As Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica with winds topping 175 miles per hour, Rabbi Yaakov and Mushkee Raskin, directors of Chabad of Jamaica, huddled with their children in a small windowless bathroom, praying for their lives.

“This image cannot escape my eyes,” Rabbi Raskin said, describing the moment the storm hit. “The roof was tearing off, windows were shattering, and the front door burst open as the rain and wind poured in. I stacked mattresses against the wind just to protect my children.”

The Raskins’ home and the Chabad House both sustained severe damage. “Many homes on the island are underwater, their roofs ripped away,” Rabbi Raskin reported. “The extent of the damage is extreme, yet still unknown. We can only get to the Chabad House by foot, as debris and fallen poles block the roads.”

Despite the destruction, Chabad has already become a lifeline for locals. With a diesel generator still running, neighbors and community members have been coming to charge their phones and contact loved ones. “People are coming here just to let their families know they’re alive,” Rabbi Raskin said.

Without power, internet, or reliable phone service, the Raskins have been dictating updates over intermittent calls to their emergency campaign team in New York. “We’re safe, baruch Hashem, but our Chabad House suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” Rabbi Raskin said. “We need help to rebuild and to help those around us who lost everything.”

Chabad of Jamaica has launched an Emergency Hurricane Relief Fund to assist with housing, meals, medical needs, and supplies for those impacted by the storm.

“The world calls this storm an act of G-d,” Rabbi Raskin reflected. “We know that your generosity—your tzedakah—is the greatest G-dly act you can do in this very moment. You can be our generator of kindness, electrifying Jamaica with light and hope.”

To support the relief efforts, visit:

https://www.jewishjamaica.com/Templates/Fundraising/Default_cdo/aid/7091302

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