Shliach Helps to Free Israeli Tourist Arrested in Chile

Backpacker Rotem Singer, who was arrested in Chile in December on suspicion of starting a large forest fire in the Torres del Paine national park, is not to stand trial.

Rotem’s mother, Nitzan Singer, later reported, “Chabad shliach Rabbi Menashe Perman was amazing help. No words can describe how much he helped. Rabbi Perman was with my husband Chezy and my son Rotem all the way through. When they were confined to a hotel in the area of the fire, he came to visit them. He gave them tefillin, a Siddur, and kosher food. He really moved them. When they reached the capital, Santiago, he put them up at the Chabad House and took them under his wing.”

Nitzan denied reports in Israel that her son had been sentenced. “Rotem did not receive any sentence,” she said. “He was not convicted of anything and did not take any responsibility. He will continue to travel in South America and will not be going back to Israel. We have decided to donate $10,000 to Chile’s Forestry Fund, which will be assisted by the Jewish National Fund in replanting the forest.”

Lawyer Mordechai Tzivin, who provided Rotem with legal assistance, said,

“The head shliach in Chile, Rabbi Menashe Perman, was the first person approached by the Chilean authorities. He used his connections, some of which are secret, and visited Rotem and his father in the area where the fire broke out, a six-hour flight away, in order to solve the legal problem.

“Rabbi Perman managed to sort out all of the bureaucratic problems, which are usually extremely difficult in South America. Among other things, these included annulling a ban on Rotem leaving the scene of the fire that had been imposed by a judge. As a result, Rotem was able to travel to Santiago, where he was able to get help. The story received extensive press coverage, in which Rabbi Perman was mentioned at length.

“Although the Israeli authorities and others tried to help, it didn’t work out. But Rabbi Perman’s handling of the situation all the way through is what eventually led to Singer’s release.

“Again we see how shluchim around the world end up acting as representatives of the State of Israel and the Foreign Ministry - without any recompense even though all of this help involves great expense.”
(SOURCE & PHOTO: COL.ORG.IL)