In Aruba, Chabad Assists in Purim Miracle at Sea
by Tzali Reicher – chabad.org
In a dramatic turn of events, two Jewish tourists were rescued off the coast of Aruba by the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard after a jet ski excursion went awry on March 11. Chabad-Lubavitch of Aruba, led by Rabbi Ahron and Chaya Blasberg and their team, played a pivotal role in coordinating the rescue efforts and providing assistance to the stranded visitors.
The incident began around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday when two of three friends from Rockland County, N.Y., on vacation flipped their jet ski far from shore. As one attempted to help the other, large waves separated them from both watercraft, leaving them stranded and drifting apart in the open water as daylight began to fade. Meanwhile, the friend who had stayed behind grew concerned when he didn’t hear from the men. Family members in the United States soon shared his worry.
With the help of friends, the family quickly connected with Chabad of Aruba. “We received a call as evening approached from a family member of one of the missing men, and immediately mobilized our local contacts to assist,” says Rabbi Blasberg.
What could have ended tragically was averted thanks to quick thinking by the jet ski rental company, which contacted the Coast Guard directly rather than following the standard procedure of calling local police first. This decision proved crucial, expediting the rescue operation by over an hour, ensuring the search began while it was still light outside and before the setting sun made search and rescues exponentially more difficult.
After several hours, both men were found miraculously a short while apart in good condition, alive and showing signs of shock and cold, but no hypothermia.
“It’s a real Purim miracle that this story ended as well as it thankfully did,” says Rabbi Levi Bisk, a member of the Chabad of Aruba team. “Generally speaking, people lost in the water are not found alive, if they are found at all. I can’t overstate how many miracles we saw here.”
Following their rescue, the tourists were airlifted to the local hospital where Chabad representatives were waiting for them with fresh kosher meals.
Chabad of Aruba, established 11 years ago, serves the several hundred Jewish people that live on the island year-round, and the tens of thousands of tourists that pass through annually. The Chabad center is located within walking distance of major hotels in the Palm Beach area. In February 2024, the Blasbergs were joined by their sister and brother-in-law, Rabbi Levi and Mimi Bisk, who have helped run Chabad operations on the island since.
The incident occurred just as Chabad of Aruba was preparing for its annual Purim celebrations, which includes a party expected to draw over 100 attendees and multiple Megillah readings throughout the island.
“We’re grateful to have played a role in reuniting these men with their families in time for them to celebrate Purim,” Bisk said. “Every year we celebrate one miracle on Purim, this year we can celebrate two.”
