Chabad of Iceland’s year-end campaign is focused on reaching 200 partners. Join them at jewishiceland.com/2020.
Iceland, the land of fire and ice, is combatting the novel coronavirus in a very effective way. Since Iceland depends on tourism, borders are open to European passport holders who can enter and quarantine for five days. After passing one negative corona test at the airport, tourists quarantine for five days and then receive a second test. During the quarantine, people can leave their homes, walk the streets, take long strolls along the ocean and travel around the countryside.
But they may not come in contact with other people, nor enter stores. This is how Iceland safely allows tourist into its borders, hoping that visitors comply with the rules for the sake of the people around them. There is also a strict maximum ten person meeting rule.
A precious aid to Iceland during these trying times is DeCode Genetics Iceland, a local genetics company which dedicated almost its entire staff to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic as it came through the island in different forms and strains. They made fascinating discoveries and tested a large percentage of the nation – with and without symptoms. One of the things they discovered was that 50% of people who tested positive had no symptoms at all. DeCode, together with the national hospital were able to test, contact trace, and isolate those who were infected and quarantine those who came in contact with the infected. It hasn’t been easy for the people in Iceland, but as they say in Iceland, “þetta reddast” – this too shall pass.
Patrick Sulem, a geneticist specializing in epidemiology at DeCode Genetics, is a proud Jew and supporter of Chabad in Iceland. He was honored with the lighting of the public Menorah on the main street of Reykjavik.
Chabad in Iceland serves the local Jewish population of about 500 as well as tens of thousands of Jewish visitors throughout the year. A typical summer Shabbos can see 200 guests on a Friday with the midnight sun and no darkness.
The fourth night of Chanukah was a magical one. The weather was crisp. The wind held off, and Jewish people all around Iceland sat around their screens watching a beautiful Menorah – made in Iceland – standing proud on the Main Street of Reykjavík. The Reykjavík Klezmer band took the stage to welcome all with beautiful melodies, bringing back childhood memories to many of those present or watching.
Rabbi Avi and Mushky Feldman worked hard to make sure this year’s mega menorah lighting would be the most memorable.
US ambassador to Iceland, Jeffrey Ross Gunter, who is proudly Jewish, delivered Chanukah wishes at the conclusion of the Mega Menorah event in Reykjavík city center.
While Iceland battles the coronavirus, the shluchim are dedicated to make sure there is a strong Jewish life for Icelandic Jews and tourists.
Share in their work by donating at jewishiceland.com/2020
VIDEO: Iceland – Year in Review
VIDEO: Chanukah in Iceland 2020
Best Shluchim ever!! I was in Iceland and these Shluchim have the most welcoming and warm Chabad house! They deserve all the help you can give them!