It’s been more than a year since hurricanes Irma and Maria tore through Puerto Rico, sowing destruction, desolation and death in their paths.
Slowly but surely, the island’s residents have been piecing together their lives. While there is much to be done—potable water has not been completely restored in all areas, and some hotels remain closed—great advances have been made in many areas, including providing kosher food for Jewish residents and visitors.
“Thank G‑d, we are now serving many kosher meals at the Rohr Jewish Center,” reports Chabad Rabbi Mendel Zarchi, who has been serving the Jewish community in Puerto Rico for 20 years. “After the hurricanes, many people left, but many people have moved back now, and that resulted in a rebound of interest in kosher food.”
The Rohr Jewish Center provides meat and dairy kosher dining as part of what the rabbi calls an “experience of Jewish life in Puerto Rico.” The Chabad restaurant is called Kosher in Paradise, and has separate seating areas for meat and dairy diners, ensuring the highest standard of kashrut.
Rochi Zarchi, who co-directs Chabad of Puerto Rico with her husband, says they model their efforts on those of Abraham, who was famous for feeding desert wayfarers and then teaching them to thank G‑d for the bounty.
With the return of tourism and businesspeople, she says that the Chabad facilities are once again busy providing gourmet kosher takeout to hotels as well as koshering villas.
“We had some very challenging times here,” acknowledges the rabbi, who was central to the relief efforts in the weeks and months after the hurricanes. “But people have come back, we have regular prayer services once again, and Jewish life is rebounding in Puerto Rico, thank G‑d.”
Attendance Up at Communal Shabbat Dinners
One indicator of the growth is the size of the crowd at the kosher Shabbat dinners hosted at Chabad. During the final months of 2017, attendance dipped down as low as 30 diners on Shabbat. Those numbers have since risen to double that amount.
Zarchi credits part of the rebound to longstanding favorable tax conditions, which have attracted Americans and others to relocate their businesses and families to Puerto Rico. Having proper kosher amenities in place has allowed for observant Jews to take advantage of those benefits as well.
On a commercial front, in addition to supervising factories and functions under his own hashgachah (supervisory agency) known as Caribbean Kosher, the rabbi also acts as mashgiach (kosher supervisor)on behalf of OU (Orthodox Union) and OK (Organized Kosher), the two largest kosher supervising agencies in the mainland United States, and others. Goya products, rice, flour and several famous brands of rum are among Puerto Rico’s many kosher exports.
“This is something we hope will only expand in the years ahead,” he notes. “People ask us if the island is ready for visitors. Our answer is a resounding ‘yes’! Every tourist who comes here supports the local economy and helps the continued restoration of the beautiful isla del encanto.”
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