(CNN) — Chabad House served as both a Jewish center and a rabbi’s home, in Mumbai, India, but the building turned into a scene of carnage this week after five hostages held by gunmen inside were found dead.
Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, were among the victims, said Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin, a spokesman for Chabad-Lubavitch International in the United States.
A cook at the center, who had barricaded herself in a room, grabbed one of the couple’s two children — 2-year-old Moshe — and escaped with another person, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The couple’s other child was not in Mumbai at the time and is safe, said Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, chairman of the educational and social services arms of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
The Holtzbergs came to Mumbai five years ago to serve the city’s small Jewish community and the thousands of Israeli visitors and businessmen who frequent the area, according to Chabad.org, the ultra-Orthodox group’s Web site.
“As emissaries to Mumbai, Gabi and Rivky gave up the comforts of the West in order to spread Jewish pride in a corner of the world that was a frequent stop for throngs of Israeli tourists,” said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, in a statement.
Some 5,000 Jews live in India, according to the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. About 3,000 of them live in Mumbai, The Jewish Press reported.
The Holtzbergs operated a synagogue and taught Torah classes. The rabbi also conducted weddings for local Jewish couples.
Gavriel Holtzberg, 29, was born in Israel and moved to Brooklyn, New York, when he was 9. He studied in New York and Argentina and traveled to Thailand and China as a rabbinical student.
His wife, Rivka, 28, was a native of Israel.
In Mumbai, they ran the headquarters of the Chabad community, a Hasidic Jewish movement. The center, in a building known as the Nariman House in Mumbai, was open to anyone who wanted a place to pray, eat kosher food or celebrate Jewish holidays.
“It was a thriving hub of goodness and kindness,” Krinsky said. He wiped away tears as he spoke about the couple during a news conference Friday in New York. Watch Rabbi Krinsky talked about Holtzberg »
In footage filmed two years ago by the Chabad movement, Gavriel Holtzberg said anybody who visited the center was welcome. His wife said its doors were always open and described how it wasn’t unusual to have 30 people for dinner.
Krinsky called the couple’s killing “a brutal murder of two of our finest” and an act caused by hatred. He also urged the movement’s emissaries around the world to keep strong.
“You know how to face adversity and challenges,” Krinsky said. “Continue to forge ahead with courage and fortitude in the service of our people and mankind to make this world a better place to live for all.”
The word Chabad is a Hebrew acronym for chachmah-wisdom, binah-comprehension and da’at-knowledge, according to the group’s Web site.
The Chabad-Lubavitch movement was formed more than two centuries ago in Russia.
“Today 4,000 full-time emissary families apply 250-year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 3,300 institutions (and a work force that numbers in the tens of thousands) dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide,” according to Chabad.org.
postings #2 and #3 have their thought processes working on a conscious level. Lets try to understand what it means to jump to conclusions and not speak without proper thought and proper collection of information. Let’s use our CHABAD while posting comments!!!!!!!
I’m pretty sure I heard him mention Rabbi M.M. Schneerson.
So what’s the problem?
Secondly, he made the point that the family of shluchim, and the Chabad community, will make sure that he gets the best education.
In no way did he imply he will raise this child.
It is so unfortunate that at such a time, you can only find criticism.
Let’s put our political opinions aside, and try to practice some Ahavas Yisroel.
chill out….read between the lines he obviously means hes gona support and do all he can for the remaining members of this family!!!
HOW COULD SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO TALK IN THE NAME OF LUBAVITCH SPEAK LIKE THIS. TO BE ASHAMED TO MENTION “MOSHIACH” IS OUTRAGOUS\. THIS CHILD NEEDS HIS PARENTS TO RAISE HIM NOT KRINSKY & COMPANY!!!!!!
WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!!!!