Chabad Emissary Reflects on 20 Years of Jewish Community Growth in Vietnam
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hartman, Chabad's chief emissary in Vietnam, marked 20 years of community development, overcoming initial challenges like lack of kosher food and facilities. Today, six emissary families manage four Chabad centers across Vietnam, with the main branch in Ho Chi Minh City. The Scheinbergers in Sapa provide kosher food and lodging for travelers.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hartman marked 20 years of Chabad's work in Vietnam.
- Initial challenges included lack of kosher food, mikvah, and community institutions.
- Chabad Houses provide kosher food and Shabbat experiences for thousands of visitors.
- Vietnam now has four "Beit Chabad" centers and six emissary families.
- The central branch is in Ho Chi Minh City, with others in Hanoi and Hoi An.
- Rabbi Akiva Scheinberger and his wife Giti assist travelers in Sapa.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hartman, the chief emissary for Chabad in Vietnam, has reflected on two decades of developing the Jewish community in the Southeast Asian nation. Speaking on the radio program "Kol Ba-Rama," dedicated to the World Congress of Chabad emissaries, Rabbi Hartman recalled the initial challenges of establishing a presence, including the lack of kosher food, a mikvah, and community institutions.
Today, the necessary infrastructure is in place, and the primary concern for emissary families is raising children away from major Jewish educational centers. Rabbi Hartman noted that every encounter with a Jewish tourist, traveler, or businessman is unique, with Chabad Houses serving as vital centers for tens of thousands of visitors seeking kosher meals, Shabbat experiences, and support.
Currently, Vietnam hosts four "Beit Chabad" centers and six emissary families. The central branch is located in Ho Chi Minh City. A community center was established in Hanoi in 2014, and another branch operates in Hoi An. In Sapa, Rabbi Akiva Scheinberger and his wife Giti assist travelers by providing kosher food and accommodation.