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By chabadinfo reporter

Just one month after the opening of the new Chabad House in Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka, the Shluchim awoke Tuesday morning to discover antisemitic signs posted in the area calling for Jews to be prevented from establishing a Shul in town.

The signs, which were posted in Sinhala, English and Hebrew, stated that “Israeli Jews cannot establish a synagogue in Hiriketiya.”

The disturbing incident comes only about a month after the opening of Chabad Hiriketiya, established by Shliach Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Gabai and his family to provide a warm Jewish home for the thousands of Israeli and Jewish travelers who visit the area.

Since its opening, the Chabad House has quickly become a vibrant center of Jewish life, hosting Shabbos meals, Torah classes, Mivtza Tefillin and other activities for Jewish travelers. The Chabad House is open to every Jew, providing visitors with a place to turn for both spiritual and physical needs while far from home.

On Tuesday morning, the Shluchim were shocked to discover the antisemitic signs, which explicitly targeted Jews and opposed the establishment of the synagogue. The incident is particularly concerning in an area known as a popular tourist destination that welcomes visitors from many different countries and religious backgrounds.

“We opened the Chabad House here only about a month ago, and already we have been privileged to see such tremendous Jewish activity,” Rabbi Gabai told ChabadInfo. “Hundreds of travelers have come through here, participated in Shabbos meals, put on tefillin, learned Torah and felt that they have a home even at the other side of the world.”

“The signs we discovered this morning are painful and concerning, but they will not frighten us or weaken our Shlichus,” he emphasized. “The Chabad House will continue to be open to every Jew. Our response to antisemitism will be to add even more light, Ahavas Yisroel, Torah, tefillah and good deeds.”

The Chabad House is calling on local authorities to remove the signs and ensure that Jewish activity in the area can continue safely and freely. At the same time, the Shluchim expressed confidence that the incident does not represent the local population as a whole, noting that they have developed positive and respectful relationships with many local residents since opening the Chabad House.

“Precisely at a moment like this, we feel even more strongly how necessary the Jewish presence here is,” Rabbi Gabai concluded. “We will continue to operate with Jewish pride, in a spirit of peace and pleasantness, and to spread light wherever there are attempts to create darkness.”

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