Chabad Shliach In Thailand Honored By Thai Military For Flood Relief Efforts

Rabbi Nechemia Wilhelm, the rabbi of the Chabad House in Bangkok, was honored this week at a formal ceremony held at Thai army headquarters, following Chabad’s extensive assistance to victims of devastating floods in southern Thailand.

The ceremony, attended by senior military officials including the Thai Chief of Staff, came after the Chabad House in Thailand partnered with the Thai army to aid flood-stricken communities. Chabad representatives, together with dozens of Israeli travelers, raised funds and provided critical supplies to affected residents, according to a report on the Mako website.

Southern Thailand has been reeling from severe flooding in recent months, with more than 600,000 residents impacted. The city of Hat Yai, a major economic hub in Songkhla province, suffered the greatest damage, with approximately 250,000 residents affected and water levels reaching dangerous heights.

“We saw the heavy damage and the people who were affected by the stormy weather. Many people lost everything they had in their lives,” Rabbi Nechemia told journalist Asaf Vaknin, of Mako. “Here at Chabad, we decided to step in and help as much as we can. We collected donations from many good Israelis, purchased a large amount of rice, bought medicine and many other essential things that will allow even a little bit for the poor residents during this difficult time.”

After coordination between Chabad and Thai military officials on the delivery of aid, the army invited Chabad representatives to an official ceremony titled, “Chabad House, the home of the Israelis, helping Thai residents in times of need.”

The event received broad coverage in local media and was broadcast on Thai television channels. During the ceremony, Rabbi Nechemia met personally with the Thai Chief of Staff.

“He thanked us on behalf of the Thai army and authorities for the assistance, said he greatly appreciated our contribution to the people,” Rabbi Nechemia told the Mako website. “This is not the first time we have helped the locals. We had very extensive activity, for example, during the tsunami when we helped rebuild many villages, helped orphans of the disaster, and other events in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. Even then, we had full cooperation with the Thai army and government.”