Chabad centre donation to Patong Hospital divides social media users

Rabbi Sholom Dovber Glitzenstein, co-director of the Chabad-Lubavitch Centre in Phuket, donated B1.1 million to Patong Hospital, prompting mixed reactions on Thai social media.

Patong Hospital announced the donation on its official Facebook page on July 16. Photographs showed deputy director Hathairat Rangsalit receiving the contribution during a presentation ceremony.

The post drew more than 6,000 reactions and 3,000 comments, significantly more engagement than the hospital’s usual updates. Many users welcomed the donation, saying it would support Thai and international patients and represented generosity across national and religious lines.

Some commenters questioned the organisation’s motivation and suggested the contribution could be intended to strengthen ties with its community in Phuket. Others referred to wider public discussions about alleged illegal foreign-owned businesses and land ownership on Koh Pha Ngan, while acknowledging concerns that similar issues could arise in Phuket. Those comments reflected the views of individual social media users.

Other users rejected attempts to associate alleged wrongdoing with a particular nationality or religion, arguing that legal violations are committed by people from many backgrounds.

The debate followed a separate case in Pai, northern Thailand, where residents asked authorities to investigate a Jewish community and religious centre after complaints about the behaviour of some foreign nationals. Police later said they found no evidence of illegal activity at the centre, while authorities took legal action against Israeli nationals found to have violated Thai law.

After those arrests and the resulting public criticism, the Israeli Embassy in Thailand urged its citizens in May to respect Thai laws, follow local regulations and avoid disrupting the communities where they live.