By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Avi Feldman, the only rabbi serving the Jewish community of Iceland, reports that there has been no loss of life in Friday’s volcanic eruption not far from the capital city of Reykjavik.
More than 40,000 earthquakes have occurred on the peninsula in the past four weeks, a huge jump from the 1,000-3,000 registered each year since 2014, it was reported.
“This is after a few weeks of thousands of earthquakes that led to this,” says Rabbi Feldman, who with his wife Mushky runs Chabad-Lubavitch of Iceland since 2018.
“Baruch Hashem, everyone is safe and no one is in danger,” the island nation’s lone rabbi told COLlive.com on Sunday.
Unlike the eruption in 2010 of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which halted approximately 900,000 flights and forced hundreds of Icelanders from their homes, this eruption is not expected to spew much ash or smoke into the atmosphere.
“They are saying that this is the best-case scenario where the lava comes out very slowly,” he explained. “It’s also in a place that doesn’t endanger any people or homes. It’s 20 miles away from us.”
The Feldmans are currently in full preparation mode for the upcoming holiday of Pesach which begins this Motzoei Shabbos.
“We’re giving out matzah and planning 2 community Pesach Sedarim, now that the Covid restrictions have relaxed – each with a maximum of 50 people,” he said.
He said red hot lava can be seen from Reykjavik. “We are of course staying alert,” he said. “This can go on for days and weeks and there can be additional eruptions.”
VIDEO:
This month, Iceland formally recognized Judaism as a religion for the first time in its millennium-long history.
For the first time, Iceland’s Jews will have the choice to register as such and direct their taxes to their own religion, Chabad.org reported.
Among other benefits, the recognition will also allow Jewish marriage, baby-naming and funeral ceremonies to be civilly recognized. Theoretically, it can also provide for a land grant for the Jewish community in the future, it was reported.
“This step gives each individual a sense of belonging and a connection to Judaism in Iceland,” Mrs. Feldman said.
