Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles and the Land of White Elephants—but would you believe it's also a land where thousands reconnect with their Judaism? While the local Jewish community has always been small, in recent decades Thailand has become a destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors, and thanks to Chabad, Jewish life there is pulsating and vibrant. Read on for 14 facts about the Jews of this exotic Southeast Asian country.
1. Early Jewish Presence Was Scarce
Not much is known about Jewish presence in Thailand before the 19th century. Jewish residents were few and far between—possibly because Thailand, then known as Siam, was the only kingdom in Southeast Asia never to be colonized, minimizing contact with Europeans. Most Jews in the country during this period were visitors, such as merchants from Baghdad passing through the area for business and trade.
2. A Diverse Community Slowly Developed
In the early 1900s, a small but growing community of resident Jews took root in Thailand, centered in the capital of Bangkok. The first arrivals were Ashkenazic Jews from Russia and Germany, followed by Sephardic Jews from Syria and Iraq. Thanks to Thailand’s long tradition of religious tolerance, these Jewish residents encountered no antisemitism and were able to participate fully in economic and civic life.
3. German Refugees Found Safety There
In the late 1930s, about 120 Jewish refugees fleeing Germany found safety in Thailand. Among the local Jews who assisted these unfortunate newcomers was a courageous and resourceful woman named Elizabeth Zerner, Thai-born daughter of Thailand’s first official Jewish citizens, the Rosenbergs. Every time she heard a ship was arriving, she would rush to the port, looking for ways to help the refugees. When the local Nazi Legation pressured Thai officials not to admit anyone with a “J” (for “Jude”) stamped in their passport, Elizabeth stepped in. Cleverly, she told the officials the “J” stood for something else—and the refugees were allowed in. Most left Thailand after the war.
4. Thai Documents Saved Hundreds of Lives
Recent research has uncovered a previously unknown connection between Thailand and the Holocaust. In 1940–1941, an official named Robert Vimont-Vicary served as the consul of Siam in Marseille, France, where he issued hundreds of visas and travel documents to Jewish refugees, saving their lives. Most of these fortunate souls never actually made it to Thailand, using the precious documents instead to escape to Portugal and other safe havens.
Read: Some Facts About the Holocaust for Those Just Learning
5. Jews Endured Slave Labor in a Thai POW Camp
During World War II, the Japanese interned captured Allied soldiers in a brutal prisoner-of-war labor camp in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Conditions were harrowing—nearly half the prisoners perished from disease and work-related causes. Among them were approximately 150 Jewish soldiers, many of whom died and are buried in Kanchanaburi. Remarkably, despite the terrible conditions, the Japanese permitted some semblance of Jewish religious life in the camp, including prayer services on Jewish holidays.
6. The First Synagogue Is Beth Elisheva
Elizabeth (Elisheva) Zerner foresaw a bright Jewish future in Bangkok. In 1966, two decades after her Holocaust-era heroism, she donated a property for the community to build their first synagogue and JCC, which was named Beth Elisheva in her honor.
7. American Chaplains Became Temporary Rabbis
The Vietnam War brought an unexpected boost to Jewish life in Bangkok. Several Jewish chaplains serving in the American army were stationed in the country, becoming impromptu rabbis for the community. In addition to leading services and performing other rabbinical duties, they obtained prayer books and brought kosher food.
8. A Stranded Rabbi Brought Spiritual Awakening
In 1974, Israeli Rabbi Shachne Zohn found himself unexpectedly stranded in Bangkok right before Rosh Hashanah, having slept through his intended stopover in Athens on his flight from New York to Jerusalem. (Before Bangkok, the plane had stopped in Beirut—where a flight attendant locked him in the bathroom for his own safety!) He spent the High Holiday in Bangkok, and his deep dedication to Jewish tradition left a lasting impression. Due to his efforts, the synagogue was (temporarily) rearranged to conform with halachah, and the seeds were planted for the building of a mikvah. In fact, two local boys were so inspired that they left Thailand to study in a yeshivah abroad!
9. The Sephardi Synagogue Is a True Gem
In the 1970s, Sephardi Jewish jewelers in Bangkok started gathering for prayer in an office belonging to the Abraham family’s gemstone business. As the group grew, they established a formal synagogue in 1984, naming it “Even Chen” (“precious stone”), after the gem trade that had brought many of them to Thailand.
Read: 19 Facts About Sephardic Jews
10. The Rebbe Inspired a Mikvah Project
One crucial element of Jewish life was noticeably absent: a mikvah, the ritual bath that is essential to the purity of Jewish marriage. In 1980, Meir Abraham, one of the community’s dedicated lay leaders, visited the Rebbe, who encouraged him to fund the opening of this vital communal institution. It took ten years and no shortage of hurdles, but in 1990, a mikvah finally opened in Bangkok.
Read: 10 Gorgeous Mikvahs From Around the World
11. Chabad Brought New Life
After several unsuccessful attempts to find a suitable rabbi, the community decided to turn to Chabad. In 1993, Rabbi Yosef Kantor arrived as a permanent spiritual leader, bringing new energy to the community. He reopened the Jewish school, ensured access to kosher food, established Torah classes, and helped Jewish life in Bangkok flourish.
Listen: Chabad in Thailand
12. It’s a Haven for Jewish Backpackers
At any given time, the majority of Jews in Thailand are not local residents but visiting Israeli backpackers—young people who flock to the country after completing their IDF service to ponder life and pursue spirituality. It is estimated that about 300,000 Israeli backpackers pass through Thailand each year!
To serve the needs of this unique demographic, the Kantors brought in a second Chabad couple dedicated specifically to working with travelers, establishing Bet Chabad Ohr Menachem—the first-ever Chabad House devoted entirely to visitors. Today, the newly-remodeled center features two kosher restaurants, a synagogue, a travelers’ lounge, a children’s playground, and a spacious ballroom that can seat up to 600 people for Shabbat and holiday meals.
Read: In Bangkok, New Home Away From Home for Jewish Travelers
13. Chabad Aided Tsunami Victims
In December 2004, a tsunami tore through Thailand’s southwest coast, bringing destruction and devastation to Phuket and Khao Lak. Chabad of Thailand sprang into action, rushing essential supplies to survivors, supporting displaced families, and meeting urgent needs wherever they could.
Amid the rubble, Rabbi Kantor saw broken toys scattered among the ruins. This spurred him to launch a tsunami toy drive, rallying schools and communities around the world. All these efforts inspired the founding of a new Chabad House in Phuket.
Read: Faith in the Path of the Tsunami
14. Chabad Welcomes Visitors in Six Cities
Over time, Chabad’s work expanded based on the needs of each location, with centers opening to provide kosher restaurants, mikvahs, summer camps, and more. In addition to the flagship center in Bangkok, Chabad has opened centers in six additional locations across Thailand, ensuring both locals and visitors can find warm, welcoming Jewish life wherever they go.
Read: Thailand Island Chabad House Makes Room for More
Most of the material in this article was culled from Jews in Thailand (Bangkok, 2011), co-authored by Ruth Gerson and Stephen Mallinger. Thank you as well to Bangkok native Mrs. Mushka Kaltmann for her invaluable assistance.
A collection of Rabbi Kantor’s Thailand experiences can be found in Chai From Thai (Kehot, 2021).
