From Bali to Israel

A young man from Rabbi Raskin’s congregation was getting married in Israel and his journey from Indonesia to Israel is a story of Hashgacha Pratis – Divine Intervention!

It all began with the groom’s grandfather, a textile merchant who immigrated from Iraq to Israel before 1948.  As his business dealings expanded and developed in international arenas, he decided to move his family to Bali, Indonesia. He arrived there with his wife and young daughter, Chana.

Though Chana was raised in a proud Jewish home, the opportunity for a Jewish education was nil in Bali. Indonesia is a Muslim country with the greatest population of Muslims worldwide. Growing up Chana did not have Jewish friends and ended up marrying a Moslem man. They had three sons and the oldest one was David. Chana wanted to make sure that her sons would know that they are different from their Moslem neighbors, and so she made sure to send them to the Christian school instead of Moslem school.

The years passed and David was close to Bar Mitzvah age. Chana knew that at thirteen a boy is supposed to have a Bar Mitzvah and be called up to the Torah. She dreamed that her son would have this opportunity. But how was she able to make this happen?

Close to their house there was a small synagogue which opened once a year, on Yom Kippur. The only symbol identifying it as a Jewish House of Prayer was a Star of David on the outside of the building. The Jewish faith is not recognized in Indonesia, and it is not permitted to have an official Jewish synagogue.* Chana felt the need to pray to G-d from her heart and decided to go to the synagogue. When she entered, she saw a sorry sight.  The place was unkempt and filled with dust. She spent several days cleaning it up to look respectful. Suddenly, on one of the tables, Chana found a small picture of the Rebbe! She looked at the picture and from the depth of her heart cried out, “Dear Rebbe, it is well known that you care for Jewish people in the whole world. I beseech you, please, look out for my son David! It’s true that I don’t deserve it, but my son David is not to blame for my choices. He has barely begun to live his life.  I beg of you to help me give him the opportunity, if he so wishes, to be a Jew when he grows up.

In the evening, Chana left the synagogue to go back home. She locked the gate and as she turned around, she saw a sight which she had never seen in Indonesia. In the entrance to the synagogue stood a Jew with a beard. He introduced himself as Rabbi David Skurder. She rubbed her eyes to see if she was not dreaming. But indeed, the reality was that this Jewish rabbi was still standing in front of her.

Rabbi Skurder was a Lubavitcher Chasid. He was a diamond merchant from London. During yechidut (private audience) with the Rebbe, the Rebbe guided him and told him that wherever he visits a place for business, he should interest himself to see what can be done to strengthen the Jewish community, what is the situation with the Jewish community and where he can help. This was the Rebbe’s approach. A Jew is always guided by G-d wherever he/she finds themselves to be of assistance to another person. You are not traveling just for business purposes, but rather it is G-d leading you to a place where you can earn spiritual wealth!

When Rabbi Skurder came to Bali, he was wondering what to do and where to go to find Jews. In this Muslim country, there is no organized Jewish community and even a synagogue is not permitted. Where could he find a Jew? Perhaps the Rebbe did not mean Bali…. However, he decided to try and search around, perhaps he would find some unofficial Jewish building.

Sure enough, he noticed a small building with a Star of David on it. As he stepped closer, he saw a woman who beseeched him to help her out. Rabbi Skurder agreed to take Chana’s son David back with him to London and prepare him for his Bar Mitzvah. The Bar Mitzvah ceremony took place at the Chabad House in Bangkok, Thailand.

David continued to progress in his Judaism and moved to Israel. Here he joined the Chabad synagogue in Holon. Rabbi Shmuel Raskin officiated at his Jewish wedding, announcing to the crowd, “Today the Rebbe’s presence will be with us as the Chatan and Kallah are escorted to the chuppah!”

“David went on to establish a beautiful Jewish family in Israel,” Rabbi Raskin concluded.

Story translated from Hebrew sermon by Rabbi Shneor Ashkenazi for Pashat Vaera 5784 – Jan 10, 2024.

*Today there is a Chabad House in Bali, Indonesia!