned for Pesach and over 100 attended their Pesach Seder.
Approximately 200 Jews live in Iceland and thousands of Jewish tourists visit all year round. Avi and Mushky will be on hand for their Jewish needs.

The Icelandic government very recently came close to accepting a proposed ban on Bris Mila that could have incurred up to six years of imprisonment. Baruch HaShem, incredibly, after great efforts from the Feldmans – including a Skype meeting between Rabbi Avi and the Icelandic Parliament – and many concerned Jews worldwide, the government have cancelled this proposal!

With the Shlichus in Iceland off to this auspicious start, next week the Feldmans will be departing from New York with one way tickets to Rejkavik, beezras Hashem.

Iceland is an isolated country on volcanic land. Many vital supplies need be imported and there is a very high cost of living.

Today you can partner in kickstarting the world’s northernmost Chabad House.
Donate today and for the next 20 hours, you double your impact!

Join our founders club at ChabadIceland.com
Learn more about the project at www.charidy.com/iceland
#KickStartChabadIceland