Chabad Didn’t Forget About Florianópolis

The island of S. Catarina off the south coast of Brazil which is the home to a handful of Jewish families and many Israeli backpackers, was also able to celebrate chanukah this year with a chabad taste.

The shluchim from Curitiba drove for about 4 and a half hours this past Wednesday to the city to share the holiday with the local community, the event started with the children learning about chanukah and building their own “dreidel clock” (which many adults couldn’t hold themselves back from joining) followed by a full kosher – Israeli style – dinner; falafel, sufganiot etc. then a grand draidel game along with many insights on Judaism in general and chanukah in specific. then the menorah was lit by the president of the Jewish community and (it goes without saying) the JEM chanukah Video was shown.

And of course everyone had a chance to light their own menorah. The community was very thankful – they didn’t let us leave until we promised that we will be back in the near future for other events. In the words of one or the participants “a great miracle happened HERE”

The success of this chanukah event has prompted head shliach to Parana Rabbi Y. Dubrawsky to increase activities on the island; “The demand is great, and we need to get more involved in bringing the warmth of Yidishkeit in Florianopolis”.