Three weeks ago, Rabbi Yosef Kantor sent me a letter. He is the Chief Rabbi of Thailand and has been running Chabad of Thailand for over three decades.

He is also the Rabbi that guided me to lay tefilin for the first time in my life 20 years on my gap year at the age of 19. I digress…

This letter was a thank-you for supporting Purim celebrations across the country, from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, from Chiang Mai to a boat somewhere on the Mekong in Laos. Hundreds of backpackers, families, and IDF soldiers on leave had celebrated together. His words were warm and generous.

But it was the final line that stopped me:

Chabad of Thailand now moves onward and upward to its greatest project of the year: Pesach Seder. This year, we expect to host upwards of 12,000 Seder guests.

Chabad of Thailand now moves onward and upward to its greatest project of the year: Pesach Seder. This year, we expect to host upwards of 12,000 Seder guests.

Twelve thousand. In Thailand. Across Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Koh Phangan, and Pai. Jews will sit down this Pesach, recline on cushions, pour four cups of wine, and ask the same questions our ancestors asked in Egypt. Most will be Israeli backpackers. Some will be families who flew from Melbourne or Tel Aviv specifically for this. But many will be expats who live in the region year-round and consider these Seders their anchor.

As a proud Jew living in Southeast Asia, these kind of events are seismic and demonstrate an incredible shift that is happening around the region.

The Logistics of Faith

To feed this crowd, Rabbi Kantor’s orders run to thousands of bottles of........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)