Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Shimon Pelman arrives on the ground in Haiti and assesses the situation with the locals and how best they could be assisted.
By Joshua Runyan
A Dominican Republic Jewish center has assumed a supporting role in the Haitian relief efforts undertaken by a host of aid organizations and countries in the wake of the country’s worst earthquake in more than 200 years.
Rabbi Shimon Pelman, director of the S. Domingo-based Chabad-Lubavitch of the Dominican Republic, sped towards the country’s border with Haiti Friday morning in a jeep with a local police chief and commander. The trio came bearing equipment for rescue personnel, as well as kosher food for Jewish aid workers who had contacted the Chabad House throughout the day.
“Right now, we’re going to assist the tremendous efforts of aid workers,” he said by cell phone, five minutes from the border. “Jewish staff from several different agencies around the world are in need of food and other supplies. We will also make personal contact with the small Israeli community in Haiti, all of whom are okay.”
Jay Hamburger wrote...