Chabad Envoy in Hong Kong Shares Faith Amid Challenges

Rabbi Yisrael Lieberman, the Chabad emissary in Hong Kong for over a decade, shared his experiences in a rare holiday interview as part of the "Sukkot Around the World" project by Kikar HaShabbat. He described Hong Kong as a dynamic city akin to New York, with a Jewish community of 4,000 to 5,000 people, including a significant number of Israelis, Americans, and Europeans who often relocate for three to four-year terms.

The community also hosts hundreds of Jewish businesspeople attending international trade shows for consumer goods, watches, and diamonds, particularly around the holiday season. Building a Sukkah in Hong Kong presents logistical hurdles due to the prevalence of high-rise apartments without balconies or yards. However, Rabbi Lieberman's Chabad House has a rare open balcony where the main Sukkah is erected, and they also provide Sukkahs and the Four Species to about 30 families with suitable outdoor space.

Obtaining the Four Species (Lulav, Etrog, Hadassim, Aravot) is challenging as they must be imported from the US or Israel, often facing delays at customs due to officials' unfamiliarity with the items. Rabbi Lieberman recounted a memorable instance where the shipment was delayed until the middle of Sukkot, causing great joy when it finally arrived during a holiday meal.

Chabad also conducts outreach in local prisons, where approximately 13 Jews are currently incarcerated. They have established a kosher kitchen within the prison walls and, for the first time, sounded the Shofar in Stanley Prison during Rosh Hashanah, an event that deeply moved one inmate who wrote a tearful letter of gratitude. Efforts are underway to enable the prisoners to observe the mitzvah of the Four Species.

Rabbi Lieberman also shared a personal crisis where he and his wife faced severe financial difficulties, leading him to believe their mission was ending. Shortly after they decided to send a letter to the Rebbe, another Chabad emissary, Rabbi Chitrik from Safed, unexpectedly arrived in Hong Kong en route to Australia. Rabbi Chitrik conveyed a message of encouragement from the Rebbe, which Rabbi Lieberman interpreted as a sign that their mission was divinely supported and destined to grow.