Our journey to board a cruise ship to Greenland started in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, which welcomed us with such strong winds that it was hard to keep both feet on the ground.
Together with another couple, my husband and I had traveled from Philadelphia to this cold and exotic destination. We had a few hours before we were set to board the ship, so we made our way to the Chabad House in Iceland’s capital, directed by Rabbi Avraham and Mushky Feldman.
The small Jewish community in Iceland welcomed the Chabad couple in 2018, and in the short time since, thousands of tourists and locals have benefited from Jewish public celebrations, kosher catering, and Torah classes.
The four of us were greeted with hot tea and a warm welcome. We had a few hours to spare, and my friend Anna and I decided to join Mushky’s weekly Torah class for women. Sitting with a group of women from very different walks of life, who had ended up in this remote place for an encounter with Chassidic, timeless wisdom, was incredibly inspiring—a memorable and warm start to our ten-day journey into the cold waters of Greenland.
I had done my research and emailed many departments to confirm in writing that kosher food would be available for us on the cruise, so when the chef came out to ask if we had any special dietary needs, we were frustrated to say the least.
The ship was sailing away from the shores of Iceland, with Chabad catering options getting further away by the minute. It was clear that we were going to be eating lots of fruits and vegetables for the next ten days.
Little did we know that this dietary emergency would become the gateway to a spiritual transformation.
The story really begins years earlier. During the pandemic, my maternal aunt passed away from Covid. I was then taking many online Torah classes. Soon after, I received a gift in the mail: pop-up flowers with a note of condolences and genuine words of love and support from one of the fellow students in that class. Interestingly, she did not sign her name but instead ended her message with two words: “soul sister.” I remember being touched to tears and immediately placed the flowers near my siddur so I could stand next to them in prayer every morning.
Now, five years later, with that same prayerbook on board the ship, we stood in the cafeteria near an apologetic chef who was willing to cook kosher but had no idea how. As we politely explained that kosher food cannot be easily prepared without a thorough understanding of Jewish laws and certain supplies, another visibly Orthodox couple approached and joined the conversation. Since kosher food couldn’t miraculously appear on the board of the ship, there was no point in arguing.
The next day, I went to a small gym on the boat. There were two more women there exercising on treadmills. I was on a machine on the left, and the other woman who had been promised kosher food was on the last treadmill on the right. With one woman in between us, I did not feel comfortable having private conversations about kosher food solutions, and so after I was done exercising, I walked up to her machine to strike up a conversation.
I was immediately greeted with a warm southern smile, as Kim adamantly reassured me that my name sounded familiar. Since our last names were mentioned over and over again when the chef and his crew tried to locate kosher meals, Kim had been trying to figure out where she could have met me before. We began to list possible ideas, including online classes. Finally, we discovered that we had taken the same life coaching class for years and heard each other’s names during the sessions as participants shared their perspectives. As we continued to chat, Kim asked which ideas I connected to the most, and I shared that it wasn’t the information that made the most impact but the kindness of a fellow participant who found my address and sent me a gift of support during a very challenging time.
Kim opened her phone and pointed to my home address. I still didn’t understand what she was saying.
“It was me who sent you those flowers.”
I froze in astonishment. How could this possibly happen?
The woman on the treadmill—who introduced herself as Karen—witnessed our statistically improbable encounter and was as completely blown away as I was. To add to this miraculous afternoon, she turned out to be Israeli.
Karen shared this miraculous encounter with other passengers. There were about 160 passengers on board, and surprisingly, about a quarter of them were Jewish.
This meeting infused me with a sense of purpose—there was clearly a Master Plan at play here. I felt compelled to align with that Higher purpose.
Sailing through the wilderness of Greenland with breathtaking scenery all around us as Shabbat approached, fellow passengers who were impressed by our story of Divine Providence approached Kim and me to inquire about lighting Shabbat candles.
Calculating the correct time for lighting candles had required lots of research and input from rabbis who understood the complexity that arises in a part of the world where the sun rarely sets.
Now, our dramatic reunion had catapulted us into the position to share Shabbat with our fellow passengers. People gathered around as we lit as many candles as we could gather. We said a prayer together, and my husband, Sasha, made Kiddush. Miraculously, there were bottles of kosher wine on board. How and why they got there is a mystery.
We then settled in for a Friday evening of sharing stories of our shared heritage. Other passengers joined in. We were one big Jewish family who had come together on this holy day. One of the passengers, a medical doctor, shared his thoughts: “A couple dozen Jews on a small expedition ship in the Arctic Circle gathering to say prayers, light candles, and break bread on a Friday night, led by a charismatic and energetic woman who brought smiles and stories, were able to transform a small corner of the dining room and remind everyone that we’re all connected and tasked with bringing G‑d’s light to the world. It’s what we’re called to do.”
That Shabbat laid a foundation of lifelong friendships. Throughout the week, travelers shared ideas about spirituality, faith, and connection to the Creator. With the majestic Arctic sun behind huge, magnificent icebergs floating nearby, spiritual ideas felt real and viable.
During our stop in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, many visited a local store and bought tea light candles to use that coming Friday night. By the time we were ready for our second Shabbat on board, we felt an undeniable connection. As old friends, we gathered in the cafeteria to welcome our holy day.
Earlier, my husband had asked the Guest Services to make an announcement: “Jewish passengers are invited to welcome Shabbat and hear Kiddush in the cafeteria at …” It was also printed in the daily program brochure.
It felt like a taste of living in Messianic times to have everyone enthusiastically helping us welcome Shabbat.
Another passenger, also named Karen, whose husband hadn’t participated in any Jewish observances since 1968, shared her experience: “I don’t know how we found each other, but we felt honored and welcomed by sharing Shabbat. It’s a testament to having an open heart and mind and the valuable experiences that await.”
Kim, my forever profound “soul sister,” reflects on our reconnection, “Life is an adventure of growth. Every day we need to wake up with a thought of awe and curiosity, asking, ‘What does G‑d have ahead for me today?’ ” We stay in touch almost every day.
Every week I send “Shabbat shalom” messages to the incredible people I met on that ship.
Our trip to Greenland taught me a few very important lessons. First, never underestimate a small act of kindness. The ripple effect of Kim’s action created infinite consequences. Second, nothing is too difficult for the Creator of the World, and the most statistically impossible events can become reality. And finally, together with other fellow passengers, we have witnessed that spirituality and connection can be found in every corner of the world. There is no place void of potential, and it is always up to us to reveal it, one moment at a time.