By Yael Levy, Ynetnews
Masses arrived at Kfar Chabad on Tuesday to attend a memorial ceremony for Rivka and Gavriel Holtzberg, the Chabad emissaries who were murdered, alongside four other Jews, in the terror attack on Chabad House in Mumbai, India last week.
Psalms were recited at the beginning of the ceremony, which was attended by President Shimon Peres, government ministers, Knesset members, Chabad emissaries from around the world and official Indian representatives,
The funeral procession is scheduled to depart later for the Mount of Olives cemetery in Jerusalem, where the couple will be laid to rest.
Rivka’s parents intend to take over the running of Mumbai’s Chabad House, until another emissary is chosen, a Chabad representative said Tuesday. He added that the parents wished to reestablish the Jewish center in the city.
Peres: Our pain knows no boundaries
President Shimon Peres said during the ceremony: “For several days now, the entire world, and certainly the Jewish world, owes an answer to the question of one two-year-old child called Moishi. We must explain to him why his mother was murdered. Anyone who has a child must ask this question. Those who have no pity for children will not pity mothers or fathers.”
He went on to say, “Moishi bears not only a question, but also solace. He will grow up and carry on with this great and important mission… an entire nation weeps today…the entire Jewish people is a one, big family whose pain knows no boundaries, but nor does its hope.”
The president also stated that terror must be uprooted, as it represented a threat to the world.
Kfar Chabad’s rabbi, Mordechai-Shmuel Ashkenazi was the first speaker at the service. “God promises us that mitzvah emissaries will not be harmed. They were slaughtered with a Torah book and phylacteries in their hands.
“Why? Why? Jews who dedicated their life to God, to bringing more unity to the people of Israel and to spreading the word of the Torah in remote places.”
‘Moishi, you will remain an emissary’
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, said that the Chabad House in Mumbai will be rebuilt and named after Rivka and Gavriel. “Moishi, this will be your home to return to; from there you will draw strength,” he told the emissaries’ two-year-old son Moshe-Zvi.
Kotlarsky added, “What can I say Moishi? You don’t have a mother and a father to hold you in their arms. No parents to hug and kiss you. You will be the child of the entire nation of Israel. You are an emissary, and an emissary you shall remain.”
Kotlarsky also sent a message to Chabad’s entire emissaries abroad: “Now is the time to be strong; this is not a time to think or ask questions but for action. The answer to terror will not be given with tanks and grenades. Such cruelty can only be fought against by spreading light.”
Israel’s two chief rabbis, Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzger both spoke at the service. Rabbi Metzger broke into tears during his eulogy, when he said: “No one can break us. We should all stay strong and carry on with their mission to bring hearts and people closer.
“I implore the ministers of the government present here, on behalf of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate – make sure that every Chabad House is secured, that these embassies of the Jewish people in every city in the world are guarded. So many Israelis enjoy these centers.”
The live broadcast began 6:00am EST (New York):
I have been horrified to read that people actually think that the Holtzbergs did ANYTHING to bring this upon themselves. G-d promises his people protection, yes–but maybe our way of thinking and HIS way of thinking aren’t exactly the same. Hmm, aren’t His ways above ours? His thoughts greater than ours? His purposes beyond our understanding? Perhaps the Holtzbergs were where they were because that’s where He intended them to be. Perhaps they were there for such a time as this–perhaps this situation will bring more protection for many that “business as usual” would have avoided. Perhaps Moishe would have… Read more »
When the “dust settles” NOTHING changes. If not today to bring goodness to another, then when? If not today to help another , then when? We MUST help one another, keep our eyes and ears open and vow to do DAILY good deeds. The minute we decide to do nothing to change such terrorism, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. Hasn’t history taught us that? My 3 year old grandson is learning about Mitzvoh and has a Mitzvoh Tree in his Hebrew School Class. Every week with much joy, he is very proud to bring a list of his weekly Mitzvoh’s. I… Read more »
Firstly, may the families of the Kedoshim know no more sorry and Hashem should grant them strength to deal with this tragedy. It is admirable to hear the undertakings from around the globe to increase in Torah and Mitzvot in the merit of the Holzbergs, but people may interpret from this that they were punished for some reason. We should have learnt already from the Holocaust that there are evil people in the world and that is why bad things happen to good people. The Holzbergs were good people and happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong… Read more »
Money is very important in helping people survive but at the same time our survival may be dependant on good deeds and good feelings towards other Yidden. Let us all work on doing at least one good and positive deed in memory of the holy Neshamos that were taken from us and then maybe Hashem will give us all plenty Bgashmius so that we can share that too…
KOL HAKAVOD ,VERY WELL SAID!
LET US ALL DO WHAT WE CAN ,NOW,EACH TO HIS OWN ABILITY, TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE , BEFORE ANOTHER TRAGEDY TAKES PLACE ,CHAS VESHALOM!
Yes, we need to look at the positive and add in acts of goodness and kindness but it doesn’t take away from the fact that atrocities are taking place in our backyard. we MUST be aware of the situation and do our best to help out the downtrodden Shluchim.
Were the Hespedim recorded today and if so is it possible to listen to them.
It is maybe not the time. But never the less it must be said. Better said now then never. lets wake up
acts of more goodness & kindness!! Ad Mosai!!! We are all
united in our sorrow and the family should know of no more sorrow.
There is a time for everything, try to stick to being melamaid zechus today.
Yasher koach… of all that could or should be said , this is the emeser emes.. l’edavonenu.. as i once heard “kol demai achicho tzoakim elai…but we only hear it when its “min hoadomo”!!
Dear fellow yidden, As I think about the tragedy that befell us, our brothers and sister, some important thoughts come to my mind. I think to myself what could we as yidden and some of us shluchim do to improve and become better people. About three quarters of a year ago we received a phone call from Rabbi Holtzberg the father of Rabbi Holtzberg who came to our state where we are one shlichus to collect money for his grandson who would be having an operation. He asked us over the phone if we could possibly help him. We said… Read more »