Shabbos with the Penguins

By COLlive reporter

Meir Alfasi, a Chabad photographer from Israel, sailed last Wednesday on a cruise to Antarctica, the world’s southernmost continent, encapsulating the South Pole.

Aside from taking photos of the scenery – 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice – he had a Shlichus to fulfil.

“There is an instruction from the Rebbe to print a Tanya in every place Jewish people live – even a single Jew,” he told the daily Israel Hayom.

“In Antarctica there are a few Jewish researchers and obviously, Israeli backpackers,” he added.

The cruise left from Argentina and surprisingly – or possibly not – Alfasi had a minyan and kosher food.

“There were 10 other Jews – 4 of them Israelis – on board, some of them working on the ship,” Alfasi said.

For food, he brought along 2 loaves of bread, a few spreads, fruits and vegetables.

He spent Shabbos with another religious Jew who was there and together they prayed, ate and sang traditional Shabbos melodies.

“There was no more special way to greet the Shabbos with everything white around us, floating glaciers, ice covered mountains, penguins and dolphins.”

The Antarctica edition of the Tanya was Alfasi’s 50th that he is printing around the world during his photographic journies.