By Rabbi Yaakov Raskin
Chief Rabbi, Chabad of Jamaica
IN AUGUST 1957, two young Jewish men disembarked in Kingston at what was then known as the Palisadoes Airport. Alone in a new country, the men were rabbinical students on a mission to share Jewish texts and build personal connections with members of the local Jewish community. One of those young rabbis was my grandfather, Rabbi Leibel Raskin, who recalled that people in Jamaica thirsted for more Jewish knowledge and a greater connection to G‑d and their heritage.
What motivated my grandfather and his colleague rabbi, Yehuda Krinsky to travel to the Caribbean with no contacts and no money when he could have stayed in the comfort of his Brooklyn home and continued his rabbinical studies?
The answer is that he was sent by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the then leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish movement.
July 9 marked 30 years since the passing of the Rebbe, who is considered the most influential rabbi in modern history. The Rebbe inspired tens of thousands of people, including me, to become communal leaders, spreading Jewish wisdom and teachings in places around the world.
While my grandfather only stayed for two weeks, 57 years later, in March 2014, I moved to Jamaica with the intent to stay with my wife Mushky. I came for the same reason as he did – to spread the Torah’s teachings and facilitate Jewish life, which has a 400 year history on this island.
On the 30th anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing, I wanted to share some of his teachings and why he was so influential. The Rebbe was a tremendous orator, and spoke for over 11,000 hours about all topics connected to Judaism, Torah, current events, politics, morality, and how to live a life of meaning and purpose.