Pesach Comes to Fiji Island

Following the Rebbe’s directives to bring every Jew closer to his roots no matter where they are, 3 students from the Rabbinical college of Melbourne, Australia have traveled to the island of Fiji to host a Seder for the first time.

Eli Eckstein from Hollywood, Florida, Chaim Gutt originally from Caracas, Venezuela and now Aventura, Florida and Heshel Mangel from Blue Ash, Ohio have been preparing for months to provide a Seder for the 15 Jews living in this far away island located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean.

The logistics and organization to ship the supplies of Matzah, wine and meat was challenging, the bochurim report, but they are ready to welcome the guests for not only the first ever Chabad Seder on this island, but according to the time zone, the first in the world to welcome the Passover holiday.

“Our Seder will bring the message of freedom from the Haggadah as well as the message from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that no Jew should be left behind,” said Chaim Gutt.

As the bochurim arrived in Fiji they were warmly welcomed by the locals, gave some lectures to non Jews about the 7 laws of Noach, made contact with the local Jews. The largest newspaper on the island, The Fiji Times, printed a front page story, to publicize and welcome the event.