Yaakov Raskin | Jamaica will rise

Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-07 | Original Article

WE WILL all never forget where we stood when Hurricane Melissa hit us on Tuesday, October 28. This storm will be remembered for generations,, not only for the damage it caused, but for how it changed us. In just a few hours, homes, farms, and entire livelihoods across the western part of the island were torn apart. Families woke up the next day to a different Jamaica.

 

But,, as hard as these days have been, something even stronger has stood out — the heart and spirit of the Jamaican people.

 

In my 11 years living here, I’ve always said Jamaicans are some of the most generous people anywhere. But these past weeks showed me what ‘Out of Many, One People’ truly means.

 

I saw neighbours checking on each other when there was no power, no phones, and no way to reach the outside world. I saw people sharing whatever food or water they had with someone who had even less. Families opened their doors to others who suddenly had no home. Workers — plumbers, contractors, and everyday people — spent their free hours helping strangers cover roofs, clear debris, or set up water tanks. Some even turned their homes into small communication hubs so others could reach their loved ones.

 

And people from abroad — doctors, volunteers, pilots, and friends — dropped everything and came to stand with Jamaica in its hardest hour.

 

Government teams, ministers, and local leaders were also constantly on the ground, working round the clock to stabilise communities and support those most affected.

 

In Chabad philosophy, there is a saying: “live with the times”. It means that, each week, Jews around the world read a different section of the Torah — what we call a Torah portion, or Parsha. These portions are ancient stories that offer guidance and comfort, and their lessons often speak directly to the challenges of the moment.

 

In the weeks after the storm, the portions we read felt especially meaningful.

 

We read about Noah, who held onto hope in the middle of destruction and uncertainty.

 

Then Abraham, who faced one test after another, refusing to give up.

 

Next came Isaac, who kept digging wells even when others tried to stop him — a reminder that we must keep rebuilding, step by step, no matter the setbacks.

 

And, this week, we read about Jacob, who wrestles with an angel through the long night. He doesn’t know if he will survive. But, when dawn comes, he receives a blessing and a new name — Israel, meaning “one who wrestles and prevails”.

 

These stories are thousands of years old, yet their lessons are alive in Jamaica today.

 

People who have lost so much still speak with gratitude.

 

People exhausted from rebuilding somehow stay hopeful.

 

People who believe, against all odds, that things will get better.

 

One woman from the west came to us shortly after the storm. She hadn’t eaten properly in days and had nowhere left to return to. When she shared her story, everyone listening was moved to tears. Yet, the dignity and quiet strength with which she spoke lifted us all. Her faith, even after all she endured, was a reminder of what true resilience looks like.

 

I’ve also seen families beginning to rebuild with whatever remains — a roof pieced together from mismatched tin, a cookstove resting on broken blocks, a child doing homework by the light of a neighbour’s generator. These quiet scenes of determination say more than any speech ever could.

 

And, this week, as Jamaica mourns the passing of Jimmy Cliff — one of its greatest voices — a line from his music has stayed in my mind:

 

“You can get it if you really want, but you must try, try and try.”

 

Those words capture the heartbeat of this island right now.

 

People trying.

 

People helping.

 

People pushing forward even when everything feels heavy.

 

Jamaica today is living its own version of Jacob’s struggle — wrestling through the night, battered and bruised, yet refusing to give up. And, like Jacob, Jamaica, too, will rise with a blessing on the other side.

 

Joy and light will return to this island.

 

The journey ahead may be long, but we will walk it together.

 

And, with God’s help, Jamaica will rise — stronger, kinder, and more united than ever before.

 

May God give strength to every family rebuilding, comfort to those who lost, and blessings of peace and stability to this island we all love.

 

 

Rabbi Yaakov Raskin is Jamaica’s only rabbi and the director of Chabad Jamaica — a one-stop home for everything Jewish, and a centre dedicated to spreading kindness to all humanity. If you or someone you know needs help with food, clothing, or support, please reach out. We will do our best to connect you with assistance. email info@jewishjaamica.com

 

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