by Rabbi Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich, Aish.com
At times like this, words fail us. We are struck silent by the sheer barbarism and scope of the tragedy: the cold blooded murder of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg — a young couple who left behind all of the creature comforts of life in the West to go and help other Jews — four other Jews shot dead inside the Chabad House, another 169 people killed, and 240 wounded.
I personally benefited from the self-sacrifice of the Holtzbergs. In 2003, they moved to Mumbai, giving up the comforts of the West in order to spread some light in one corner of the world. They purchased and renovated the building formerly known as the Nariman House into a beautiful five-story hotel, full of rooms for guests, dining rooms, and large pantries to hold all the kosher foodstuffs necessary to feed the multitude of visitors each week. The Chabad House was a glowing beacon of holiness in a city filled with poverty and starvation.
A few months ago, I left my family behind to travel to India to carry out fieldwork and research. Long before I stepped onto the airplane, I knew I’d be in good hands — friends contacted the Holtzbergs to ensure that I would have a place to connect with other Jews, pray, and have a warm, home-cooked meal.
During my month-long stay in India, I met Sandra Samuel, the helper and nanny for the Chabad in Mumbai for several years. Sandra overcame the natural instinct of self preservation and re-entered an upper floor of the Chabad House to rescue Moshe, the Holtzberg’s 2-year-old son. She later recalled, “I just grabbed the baby and ran out.”
The baby became an orphan in blood-soaked clothes.
I doubt that many of us would be able to look past our own selfish desire to save ourselves and put ourselves in harm’s way. She is one of no doubt many quiet heroes who have emerged at these horrendous times.
Every night that I visited the Chabad House, the place was packed with Jews from around the world who had come to Mumbai. Some were Israelis looking for a chance to relax after an intense tour in the Israeli army; others were businessmen seeking to cut deals with the well-known textile merchants nearby. Some were tourists looking to experience the local Indian Jewish community known as the Bnei Israel. The Holtzbergs made sure that all of us felt welcomed and comfortable.
Rabbi Holtzberg was a Torah scholar and trained as a mohel and shochet. Together with his wife they ran a synagogue, taught Torah classes, counseled drug addicts, and fought the poverty they saw all around.
Most of all, they helped us to feel Jewish. Even those soldiers who had long ago stopped attending synagogue wiped back a tear as we sang “Shalom Aleichem” around the Shabbat table.
Moving Forward
This is not the first time that a Chabad rabbi has been cut down by a terrorist. Back in the 1950s, a rabbi and four students were killed in the Israeli village known as Kfar Chabad. These residents had arrived from Europe, leaving a land decimated by the Holocaust to rebuild a new Jewish society in the miniscule land of Israel. After their death, many of their friends felt the hopelessness and despair we feel now.
It is said that the Lubavitcher Rebbe sent a telegram to the survivors of the attack that had only three Hebrew words: B’hemshech habinyan tenu’chamu — “You will feel comfort through continuing to build.”
And that is the message for us today: Continue to build. Do not give up. Do not let hate or a desire for vengeance blind us to the positive impact that all of us can have.
Because if we become afraid, immobilized, hesitant, then we’ve handed the terrorists a victory.
Words may fail us, but actions cannot. The Jewish community has already come together over this issue; thousands of emails, blogs, and websites have called upon Jews around the world to say Psalms, give charity, and do acts of kindness. On online bulletin boards where tempers can too often flare, arguments were quickly shelved and cooperation ensued.
We can all put our grief, our disbelief, our desire to do something into action — and we must do it quickly. Send money to a Jewish cause. Spend some time telling your parents, children, and friends how much you love them and care for them. See what positive things you can do for an ailing neighbor or a depressed friend.
We are at war with many enemies, those who seek to turn our planet to darkness. The Holtzberg’s were on the front lines of dispelling that darkness, putting the beauty of Judaism against loneliness and despair. For many of the backpackers and visitors, coming into contact with the joy and love extended by Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg gave them their chance to embrace their Jewish heritage.
They were struck down in the line of duty. So in their memory, learn about the beautiful Jewish heritage they sought to spread. And share it with others.
In the comment section below, share your thoughts and condolences, which will be forwarded to the families of those who perished in the Chabad House of Mumbai.
Why would I as a lubavitcher care about AIsh!!!
every click is another yenikah
Im embarresed
The Aish site has over 180 comments on the original article each one better than the next in their praise for Gabi and Rivki Hy”d and Chabad in general. Why must it davka be a Chabd site that introduces negative comments into what is otherwise an amazing display of achdus? The moderator of this site should removecomments #1 and #4 immediately… and help maintain the Ahavas Yisroel that this tragedy has engendered for as long as possible…
I am a Lubavitcher chossid–and this whole conversation is pathetic–please take it off immediately
To #1 and #4 – now is the time to finally put aside your (mistaken, I’m sure) hard feelings towards another Jew. We must grab this opportunity, time to clinch the deal – bring Moshiach now. We thirst for the Geula, we need Moshiach, for the world to survive. Nothing less will do: Not for our security, for our lives, for our economy. We MUST have Moshiach now. And we all can do it. Let’s continue being united, as we all were as we prayed, said Tehillim, for ALL the hostages in Chabad and the hotels, in Mumbai everywhere, and… Read more »
thanks to the author for a fitting tribute. glad we can come together, which is much needed at all times, and especially at such times
I was first picked up at Aish Old City, I was later picked up by Chabad and met my wife in a Chabad Succah. I needed both. If we do not Love and respect each other then we missed the point completely. I cried and prayed for days over Holtzberg like he is my brother; we never met . I will always love Holtzberg and what Chabad and Aish stand for.
that only Achdus, tolerance and respect for each and every Jew will bring us closer to the ultimate goal
A fitting tribute… I am in tears.
One, has but to contemplate, who was murdered Al Kiddush Hashem at the Chabad House….Chabad Chasidim, Satmar Chasidim, just an ordinary Israeli Jewish woman….to be jolted into reality. The ruthless cold blooded killers made no distinction between the captives. They cared not if they were Chabad, Aish, Satmar, Israeli Jew, American Jew, religious or not. All they were thirsty for was the blood of Jews…ANY JEWS! Many of us have finally realized the raw, brutal truth….WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. If we are to have a chance to distroy these animals, we must work together, live together, love one another… Read more »
At a time like this! What we need now is unity among ALL jews, not just those who are like you. This is what will bring moshiach, and will wipe all tears from every face!
Many years ago, I was mekarev someone who later went to Aish in Yerushlayim and then became (and still is) a hot shot in the Aish organization. (He also went to the Rebbe for dollars and proudly keeps that dollar.) More recently, I met a young Jewish student who had become frum through Aish. I learnt with him etc. and he later became a Chosid. Today he and his wife are Chabad House directors. There is nothing good to come out of mistrust of fellow frumer yidden. Thank you to COL for sharing the Aish article with us! (By the… Read more »
I was moved to tears by this article. In tragedy, we are truly unified and our differences fade away… may this have a lasting affect on everyone. Many people in out-of-town communities benefit from both Chabad and Aish, and to see this article on Aish will help heal many of the rifts that exist, whether they are there because of their criticism of Chabad, or our crtiticism of their methods. This should be the first step towards true Ahavas Yisroel and the coming of Moshiach.
Now is a time to try and bridge gaps bein Yisroel L’Yisroel. Yidden were killed hy”d. Let’s use their memory to help bring yidden together. Terrorisim and evil is not mavchin between one Jew and another, why shohld we? We are all in this together=bachdus. Let’s not give essov another victory!
Moderator please remove these comments they have no place in this article.
signed. A lubavitcher who used to find fault with Aish.
Daniel Aldrich came to our Chabad House a number of times. He became frum through Aish and carried their torch, but was always genuinely grateful for the Shluchim and Chabad Houses from which he benefitted. It is unkind to accuse and label people that are different than you are. Not in the spirit of Rebbe.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL article. We are Chabad shluchim in Germany. We aplaud this article and this show of Jewish brotherly love and Achdus. WE ARE ALL BROTHERS and SISTERS. Its over. We are all on one team. We are all G-d’s equal children. We each have our own expression of service to hashem. Let’s respect, love and selflessly care for each other.
This is how we defeat evil.
This is how we bring goodness.
This is how the Geula will come.
“A few months ago, I left my family behind to travel to India to carry out fieldwork and research”
fieldwork what to open a aish center to fight chabad in India.
thats what they all do use chabad out when could and they go and curse us out .
ANYONE WHOEVER MET THE REBBE WOULD COMMENT ON HIS EYES. HOW THEY SEEMED TO LOOK RIGHT THROUGH YOU. THAT WAS BASICALLY TRUE, ALL THE REBBE SAW WAS THE YIDDISHE NESHAMA, HE DID NOT SEE ANY TITLES OR LABELS. IF ONE WAS WEARING A LABEL THAT SAID AISH OR WHAT HAVE YOU, TO THE REBBE IT WAS THE SAME AS ONE OF HIS VERY OWN CHASIDIM. IF HE IS OUR REBBE THEN WE HAVE TO EMULATE HIM BY FOLLOWING HIS WAYS. THAT MEANS THAT IF AISH HAD THE SENSITIVITY TO WRITE WHAT THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE KIND WORDS AND LEAVE WELL… Read more »
To #1:
In merit of the Holtzbergs, maybe you can take on not to judge and criticize others. The Aibeshter does enough judging for all of us, and rampant Ahavas Yisrael will do you and everyone you encounter a lot more good than criticism will.
really impressive that aish wrote something so nice about chabad well i guess its hard to deny when you’ve personally benefitted from it….really poorly written though