Yossi Kably

From the moment the tsunami hit Thailand , I decided to join the ranks of foreign volunteers assisting villagers in the reconstruction.

I had in mind the words of Rabbi Yosef Kantor, the head of Chabad of Thailand who — using the old aphorism about teaching people how to fish — believes that the most effective, and only, lasting way of helping people in dire straits is to help them help themselves.

Rather than just let tsunami survivors become passive recipients of assistance from foreigners, Rabbi Kantor wanted to actively encourage them to take charge of their own future by learning new vocational skills.

This is where my carpentry skills came in handy. I could teach them to anyone. Everyone can learn to drill holes, cut wood, or paint. I think it's wrong to let volunteers handle most of the reconstruction for locals. Rather, we should teach them the skills, give them the tools, and let them carry on even after all of us have returned to our homes.

Beyond the pleasure of a day's work well done, I felt rewarded in other ways as well while teaching locals the ins and outs of working with wood. The villagers were very appreciative and full of gratitude.

Considering the magnitude of the tsunami disaster, it would be presumptuous of me to say I've made a difference, but numerous volunteers like me — some of them truly wonderful people — have given selflessly of their time to try and help survivors. The sum of all our efforts may well have made a change in the lives of the survivors. And for this I am grateful.

Yosi Kably is an Israeli teacher of Jewish studies who works as a master carpenter. He currently resides in Harare, Zimbabwe with his wife.

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