כ״ו תמוז ה׳תשפ״ה | July 21, 2025

First-Ever Tanya Printed While Sailing Panama Canal

With Hashem’s blessing and following the Rebbe’s call, Rabbi Shlomo Nissim Poliwoda, Shliach in the Clayton / Panama Canal area, led a groundbreaking project: printing the Tanya on a boat, while cruising through the Panama Canal.

Since moving over three years ago to the Canal area at Clayton—formerly a U.S. military stronghold about 20 minutes from Panama City—Rabbi Poliwoda dreamed of printing Tanya in this symbolic landmark. Having previously printed in Panama City, Boquete, and supported the Tanya printing in Costa del Este, he envisioned something truly out of the box.

He approached Moshe Nidaam, a community member and boat owner, with the idea. “Give me ten minutes,” Moshe said—and, true to his word, “let’s go tomorrow, it’ll be amazing!”

With a boat secured and Moshe handling the technical setup, the mission launched aboard with Eliezer Kamhaji, the Rabbi’s father Mordechai Poliwoda, and his two eldest children, Chaya Mushka and Arieh Leib. Though the morning began with rain and thunder, Boruch Hashem the skies were cleared just in time, and the canal showed itself in all its glory.

As the boat glided through the waters of the Canal, a portable printer powered by a generator brought fresh Tanya pages to life. The first full print of 4 copies were done in the boat, followed by the rest of the Tanya´s being printed in the Chabad House in the Canal Zone with the help of the bochur Moshe Wolfsohn.

In a video recorded by JEM, we find that the then Ashkenazi Rabbi of Panama (1990) , Rabbi Iona Blickstein, went to the Rebbe for Dollars, and the Rebbe told him about the importance of Panama as a connection between the Americas, as well as the fact that it should also be connected by Torah. The project of printing the Tanya in the Panama Canal itself, brings out that conversation to a very practical reality.

Over the past three years, the Poliwoda family has quietly and consistently built a thriving Jewish presence in one of Panama’s most unexpected corners: Clayton — a former U.S. military base nestled by the Panama Canal. Far removed from the bustling Jewish centers of Panama City, the area is home to families and individuals who, for years, had little to no involvement with organized Jewish life. When Rabbi Shlomo Nissim Poliwoda and his wife first arrived, many questioned whether a Chabad house could truly take root there. “Has a Chabad ever closed down?” people would ask, doubtfully.

But what once seemed improbable has now become a powerful reality. Little by little, meaningful encounters turned into lasting relationships. Shabbat tables once empty began to fill with warmth and connection. This past Rosh Hashanah, over 50 people joined services in Clayton — a landmark moment for a community that barely existed just a few years ago. And even more families expressed regret that they couldn’t attend due to travel or logistics.

The vision behind Chabad Canal isn’t about building numbers — it’s about building presence. It’s about showing up again and again, with consistency and care, reaching out to Jews living on the edge of Jewish communal life and inviting them back into the fold. From classes at the Chabad House, to public menorah lightings, every moment is an opportunity to create a connection.

And now, with the Tanya printed on the waters of the Panama Canal itself, the message is even more powerful: no Jew is too far, no place is too remote, and no spark is beyond reach.

Be Part of the Panama Canal Tanya Printing – Dedicate a Page

This historic Tanya printing on the Panama Canal is more than just a project — it’s a symbol of the Rebbe’s vision reaching the heart of the world. Now you can be part of this powerful mivtza by sponsoring a Hakdasha (dedication) in this special edition of the Tanya.

Every dedication helps support both the printing and the ongoing work of Chabad Canal, reaching Jews in one of the most spiritually underserved areas of Panama.

Dedication Options: