In the wake of the tsunami, Chabad of Thailand has received hundreds of letters and e-mail messages from all around the world. The following are a representative few. Thank you to all our friends, backers, colleagues, and well-wishers for their kind words, encouragements, and moral support.

You have an ocean of kindness

There are never enough words to describe the enormous work you and your colleagues at Chabad are doing to help all the Jewish brothers and sisters from Israel and elsewhere. I know you see it as part of your everyday mission, but there is so much more to it than that. You at Chabad have an enormous heart and an ocean of kindness. People like you are blessed.

Yael, Israel

Serving humanity with love

May the blessings of G-d be with you for serving both Jewish and non-Jewish people in the region struck by the tsunami! True religion and faith serve humanity with love and mercy.

Frantz P.

I would like to offer my prayers

My name is Mary and I'm from P., I would like to thank you for all your help to the Israeli and Jewish victims of the tsunami.

Thanks to you and your colleagues for letting survivors benefit from your selfless moral support and, above all, for ensuring that the many unfortunate victims who didn't survive received proper last rights before repatriation to Eretz Israel in accordance with the Torah.

I really miss words to explain my great sadness and anguish seeing the reports and images of death and devastation. I've just made a gift to help you in your relief efforts, but I would like to donate more than just money. Let me offer my prayers for every victim and ask G-d to give survivors the courage to go on with their lives.

Mary B.

Glorious to see human nature at its best

No one should experience the horror of a tsunami and I cannot imagine the horror of seeing its aftermath up close as you have; the TV images are bad enough. How awful for you to see Mother Nature at her worst; but how glorious to see human nature at her best.

Aaron F.

Survivors told me

I had friends in Phuket when the disaster struck. Most of them survived with only minor injuries. One of them, however, lost his girlfriend, a young woman he was going to propose to when they were to have met later that day. He was on the northwestern part of the island and so away from the destruction.

I also spoke to a man who had been on Koh Phi Phi when the tsunami hit. He was at an Internet cafe when the water rushed in. He saw people running past and grabbed the woman next to him and ran out. They were lucky enough to be swept away into the path of a palm tree, where they hang on for dear life. The young woman's boyfriend tried to run out the back door of the cafe, but he never made it. The building collapsed on top of him and several others.

Another survivor told me of an Australian woman who was on the beach with her four children, aged two to eight, when the tsunami waves struck. Swept away in the waves, she couldn't hold on to her youngest child. She lost all four of her children then and there. Her husband was injured back in their hotel when it collapsed. He had not gone to the beach with his family for health reasons.

In the midst of global conflicts, religious intolerance, unwavering political ideologies, ethic hatreds, and civil wars, God loves all His creations, regardless of their differences. We must answer his call to unite as humans, His creations, and help others whenever and wherever ever we can with whatever we can give them. G-d bless you in your good works!

David C.

A kehilla's words of collective support

We have never met, but I have been very moved by your dedication during these terrible recent events. On this past Shabbos morning in my drosho I read out to my kehilla a few paragraphs from your report, which I had downloaded from your website and encouraged people to contribute through you to victims of the disaster.

Ours is a modern orthodox kehilla of about 350 families. Most people are in their mid-30s and have no connection to Chabad at all. We cannot fail to be impressed by the hatzolas nefoshos that you and your team are engaged in. Let me send you a yasher koach in the name of the whole kehilla.

Rabbi Alan Kimche

Ner Yisrael Synagogue in Hendon , England

As a mom, I applaud your efforts

My children attend the Greenfield Hebrew Academy in Atlanta. They would like to help in any way they can as they feel very responsible about reaching out to victims.

As a mother, I applaud what you are doing to try and involve our kids in helping children in need. We are very proud that you are there on behalf of all the Jews from all over the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Family L.

You make me proud to be a Jew

Today in shul , my rabbi -- Alan Kimche of Ner Yisrael Synagogue in Hendon , England -- read some of the letters that you had published on your website about the tsunami disaster. 

I am touched by the awesome work you and your team are doing and want you to know that your actions are being felt even here in England , which feels like a million miles away from where you are.

You make me proud to be a Jew.

M.G.

Dear Nechama,* 

I am writing this mail to thank you so much for the unbelievable care and support that you and so many people from Chabad of Thailand gave me after the tsunami. At a time like that it is unbelievably comforting to know that no matter where you come from in the world, people are prepared to look after you with such warmth and sincerity. I mention you and the other chabadniks often when I discuss my experience and will be forever indebted to you for your kindness.

The past four and a half months have been an absolute emotional rollercoaster. I have experienced so many emotions -- anger, guilt, immense sadness and pain. Slowly but surely, with a fortune of support (and therapy) I am starting to heal and starting to accept my new reality and the meaning behind it. The trauma of the 26th of December was overshadowed by the loss of my beloved Paul. I see his family a fortune and have grown very close to his sister and mother.

I still thank Hashem every day for giving him to me, although our time together was very short. It was the most meaningful relationship I have ever experienced and I feel so much stronger and wholesome for having had such a special person in my life. The lessons he taught me, the love he showed me, and the meaning he gave my life will never be taken away from me.

Physically, I have done very well. My wounds have healed nicely. I have been back at work for 4 months; in fact, I have just been promoted. This whole experience has certainly restored the faith I have in myself and my family. I have also met wonderful people through my experience.

Once again, thank you so much! You made an awful experience so much more comfortable. I will never forget it!

Please send my fondest regards to your gorgeous children, the boys who took pictures of me to send to my father, the wonderful people who kept bringing food to me and my family and most of all, I send love to you -- you are a wonderful, special person! 

Love,

______

* Nechama Kantor is Rabbi Yosef Kantor's wife

Dear Rabbis,

Our hearts are broken for so many. May Ha-kadosh Baruch Hu give you koach and tzar for all that you are doing. Your menchlichkeit is to be admired by the rest of us yidden and the world.

I will talk to friends, students and relatives to contribute.

I am contributing as well.

May Hakadosh Baruch HU have rachmones for all who have been lost. May we be zoche for the Moshiach to come soon.

Sincerely,

Rebbitzen D. F.

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