Strengthening Jewish Life in Puerto Rico and Across the Caribbean

Strengthening Jewish Life in Puerto Rico and Across the Caribbean
Surrounded by crystal blue water and far from major population centers – visitors to the Caribbean are pleasantly surprised when they see robust and flourishing Jewish infrastructure – kosher restaurants and supermarkets, synagogues with twice-daily prayer services, Shabbat and holiday dinners with 150 people, and Jewish pre-schools and Hebrew schools. This thriving Jewish presence didn’t appear by accident. It’s the result of sustained investment, visionary leadership, and committed local community partners. 

History of a Growing Community

Out of their home base in Isla Verde, the Chabad of Puerto Rico provides robust and vibrant programming to their steadily expanding community. Established in 1999 by Rabbi Mendel and Rachel Zarchi, Chabad of Puerto Rico was the first permanent Chabad presence in the Caribbean. 

While the Caribbean has historically sustained Jewish communities, they remained smaller, more assimilated and geographically dispersed. Over the past 27 years, Jewish life in the Caribbean has experienced a tremendous resurgence, led by the Zarchis and the commitment of dedicated community supporters. 

On an average Friday night, for instance, Chabad of Puerto hosts between 50 and 80 people for Shabbat dinner, with peak attendance reaching over 120. Each week, a beautiful mix of locals, visitors, business professionals, and families come together for prayer, study, and a communal recharge. Two years ago, Chabad opened a second satellite location in Dorado which hosts weekly Shabbat minyanim.

This year, they will be hosting two Passover seders with around 200 people in San Juan and around 40 people in Dorado.

Beginning out of a rented apartment, the Chabad has grown substantially and is now housed in a 12,000 sq. ft. center built and inaugurated in 2016, which features daily prayer services and communal activities, as well as kosher catering services and a dine-in kosher restaurant opened by members of the community wishing to grow in the Kosher observance. 

But Jewish life in Puerto Rico is not limited to Shabbat or holidays. Chabad’s educational infrastructure is central to the community, ensuring its long-term growth and sustainability. Chabad operates a Hebrew School in two locations, serving over 40 children. Chabad’s Preschool of the Arts (POTA) was established in 2024 with just three children, and has since grown to serve 22 children, representing a foundational investment in Puerto Rico’s Jewish future.
 

Partnership and Responsibility

Chabad of Puerto Rico has not only served as a central anchor of Jewish life on its home island, but have been instrumental in supporting the growth of other Chabad centers throughout the Caribbean. Chabad of Puerto Rico has worked closely with senior leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch – including Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, of blessed memory – to help establish Chabad centers across the Caribbean, ushering in the region’s Jewish renaissance that is still ongoing.

From only a few centers just a decade ago, today, permanent Chabad centers serve Jewish communities in over 17 locations, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Maarten, the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Grenada, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. These centers often serve as the primary address for Jewish life on their respective islands, providing a range of services including Shabbat and holiday prayers, Jewish education, Kosher food access, pastoral care, lifecycle support, and year-round communal programming.

In May 2025, Chabad rabbis from 17 Caribbean countries and territories gathered in St. Thomas for a historic Caribbean Jewish leadership summit. The gathering focused on a variety of topics, including expanding Jewish education, kosher access, and communal sustainability, and reflected a shift from seasonal Jewish presence to permanent, coordinated Jewish life across the region.

Support from the Community

The growth of Jewish life in island communities comes not only from top-down institutional leadership, but also on the grassroots efforts of individuals who recognize the importance of  building up the institutions where they live.

For instance, noted philanthropists Philippe and Hilary Heilberg, have been steadfast supporters of Chabad’s efforts in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Since establishing residence in Puerto Rico, the Heilbergs have been vital partners in the expansion of Chabad’s Jewish infrastructure across the Caribbean, including its Preschool of the Arts initiative.

They also commissioned a special Torah scroll specifically for the Jewish community of Aruba. The Torah scroll was completed on the island in a public “Siyum Sefer Torah” ceremony, marking the first Torah written specifically for use by Aruba’s Jewish community. The event drew record crowds, and was a tangible milestone representing the vitality of Jewish life on the island.

Philippe Heilberg spoke candidly about the responsibility newcomers have to invest in the communities they relocate to:

“When someone moves to the Caribbean—whether for climate, business opportunity, or a change in lifestyle—it’s not only a personal decision. Where we live carries responsibility and it’s not only about what the community can offer us; it’s about what we contribute in return,” he said. 

“If you find yourself in a new place, it presents an opportunity to invest in its growth, strengthen its institutions, and help build something lasting. Sustainable communities require commitment and a willingness to make a meaningful difference.”

His support also reflects the conviction that vibrant Jewish communities are built not only through one-time inspiration, but through sustained engagement and long-term commitment.

A Network Built for the Long Term

Through its established base and long-standing leadership, Chabad of Puerto Rico continues to serve as an anchor within this growing Caribbean network—supporting local development while fostering regional cooperation. 

They understand that island communities require more than occasional programming, seasonal leadership, or intermittent communal investment. They require lasting infrastructure, dedicated leadership, partnership, and a shared commitment to building something for the long run.

As Rabbi Zarchi expresses to new arrivals: “May your presence in this community be so meaningful that when you move on, your absence is felt.”

That spirit of purpose, presence and responsibility continues to shape Jewish life in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean. As Chabad’s permanent presence in the Caribbean crosses the quarter century threshold, it is clear that their investment, partnership and dedication will ensure a bright and robust Jewish future for generations to come.