April 22nd, 2008, the first night of Hol Hamoed, the Chabad House on Wheels in Miami Beach was burned down. Hatred and vandalism in Miami Beach is unimaginable. Many months have passed and the police have not yet found the culprit.

Passover was tarnished this year in Miami by this act of vandalism that shocked the entire Jewish community in Florida.

The executive Board of Safra Synagogue and Rabbi Galimidi decided to swing into action and help the Chabad on Wheels. Mr. Clement Soffer was in charge of raising funds for this unfortunate synagogue.

In his address to the congregation, Mr. Soffer said, “An attack on one synagogue is an attack on all synagogues; an attack on one Jew is an attack on the Jewish people. Every synagogue should raise funds to build a better and stronger synagogue to show the perpetrators that if they destroy a synagogue, a better one will replace it, and that their efforts are futile.”

Our community is well-known world-wide for its great generosity and caring. Mr. Soffer requested that each family participate in helping to rebuild this Chabad with a $100 donation. His idea was to mezake harabim—to have as many families as possible participate in this great mitzvah, as we are there for our brethren, and we all are responsible for rebuilding this synagogue.

We are grateful and thank all the families that have generously made donations toward this great mitzvah.

You can send your donations, made out to Beit Edmond Jacob Safra Synagogue of Miami, to 19275 Mystic Pointe Dr., Aventura, Florida 33180, and we will deliver it to the Chabad on Wheels of Miami.

Our community strongly believes that we are our brothers’ keepers. Now let’s unite to rebuild the Chabad House on Wheels.