Foundational Chassidic Text Published In Fiji

A pair of Chabad-Lubavitch rabbinical students printed what is suspected to be the first Hebrew book to ever be published in the republic of Fiji.

The two students came to the island nation to reach out to its tiny Jewish community as part of Chabad's summer peace corps-like program.

While there, they commissioned a printing of the Tanya, the foundational chassidic treatise penned by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe. The printing represents the 5241st time the Tanya has been published.

While most of the Jews there were surprised by the students' visit, says Berel Lerman, they "were always ushered in to their home or office with a smile."

Following the printing, the pair gathered together some of the local Jews and studied from the Fiji edition of Tanya.

"Community members were excited when they heard about the printing of the first Hebrew book on the Island," reported Sholom Cunin.