The Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center in Lancaster and York has organized a memorial service for 8 p.m tonight (Nov. 30) for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
Among the dead was a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi, Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, 29, and his wife, Rivkah, 28, formerly of the Crown Heights section of New York, along with three other hostages held at the ultra-Orthodox Jewish center in Mumbai. According to news reports, the Holtzbergs moved to Mumbai in 2003 to open a religious center there for Chabad-Lubavitch, a growing branch of Hasidic Judaism that emphasizes outreach to Jews.
From the LA Times: "Amid the wave of attacks that targeted Americans, Britons and Jews in Mumbai, the Chabad-Lubavitch center there was taken over late Wednesday (Nov. 26), and the Holtzbergs were among the hostages. Indian commandos stormed the building Friday morning and found the bodies of five people," including the Holtzbergs.
Here's a press release I received Friday from Rabbi Elazar Green and wife Shira, who direct the Chabad houses in Spring Garden Township and Lancaster:
Our hearts are shattered at the news from Mumbai where, Rabbi Gabi and Rivka Holtzberg, emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of righteous memory, were among those murdered in the terrorist attack on the Chabad House (Known in the media as Nariman House) there. And tonight their little son, Moshe'le, will mark his second birthday ...
Little Moshe, his clothes soaked with blood, crying for his parents who lay nearby unconscious or worse, was rescued in the middle of the hostage situation by his brave and courageous nanny.We have no words, we have no answers. We don't begin to understand G-d's ways, nor are we expected to. Only G-d Himself can restore the light of Moshe'le's life, and comfort him and the rest of this aching world.
We only know that until He does that, we must continue his parents' life work. They deserve no less.
We will continue to try and emulate Gabi and Rivka, to seek out our brothers and sisters in every corner of our community, in every corner of the globe - with love and commitment - with acts of goodness and kindness, until that day when G-d Himself will wipe the tears from every face.
In a world that has suddenly become darker, we must bring in more light. We urge every Jewish woman to help transform that darkness with the light of Shabbat candles this Friday and every Friday. To receive your own Shabbat Candles and for candle lighting times and instructions please visit www.fridaylight.org or call our office at 717-368-6565. If you already light candles, please encourage someone who doesn't, to begin. We call on every person to increase their mitzvot - acts of goodness and kindness - until the day G-d fulfills His promise to us and gives us a world transformed, perfected and redeemed.
Please let us know via email at rabbi@jewishenrichment.com if you wish to be part of an upcoming program/event that will take place sometime next week that will be in memory of these two individuals and everyone else who was murdered in this tragic event.
May we hear only good news,
Rabbi Elazar & Shira
P.S. Many people wanted to know of a way to donate, we have set up a link at our website to send donations directly to Chabad of India.
P.P.S. Many of you have called on us in times of personal grief and sorrow, and thanked us for our listening and our sympathy. It is our turn to call on you, and indeed just composing this email has helped ... a little. Thank you for listening.
Make your own life more easy get the personal loans and everything you want.