A newly opened Chabad House in the coastal town of Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka, was targeted by antisemitic protesters over Shabbos, with stones and firecrackers thrown at the building as hundreds of Jewish travelers gathered inside. Full Story
A newly opened Chabad House in the coastal town of Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka, has become the target of antisemitic harassment and attacks, with the shluchim and Jewish travelers forced to remain inside as protesters gathered outside over Shabbos.
The Chabad House, established only weeks ago by Shliach Rabbi Yossi Gabai, has quickly become a home away from home for the many Israeli and Jewish travelers visiting the popular coastal town.
Since opening, the Chabad House has hosted Shabbos meals, Torah classes, and other activities, welcoming hundreds of Jewish visitors passing through the area.
In recent days, however, the Chabad House became the target of an organized campaign of incitement, including inflammatory social media posts, false claims and antisemitic comments targeting the Jewish presence in the town.
The situation escalated Friday night as hundreds of Jewish travelers gathered at the Chabad House for the Shabbos meal.
A large group of protesters gathered outside and began intimidating people trying to enter. The protesters later threw firecrackers and stones into the compound, with several stones shattering windows. No one was injured, but the shluchim and guests remained inside as the situation outside became increasingly dangerous.
Police were called and dispersed the crowd. On Motzaei Shabbos, however, the protesters returned in even larger numbers, again using loudspeakers to threaten and incite against the Chabad House and throwing objects toward the building.
Rabbi Gabai said the attacks appear to be organized and called on Sri Lankan authorities to take immediate action to protect the Chabad House and prevent the situation from escalating.
The incident has also drawn attention in Israel. MK Avi Maoz contacted Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, urging the Foreign Ministry to intervene with Sri Lankan authorities and ensure that the shluchim and Jewish visitors receive adequate security.
Despite the attacks, Rabbi Gabai emphasized that the hostility does not represent the Sri Lankan people as a whole. Since arriving in Hiriketiya, the shluchim have developed warm and respectful relationships with many local residents.
“We opened the Chabad House only recently, and already hundreds of travelers have come through our doors,” Rabbi Gabai said. “They have joined us for Shabbos, put on tefillin, learned Torah and felt that they have a home here, even on the other side of the world.”
The attacks, he said, will not stop the shluchim from continuing their mission. “Our response to antisemitism will be to add even more light, Ahavas Yisroel, Torah, tefillah and mitzvos,” Rabbi Gabai said.
For the shluchim, the message remains clear: the Chabad House will remain open to every Jew who walks through its doors, continuing the Rebbe’s shlichus of bringing Yiddishkeit and a feeling of home to Jews wherever they may be.
A post shared by Binyomin Freundlich (@binyominfreundlich)
The protests appear organized and funded and may be linked to internal political tensions.
Truly disturbing. No one should have to fear for their safaty simply because they are Jewish and gathering to pray. Hopefully the authorities take this seriously and ensure the community’s safety
I wonder why any of us nowadays would want to go to an area hostile to Jews or Americans. Other than for business or family reasons, we shouldn’t patronize those people or places. I refuse to give them any of my tourist dollars.
so beautiful to see the dedication to the Rebbe! wow, truly inspiring!
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