By Ayelet Shay
Sept. 11, 2023
Approximately 200 Jewish families live in the Philippines, including Israeli businessmen and tourists who have settled there. Most Jews in the Philippines use the services of Chabad centers located in different parts of this island state.
Dynamic Jewish communities can thrive even in the most unlikely places. Approximately 200 Jewish families live in the Philippines. These come from countries such as the UK, Canada, USA, France, Argentina and Israel. The community is also home to descendants of Jews who were previously persecuted by the Inquisition and even some Jews who survived the Holocaust.
The first evidence of the presence of Jews in the Philippines dates back to the Spanish colonial period, around the 16th century. Jewish merchants from Spain and Portugal came to the Philippines to explore commercial opportunities in the region. Today there are five Chabad Houses operating in the Philippines. The Cebu Chabad House is led by Rabbi Mendel Axelrod, his wife Dvora and their three children. The family moved to the Philippines in 2019 and founded the Chabad House on the tourist island of Boracay. After the pandemic, the Axelrods had the opportunity to move to Cebu and hand over the Chabad House in Boracay to another Chabad emissary.
Today, about 150 Jews live in Cebu, most of them Israelis who sell Dead Sea products in shopping centers. Others came from the USA, France, Australia, etc.
“Our mission is not just limited to the community, it also connects with the thousands of Israeli travelers who arrive here every year. The meeting between the Cebu Jewish community and the Israelis is unique and fruitful. We spend Shabbat and holiday feasts together, say prayers, we also run a kosher restaurant and, G-d forbid, we conduct funerals in accordance with Jewish law,” says Rabbi Mendel.
Due to the small Jewish population, consisting mainly of tourists and travelers, there is no Jewish school in the area. Jewish children in the Philippines are learning online with other children of Chabad emissaries throughout Asia. According to Rabbi Axelrod, the creation of a Jewish school is a matter of time, since the community and the demand for such a school have grown sufficiently.
— Is joining the Jewish community worth the money here?
— The Chabad House is the only Jewish center in the city and its surroundings. Although participation is free, many participants choose to make monthly contributions to assist Chabad activities.
—What about the synagogue?
— There are currently plans to build a permanent synagogue. We do not have government support, and currently the Chabad House serves as a synagogue.
As for the “mikvah” (Jewish pool for ritual ablutions), women go to the beach, which is located half an hour from the Chabad House. We are looking for sponsors who can help us build a mikvah.
— Do you have a local kosher butcher? If so, is it allowed in the Philippines?
“We conduct monthly kosher chicken slaughter in Cebu, which is only 30 minutes from the Chabad House. Today we are unable to provide the local Jewish population with kosher beef. We carry out kosher slaughter on site, provided that the birds come from certified farms. Two months ago, an Israeli restaurateur took over the management functions, which significantly improved the situation with the work of this establishment.
— Has the community encountered manifestations of anti-Semitism? Can you safely wear a kippah (Jewish head covering)?
— Filipinos are supporters of Israel. We have not encountered anti-Semitism and have not heard of anyone who has experienced it. The fact that we walk around with a kippah and tzitzit (threads along the edges of outer clothing) evokes respect among the local population. Sometimes dignitaries approach me and ask for the rabbi's blessing.
Rabbi Axelrod recalls an emotional encounter with his work in the Philippines. “About a year ago, I received a call from an Australian named Chris Bloor living in Cebu. He told me that he had been a priest in Australia for the last 23 years in a community with thousands of parishioners.”
Before she died two and a half years ago, his mother told him that his grandmother was Jewish, which meant they were both Jewish. Since then, he has been studying Judaism on the Internet thanks to the Lubavitcher Rebbe SHLITA and the Chabad movement. He was glad to learn that there was a Chabad House in Cebu and asked me to meet me at his home. I came to him and helped him put on tefillin for the first time in his life. He was overjoyed to the point of tears and said that it was the happiest day of his life.
Over the past year, he deeply absorbed Judaism, changed his name to Benjamin, began to observe traditions and became very close to Judaism. The most interesting thing is that thanks to his knowledge and Judaism, as well as his connections, he influences his peers: non-Jews and Jews.
Continuing our journey, we reached the city of El Nido, where there is also a Chabad House. Rabbi Moshe and Feiga Notik came to El Nido several years ago with their two young children and, like many Chabad emissaries, built their home literally from scratch. Without the slightest idea of what surrounded them, they built a functioning Chabad House, a hotel for tourists, a kosher restaurant and much more. On the previous Rosh Hashanah, only a few people gathered at the Chabad House of El Nido. However, more than 200 people signed up at the last minute. These were mainly local Jews and Israelis...
The day before Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Notik ensured that the venue was large enough for all the guests, resulting in an unforgettable evening.
On one of our visits to the Chabad House in El Nido, we saw newlyweds at a table among tourists. We also met a young Israeli who told us that he had been traveling around the world for the past 13 months and woke up one morning with the feeling that he needed to put on tefillin.
He went to have breakfast in a remote place and came across a Chabad messenger. He exclaimed with excitement: “Rabbi Mendel, Rabbi Mendel, you have come to me from heaven. Today I woke up with the feeling that I needed to put on tefillin, and here you are in front of me. Can you help me?" - he asked.
The rabbi replied: “With joy, I will help you and even do it with you. But I have a small question. How did you know that my name is Mendel?
"Don't know. “I decided that all of you are called Mendel,” he exclaimed.
Source: https://moshiach.ru/view/actualia/23476.html
By Ayelet Shay
Sept. 11, 2023
Approximately 200 Jewish families live in the Philippines, including Israeli businessmen and tourists who have settled there. Most Jews in the Philippines use the services of Chabad centers located in different parts of this island state.
Dynamic Jewish communities can thrive even in the most unlikely places. Approximately 200 Jewish families live in the Philippines. These come from countries such as the UK, Canada, USA, France, Argentina and Israel. The community is also home to descendants of Jews who were previously persecuted by the Inquisition and even some Jews who survived the Holocaust.
The first evidence of the presence of Jews in the Philippines dates back to the Spanish colonial period, around the 16th century. Jewish merchants from Spain and Portugal came to the Philippines to explore commercial opportunities in the region. Today there are five Chabad Houses operating in the Philippines. The Cebu Chabad House is led by Rabbi Mendel Axelrod, his wife Dvora and their three children. The family moved to the Philippines in 2019 and founded the Chabad House on the tourist island of Boracay. After the pandemic, the Axelrods had the opportunity to move to Cebu and hand over the Chabad House in Boracay to another Chabad emissary.
Today, about 150 Jews live in Cebu, most of them Israelis who sell Dead Sea products in shopping centers. Others came from the USA, France, Australia, etc.
“Our mission is not just limited to the community, it also connects with the thousands of Israeli travelers who arrive here every year. The meeting between the Cebu Jewish community and the Israelis is unique and fruitful. We spend Shabbat and holiday feasts together, say prayers, we also run a kosher restaurant and, G-d forbid, we conduct funerals in accordance with Jewish law,” says Rabbi Mendel.
Due to the small Jewish population, consisting mainly of tourists and travelers, there is no Jewish school in the area. Jewish children in the Philippines are learning online with other children of Chabad emissaries throughout Asia. According to Rabbi Axelrod, the creation of a Jewish school is a matter of time, since the community and the demand for such a school have grown sufficiently.
— Is joining the Jewish community worth the money here?
— The Chabad House is the only Jewish center in the city and its surroundings. Although participation is free, many participants choose to make monthly contributions to assist Chabad activities.
—What about the synagogue?
— There are currently plans to build a permanent synagogue. We do not have government support, and currently the Chabad House serves as a synagogue.
As for the “mikvah” (Jewish pool for ritual ablutions), women go to the beach, which is located half an hour from the Chabad House. We are looking for sponsors who can help us build a mikvah.
— Do you have a local kosher butcher? If so, is it allowed in the Philippines?
“We conduct monthly kosher chicken slaughter in Cebu, which is only 30 minutes from the Chabad House. Today we are unable to provide the local Jewish population with kosher beef. We carry out kosher slaughter on site, provided that the birds come from certified farms. Two months ago, an Israeli restaurateur took over the management functions, which significantly improved the situation with the work of this establishment.
— Has the community encountered manifestations of anti-Semitism? Can you safely wear a kippah (Jewish head covering)?
— Filipinos are supporters of Israel. We have not encountered anti-Semitism and have not heard of anyone who has experienced it. The fact that we walk around with a kippah and tzitzit (threads along the edges of outer clothing) evokes respect among the local population. Sometimes dignitaries approach me and ask for the rabbi's blessing.
Rabbi Axelrod recalls an emotional encounter with his work in the Philippines. “About a year ago, I received a call from an Australian named Chris Bloor living in Cebu. He told me that he had been a priest in Australia for the last 23 years in a community with thousands of parishioners.”
Before she died two and a half years ago, his mother told him that his grandmother was Jewish, which meant they were both Jewish. Since then, he has been studying Judaism on the Internet thanks to the Lubavitcher Rebbe SHLITA and the Chabad movement. He was glad to learn that there was a Chabad House in Cebu and asked me to meet me at his home. I came to him and helped him put on tefillin for the first time in his life. He was overjoyed to the point of tears and said that it was the happiest day of his life.
Over the past year, he deeply absorbed Judaism, changed his name to Benjamin, began to observe traditions and became very close to Judaism. The most interesting thing is that thanks to his knowledge and Judaism, as well as his connections, he influences his peers: non-Jews and Jews.
Continuing our journey, we reached the city of El Nido, where there is also a Chabad House. Rabbi Moshe and Feiga Notik came to El Nido several years ago with their two young children and, like many Chabad emissaries, built their home literally from scratch. Without the slightest idea of what surrounded them, they built a functioning Chabad House, a hotel for tourists, a kosher restaurant and much more. On the previous Rosh Hashanah, only a few people gathered at the Chabad House of El Nido. However, more than 200 people signed up at the last minute. These were mainly local Jews and Israelis...
The day before Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Notik ensured that the venue was large enough for all the guests, resulting in an unforgettable evening.
On one of our visits to the Chabad House in El Nido, we saw newlyweds at a table among tourists. We also met a young Israeli who told us that he had been traveling around the world for the past 13 months and woke up one morning with the feeling that he needed to put on tefillin.
He went to have breakfast in a remote place and came across a Chabad messenger. He exclaimed with excitement: “Rabbi Mendel, Rabbi Mendel, you have come to me from heaven. Today I woke up with the feeling that I needed to put on tefillin, and here you are in front of me. Can you help me?" - he asked.
The rabbi replied: “With joy, I will help you and even do it with you. But I have a small question. How did you know that my name is Mendel?
"Don't know. “I decided that all of you are called Mendel,” he exclaimed.
Source: https://moshiach.ru/view/actualia/23476.html
