More Chabad Houses Than You’d Expect

Corsica, France

These days, when Jewish travelers head somewhere new, we almost expect there to be a Chabad House.

 

It doesn't seem to matter how remote the destination is. You can be on a tropical island, in a small town thousands of miles from a major Jewish community or halfway through a backpacking trip and chances are, there is a Chabad somewhere nearby.

 

Finding one Chabad House in an unexpected destination is no longer all that surprising.

 

But four?

 

That's what got me thinking about this list.

 

Corsica is a relatively small Mediterranean island, yet there are Chabad centers in different parts of the island. Sri Lanka also has a network of Chabad Houses serving travelers in different destinations around the country.

 

And they aren't the only ones.

 

As kosher and Jewish travel continues to expand, Chabad is expanding along with it. Some centers serve established local Jewish communities, while others have developed in destinations popular with Jewish tourists and Israeli travelers.

 

In many parts of Asia and South America, you will notice that Chabad websites are primarily in Hebrew. That's no accident. Young Israelis often travel for months after finishing their army service, heading to destinations throughout Asia, Central America and South America.

 

Not all of them keep kosher. Not all are religious. But come Friday night, many still head to the local Chabad House for dinner, to meet other Israelis and enjoy a little taste of home.

 

Here are some destinations where you won't find just one Chabad House, but several.

 

 

4 Chabad Houses

 

Corsica was actually the destination that inspired this article. I recently read that a fourth Chabad House had opened in Calvi, on the northwest coast of the island. I knew there was a Chabad presence in Corsica, but four Chabad Houses on one relatively small Mediterranean island? That caught my attention.

 

Chabad has established a presence in Ajaccio, Bastia, Porto-Vecchio and Calvi, giving Jewish visitors access to Chabad in several of Corsica's main tourist areas.

 

Ajaccio, Corsica's capital and the birthplace of Napoleon, sits on the island's western coast and is home to the original Chabad of Corsica. Bastia, in the northeast, is one of the island's main port cities and a gateway to Cap Corse. Porto-Vecchio, in southeastern Corsica, is a popular vacation destination known for its nearby beaches, while Calvi, the newest Chabad location, serves travelers in the northwest, an area known for its coastline, beaches and mountain scenery.

 

For travelers, having Chabad in different parts of Corsica is particularly useful because this isn't necessarily a destination where you stay in one city and take day trips. Driving from one end of the island to another can take several hours, and many visitors spend their vacation moving between different regions.

 

The growth of Chabad around Corsica also says a lot about how Jewish travel is changing. A destination that had its first permanent Chabad House only ten years ago now has four, serving local Jewish life as well as the growing number of Jewish visitors discovering the island.

 

Find Chabad Houses in Corsica in the TJT Jewish travel directory.

 

 

5 Chabad Houses

 

Sri Lanka is another island where the Chabad presence might surprise you. There are now five Chabad Houses around the country, serving Jewish and Israeli travelers in Colombo, Weligama, Ella, Arugam Bay and Hiriketiya.

The newest Chabad House opened recently in Hiriketiya, a small beach town on Sri Lanka's southern coast. It was actually in the news just weeks after opening, when local residents and Buddhist monks protested outside the Chabad House and called for its closure.

 

The addition of Hiriketiya brings the number of Chabad Houses in Sri Lanka to five, which is pretty remarkable for an island where the Jewish population is very small.

 

But when you look at how people travel around Sri Lanka, the locations make sense. Colombo is the main city and entry point for many visitors, while Weligama, Hiriketiya and Arugam Bay are popular beach and surfing destinations and Ella is one of the country's best-known stops in the mountains.

 

This is very much a Chabad network built around the way people actually travel through Sri Lanka. Instead of having one Chabad House in the capital, there are Chabad Houses along the travel route, giving Jewish visitors access to Shabbat meals, kosher food, minyanim and other services as they make their way around the country.

 

Sri Lanka is especially popular with young Israelis, and the Chabad Houses have become an important part of the Israeli travel scene there. For many travelers, they serve as familiar meeting points along the route, offering a place to connect with other Israelis and take part in Shabbat, even if they aren't particularly religious or observant.

 

Find Chabad Houses in Sri Lanka in the TJT Jewish travel directory.

 

 

2 Chabad Houses

 

Most Jewish travelers probably wouldn't be shocked to discover a Chabad House in the Dominican Republic. After all, it is a major Caribbean vacation destination. But finding Chabad in two very different parts of the country is a little more unexpected.

 

There is a Chabad House in Santo Domingo, the capital and largest city, located on the southern coast, and another in Puerto Plata, serving the popular resort areas along the country's northern coast.

 

Puerto Plata and the surrounding north coast are known for their beaches, resorts and water sports, while Santo Domingo is the country's cultural and historic center. The two destinations are several hours apart by car, so having a Chabad presence in both makes Jewish services much more accessible to travelers staying in different parts of the country.

 

As kosher travelers branch out beyond the same handful of Caribbean resorts, it's another example of Chabad expanding to meet Jewish travelers where they're actually vacationing.

 

Find Chabad Houses in the Dominican Republic in the TJT Jewish travel directory.


Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica

 

5 Chabad Houses

 

Finding Chabad in Costa Rica probably isn't that surprising. The country has long been popular with Jewish and Israeli travelers. Finding five Chabad Houses in different parts of this relatively small Central American country is another story.

 

Chabad can be found in the San José area, Jacó, Tamarindo, Santa Teresa and now La Fortuna. Jacó, Tamarindo and Santa Teresa put Chabad close to some of Costa Rica's popular Pacific beach destinations, while San José serves the capital area.

 

The newest addition is La Fortuna, where a permanent Chabad House opened in June 2026. Set at the foot of Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna is one of Costa Rica's major adventure destinations, known for its rainforest, hot springs, waterfalls and outdoor activities.

 

The locations show just how closely Chabad has followed the way Jewish and Israeli travelers explore Costa Rica. You can head from the city to the beaches and then inland toward Arenal and find a Chabad House along the way.

 

Find Chabad Houses in Costa Rica in the TJT Jewish travel directory.

 

 

2 Chabad Houses

 

Ecuador is another destination where one Chabad House wouldn't necessarily surprise us. Two makes it more interesting, especially when they are in two very different parts of the country.

 

There are Chabad Houses in Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador's two largest cities. Quito, the capital, sits high in the Andes and is a popular starting point for exploring the mountains, volcanoes and historic towns of the region. Guayaquil is a busy port city closer to the Pacific coast and an important gateway for travelers heading to the Galápagos Islands.

 

Ecuador attracts everyone from tourists exploring the Andes and Galápagos to young Israelis and backpackers making their way through South America. Having Chabad in both Quito and Guayaquil gives Jewish travelers access to Shabbat meals, kosher food and Jewish services at two major stops along the way.

 

Find Chabad Houses in Ecuador in the TJT Jewish travel directory.


Northern lights in Alaska

 

 

3 Chabad Houses

 

Alaska might be part of the United States, but it certainly doesn't feel like an obvious place to find multiple Chabad Houses. The state is enormous, communities are spread over vast distances and much of Alaska is genuinely remote.

 

Yet there are separate Chabad centers serving Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Valley.

 

Anchorage is Alaska's largest city and the starting point for many trips around the state. From here, travelers often continue by road, rail or air to explore other parts of Alaska. 

 

About 45 minutes north of Anchorage is the Mat-Su Valley, home to Palmer and Wasilla and stretching north toward Denali. This is classic Alaska road-trip country, with glaciers, hiking, fishing, dog sledding and easy access to some spectacular scenery.

 

Then there is Fairbanks, way up in Alaska's Interior and a popular base for northern lights trips, Denali and exploring the state's far north. Chabad of Fairbanks opened in 2024 and is now the northernmost Chabad center in the world.

 

That's what makes Alaska so interesting for this list. We're not talking about three Chabad Houses in neighboring suburbs of the same city. These centers serve completely different parts of a state that is larger than many countries.

 

For Jewish travelers exploring Alaska, having Chabad in more than one region can make a significant difference, particularly when planning around Shabbat or looking for Jewish services during a longer trip.

 

Find Chabad Houses in Alaska in the TJT Jewish travel directory.


Las Cabanas beach in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

 

 

7 Chabad Houses

 

With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines isn't exactly an easy destination to cover from one central location. Yet there are now seven Chabad Houses around the country. That's more than any other destination on this list.

 

The Chabad presence has expanded far beyond the capital, with centers in destinations including Cebu, Boracay, Palawan and Siargao. Boracay and Siargao are known for their beaches and island vacations, while Palawan draws travelers for its spectacular coastline and island-hopping. Cebu combines beaches and diving with a major city, making it an important jumping-off point for exploring the central Philippines. That makes a big difference in a country where travelers often fly or take ferries between islands rather than staying in one place.

 

The Philippines is especially popular with Israeli travelers, including young Israelis on extended trips through Asia. Having Chabad Houses along the travel route gives them access to Shabbat meals, kosher food, minyanim and a place to meet other Jewish travelers without having to return to Manila.

 

Find Chabad Houses in the Philippines in the TJT Jewish travel directory.

 

There was a time when planning a kosher vacation meant sticking fairly close to established Jewish communities.

 

That's no longer necessarily the case.

 

Chabad Houses around the world have made it possible for Jewish travelers to venture much farther while still having access to Jewish life along the way. Sometimes that means finding a minyan. Sometimes it's arranging kosher food or a Shabbat meal. And sometimes it's simply knowing there is someone local you can call when you need help.

 

But it's also worth remembering that a Chabad House isn't a tourist information center. Each one is funded through donations and local fundraising, supporting Jewish life in its community while also welcoming the many Jewish travelers who come through. For travelers who benefit from a Shabbat meal, kosher food, a minyan or simply the warm welcome of a local Chabad House, it's worth remembering the work that goes into making those services possible.

 

What I find particularly interesting is how quickly one Chabad House can turn into several as a destination becomes more popular.

 

Corsica is a perfect example. Sri Lanka is another.

 

Jewish travelers are going farther, Israeli backpackers are discovering new destinations and Chabad shluchim are following them to places that would once have seemed very unlikely locations for a Jewish center.

 

At this point, finding Chabad somewhere remote may not surprise us anymore.

 

Finding four of them still does.