Nepal – Several hundred Israelis have gathered at the Chabad House in Kathmandu in the wake of the devastating earthquake that ripped through Nepal’s capital, leaving behind a trail of destruction, debris and death.
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In a Motzei Shabbos interview with Israel’s Reshet Bet, Rabbi Chezki Lifshitz, the Chabad shaliach to Kathmandu, said that the earthquake struck during Shabbos morning layning.
“Suddenly we felt that the ground was making noise and the floors began to sway,” said Rabbi Lifshitz. “The whole area felt like it was moving and making strange noises. We all went outside to the courtyard.”
Rabbi Lifshitz said that approximately 1500 Israelis are currently in Nepal, some of whom flocked immediately to the Chabad house.
“Every hour, every half hour, there were aftershocks and with each one more people came,” said Rabbi Lifshitz. “The Nepalese left the area quickly. This is a business district and they went to their homes and it is just tourists here now.”
People have been asked to stay outside for their own safety in case of additional aftershocks.\
“The courtyard of the Chabad house is considered to be an open place so people are here and are getting ready soon to go to sleep. People have sleeping bags, tents. The whole city is closed up. It looks like a ghost town.”
In a video posted to the Facebook, Mrs. Chani Lifshitz said that their current priority is to locate all Israeli visitors to Kathmandu and surrounding areas.
“We are doing our best to get everyone to relax,” explained Mrs. Lifshitz in Hebrew. “We are sitting outside the Beit Chabad because there are dangers inside and it is safer outside. We are still taking names of the people who are here and those who are missing … We have dealt with a few injured here on the couches of the Chabad house.”
Both Rabbi and Mrs. Lifshitz stressed that they are hopeful that as day breaks, more Israelis will come to the Chabad house.
The Lifshitz’s Facebook page has several posts showing pictures of the Kathmandu Chabad House, with one post written at 2:15 Sunday morning reading, “We are trying to find everyone sleeping bags, blankets and hot food for the night.” Pictures show men, women and children sprawled in chairs and on floors, trying to get some sleep.
Comments on the Facebook post list names and pictures of some of the missing including Magali Kanterwicz and Nicolas Kingman, both Jewish residents of Argentina, and Roi Elad and Lotem Ilani who left Kathmandu Saturday morning, hiking towards the Tibet border. Another comment seeks information about Marty Emanuel, a 71 year old American who was hiking in Nepal’s Langtang National Park when the earthquake hit. Also unaccounted for in the Langtang area are Israelis Maayan Etzion, Oren Goshtat, Omri Kadosh and Ohad Wasserlof. Yet another comment lists a link to a Google “Person Finder Page” for the Nepal earthquake.
Zaka and United Hatzolah are among those who have sent aid to Nepal in an effort to provide medical and rescue assistance and YNet News is reporting that the Israeli Defense Force is sending a 240 person team to the area for a minimum of two weeks. The IDF team will include medical, logical and rescue officers as well as advanced satellite based communication equipment.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with the nation of Nepal who are dealing with a terrible disaster and with our loved ones who are in danger and distress,” said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
While no Israelis are known to be among the seriously injured, 250 are still presently unaccounted for and are classified as “out of reach” because of the current lack of phone service in Nepal.
Israel hopes to begin airlifting citizens home from Nepal on Sunday, including more than 20 babies born to Nepalese surrogate mothers for Israeli parents. Nine of those babies were born prematurely and one is said to be in serious condition. The Israeli government said it is considering sending a helicopter from India to evacuate the babies and their parents in order to provide the infants with immediate medical care and Interior Minister Gilad Erdan has agreed to allow the babies to enter Israel now with their parents and postpone all required paperwork for the adoption process until after the infants’ safe arrival in Israel.
Some of the families have taken shelter at Nepal’s Israeli embassy with one father reaching out for help on Facebook.
“We need help,” posted Alon Michaeli Molian. “Five hours after the earthquake in Kathmandu we are still out in the open, 10 Israeli families with children and newborns. Tonight it will rain and we cannot return to our hotel because of concern about aftershocks. I know that we need to be brave but I have no idea how we will survive this night. Please do everything you can to help us.”
One comment to Molian’s post included a picture of a smiling young man accompanied by a heartbreaking plea from his mother.
“Urged help needed!!! My dear son, Iti Ben Yishai was in the earthquake area in Kathmandu in Nepal and has still not gotten in touch with us. Please, anyone who recognizes him or knows about an Israeli who is there and who has spoken to their parents and can help us, please contact me!! Please join and help me find my precious son.”
Always a Kiddush Hashem went Israel sends its team to rescue others.
2 Lubavitchers from Crown Heights unaccounted for. Dan Cole & Mendy Losh. Don’t know their full names for Tehillim, but please be mispallel for them & all the others who are missing.
Rabbi Chezki And Chani Lifshitz are unbelievable.
They have assisted countless Israelis in many instances over the past – they are truly amazing.
Way to go Chabad!! Major Kiddush Hashem!
Hashem says “go to nepal, run from me…but you will be running to me when your there”. Everyone should IY”H healthy and ok. And IYHmany baalay teshuva will come out of this!