Jewish Aid Groups Mobilize in Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa’s Devastation

Jewish and Israel-based humanitarian organizations are working to assist residents of Jamaica after the Caribbean island was struck last week by Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever recorded.

At least 28 people were killed in Jamaica, officials said, after the Category 5 hurricane made landfall with winds approaching 185 mph, flattening homes and leaving entire communities without power. The Red Cross reported that more than 70 percent of the island remains without electricity, and around 6,000 people are sheltering in emergency facilities.

In Montego Bay, Chabad of Jamaica transformed its damaged center into a hub for emergency assistance, providing temporary shelter, food, and charging stations for locals. “It’s a nightmare here,” said Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, who leads the community. “By the time people understood the size of this storm, the airports were closed, so all we could do was ask people to pray for us.”

Raskin, his wife, and five children survived hours of battering winds after windows shattered and floodwaters entered their home. Freezers filled with kosher food were destroyed, but the family quickly turned their focus to relief efforts. Within a day, they helped coordinate a private plane from Miami carrying kosher food, baby formula, and medical supplies, with help from U.S. supporters and Hatzolah Air.Another plane equipped with an atmospheric water generator capable of producing clean drinking water from air is expected in the coming days. Despite limited power and blocked roads, Chabad continues to distribute aid, check on residents, and host Shabbat meals for stranded visitors.

“Right after the storm, we got on the phone with all 360 Jews on the island to see what they needed,” said Raskin. “Fortunately, no one in our community was killed, but there was tremendous damage. One woman told us her entire house was destroyed and that she hadn’t eaten for two days.”

Raskin, who has served as Chabad’s emissary in Jamaica since 2011, said the center will keep assisting both Jews and non-Jews affected by the storm. “We have a responsibility to everyone on the island,” he said. “We’re operating with limited electricity, no water, and almost no internet connection—but the work must go on.”

IsraAID, Israel’s leading independent humanitarian group, also deployed a six-member emergency response team to Jamaica to address immediate needs. “After we conducted a rapid needs assessment, we started focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene,” said a spokesperson. The organization, active in more than 65 countries since 2001, also brought mental-health experts to support survivors.

IsraAID’s Senior Director of Emergency Operations Michal Bar said the team is drawing on regional experience from previous Caribbean disasters. “As with our previous responses, we’ll stand with communities for as long as they need us,” she said.

Another Israeli relief group, SmartAID, dispatched ten pallets of solar-power units and batteries, working with Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness to restore connectivity and electricity to affected regions. “When power and connectivity collapse, aid stops and rescue cannot coordinate,” said SmartAID founder Shachar Zahavi. “Our mission is to keep essential services running in the midst of this disaster.”

Despite the devastation, Rabbi Raskin remains hopeful. “We’ll overcome it and we’ll rebuild,” he said. “Jews and non-Jews alike, we need to appreciate what we have. Material things can be replaced—life and health cannot.”