By COLlive reporter
He has visited 80 countries, put on Tefillin on the jungles of South America and printed editions of Tanya on the Everest Mountain and in Antarctica.
Now, Meir Alfasi seems to have topped himself and even made history again.
The 33-year-old Lubavitcher photographer and father of 4 children has visited the isolated North Korea, the infamous East Asian country ruled by Kim Jong-un.
The trigger to the audacious trip was the groundbreaking summit of the Korean dictator with US President Donald Trump.
“I said, I’ll be the first Lubavitcher there,” Alfasi told Ynet. “I first presented myself in the documents as a teacher, because journalists aren’t allowed to visit – they are considered the greatest enemies.”
Alfasi even provided them with the phone number of schools to verify his teaching status. “But then my contact person told me I wasn’t approved because my photos were posted on an English news website and they found it.”
Alfasi ended up admitting that he is also a photographer. Nevertheless, he was granted entrance and was signed on a document that “if I give a bad name to the country I would have to pay a fine” and that he cannot bring any camera equipment or post photos on social media.
“I came to China, got a visa to the North, and from there I boarded a rickety Russian plane to Pyongyang,” he said. North Korean tennis players on the flight and the Westerners wouldn’t talk to him.
During the flight was when he began doubting his decision. “I had already begun calculating that I’d rather die on the plane and not somewhere in North Korea while being tortured…”
Despite the explicit instruction, Alfasi arrived with no fewer than three professional cameras, including a Go-Pro. He also came with a Tallis, Tefillin, a siddur and a few cards about the Seven Noahide Laws.
At one point, border control brought a hammer to try to break open his black Tefillin boxes. His translators had lied, saying that the boxes don’t contain any prayer and are not associated with religion.
Alfasi visited the national monuments with the statues of the country’s leaders. He was instructed to purchase flowers as a sign of honor, not to put his hands in his pockets, or take a selfie. He was also told to bow.
Instead, he began reciting the Aleinu prayer and bowed at the words praising Hashem. “I forgot that my hands were behind my back and I got hit by my tour guides,” he said.
The next morning, Alfasi says his guide asked why he was talking to himself in his hotel room. “Until that point, I had no idea that they were listening to me the whole time,” he said. “I was never allowed to walk alone or make contact with anyone else.”
He says North Korea is the greatest “show” in the world. “Their museums are beautiful, the people are dressed beautifully and there are impressive buildings in the streets, but it’s all a facade, he says, noting the hungry children he also saw on side roads.
Despite the fear, Alfasi did not hide his Chassidic or Israeli identity, walking proudly with a black fedora and a kapota at times. “Every place that I mentioned Israel, I was welcomed with open arms,” he said.
He also found similarities between the locals and the frum Jewish community. “They get married through a shidduch – through a matchmaker or a relative. The girls at the ages of 24-28 and the boys between 28-32. And they don’t live together before marriage.”
Alfasi proudly noted that “Coca Cola does not exist in North Korea but Chabad has already been there.”
He was hit by the N. Koreans not because his hands were behind his back when he bowed but because he was a Jew and they know that a Jew is not allowed to bow to a statue.
Jews should not endanger themselves going to places where we do not know about any jew living there for mivtzoim…
Unless the Rebbe would tell tl do so….
It’s a shame Mordachai HaYehudi didn’t know the alenu trick.
We wouldn’t have to fast!!.
Sounds like the beginning of a very bad joke
the photographer with my post of # 37, only that he could possibly influence other yidden , lacking his amazing Mazel, to do likewise, resulting in less than such pleasant endings. Hopefully he did elevate a some sparks there. .
Tanya, only that he admitted to violating explicit instructions by bringing in no less than 3 professional cameras and a go-pro. Didn’t mean to imply something necessarily bad about him only that he acted recklessly.
Why question This?
I look at this like zionissim the idea of zionissim is against torah but once isreal had established it self we need a military to protect the civilians so to over here their a halocha that a person should not put himself in danger but since he made it out of there bh and also when he was their ge gave out the seven mitzvah cards which is one of the horois of the rebbe and also he thought about torah and davenig and also thought about the rebbe so he for sure brought kedushah
You should investigate the facts before you say something bad abut another Jew especially in the month of Elul
How do you know what he was doing there. Maybe he tried to print a Tanya and it didn’t work out.
Maybe there were some sparks that needed to be elevated;)
just for curiosity and on a dare. Agree with # 31 he should bench Gomel. This is not a schlius of the Rebbe!
I’m very surprised that there’s no mention about printing a Tanya there!!!
When a Lubavitcher goes to such a place that should be one of the basic things that get done.
If everything he says is true, then you have a good point about this being a foolish risk. Between him and Ynet, I don’t believe everything went down the way it sounds here. Ask anyone who has ever been interviewed for an intriguing story if their story grew 3 beards by the time it was published.
Naive people will also believe that the country is so functional based on these (approved for release) pictures.
For those suggesting hat this is a private matter i.e. an individual’s personal assumption of risk – and not subject to the judgement and criticism of others, I beg to differ. Any student of Jewish history knows too well that historically, the balance of an entire community’s fate was all too often dependent on the actions of a single Jew, for both positive and negative. The notion that someone who was visiting a dictatorial state as a ‘proud’ and open Jew while flaunting explicit warnings exhibits a shocking lack of awareness on his part. I can only caution everyone against… Read more »
I’m glad he got out alive and didn’t make the whole community contribute to his Go Fund Me campaign. We have enough problems as it is…
When have you ever seen normal people having conversations and looking happy on a general sub. 😀 And i’m not talking about when someone tries to make a party on a subway or something.
He needs to bench Gomel for returning safely ב”ה
If you’ve read accounts of visitors who were imprisoned in North Korea,and for seemingly much less consequential offenses then taking photos,you have to say it’s mamosh a miracle that this man left N. Korea safely.
What a boss great stuff meir… next time call me 🙂
I’m one of your big fans Meir!
Hope to see more!
Really cool! Never thought anyone would do it really amazed that you went.
BIG Kiddush Hashem!!
Kol Hakavod!
But lying to get in, breaking the rules they gave him, and now publicly flaunting it, is pure recklessness!
Sometimes people don’t realize what the consequences could be. Even after coming out it could be risky.
it fails to mention when he took this trip.
Why is it necessary to always write a comment that passes judgement on people?
I happen to think it’s really cool that he went. Risky, but we all take risks. Some people are dare devil’s others are not.
I’m really interested to know want people in N Korea think about Jews? Have they heard of us?
I was in Iceland and the van driver to the rental company had never heard of Jews.
and if C”V he WAS held then we would all be called to donate millions of dollars and intervene with our Senators and Presidents etc. etc. for Pidyon Shvuyim and hatzalas nefashos. this is the most idiotic thing to do and his stunt is NOT appreciated. There was no neccessity or good reason whatsoever to undertake such a trip. I would think twice about using an ibber chochom to my photography.
Omg chill everyone!!! if someone wants to take such a risk let him, maybe you wouldn’t encourage your kids to… but don’t attack him, seriously it’s fine
it’s stupid to visit dictatorships. He apparently knows nothing about Communism. it’s just a stunt. Ridiculous.
Are there any Jews there that he could help? No.
Can he help the non-Jews who live there? No.
Why go then?
Idiotic and very immature
This is a crazy, bird brained idea! What an absolute idiot! If he would have been detained, he would have put the Israeli (and USA?) government(s) into the position of trying to free him. His wife would have remained an aguna, his kids without their father. What’s the point? This publicity stunt lowers his stature in my estimation and should not be publicized in the news.
It’s forbidden to put oneself in such danger, for nothing. Even for a dvar mitzvah one must first ask a shayla, if possible, and get brochos and store up zechuyos, as well as davening hard. But stam for חיזו דהאי עלמא?!! Where did he get the right to do that?
Great to know more about that country. Thank you Meir!
I’m happy he made it out but now that he went agains their rules ans posted about it peharps also “making them look bad” I hope they don’t punish the next guy for his rule breaking.
Sorry. This is nothing to be proud of. You’re an idiot. Lying to authorities, putting yourself in danger by going to such a place and all the details it involved.
And then you would have cried out for piston shivuyim, or $$ for a poor widow and 4 children.
You should be embarrassed of yourself…not proud.
1. Has he never heard the story of Chana and her seven sons? Jews died just so it wouldn’t even look like they’re bowing down to a getchke.
2. He illegally brought camera equipment. That’s dangerous. What right does he have to put this life at risk, especially when he has a whole family?
Against the Torah to go to North Korea, He is very Foolish for going. Shouldn’t be posted here. You are encouraging people to do stupid things. He should thank Hashem he’s alive and Keep these pictures for himself.
so selfish, just to get attention… what if they decided he’s a threat to them??? who would get him out of there???
Otto Warmbier didn’t make it out….
What would have happend if would have arrested him…first lubavitcher in north Korea jail…then pinjion shuviyim…be responsible for your family not the internet
So basically he broke every rule the country has. He’s lucky he got out, or this article could have been with a go fund me page asking for money for his legal fees
Don’t know what posesses people to do such stupid and dangerous things
Get him OUT of there. Have we not learned our lesson in India ? Only fools put themselves in danger.Let him get a college degree and have a career.
but please do NOT encourage others or pretend it is wise to travel there. Our kids are all over the world and do not need to start dreaming of a dangerous destination
Safe travels to all
Why? No Jews there and he is putting himself at terrible risk??
The boy that died recently was a visiting Jew. They returned him days before his death.
When did we teach our kids to take major stupid risks?
First and foremost, to his wife and kids.
Happy he made it safely, but anything could have happened in that hellish place. Especially considering, the tragic torture, and murder, of Jewish Otto Warmbier, A”H, there, recently.
How come chana and her seven sons didn’t know of the trick of bowing while saying alenu? That could have saved their lives!
This is not something the Rebbe would have approved of. This is not the same as sending Shluchim to Russia during the cold war (1. there is no mivtzoim element; 2. There is a higher likelihood of a foreigner being arrested indefinitely in NK than there was in Russia).
Putting yourself in danger for tourism purposes (or to be the first Lubavitcher) and the possibility that the Jewish Community would have to work on Pidyon Shivuyim on your behalf is not OK.
The people on the train look so bored. No newspapers, no books, no smart phone… Not even making conversation. Nothing!
Next stop North Viet Nam on the Ho Chi Min Trail
It sounds like he’s bragging about flouting their rules. Does he think that’s a good idea?