Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Lubavitch Headquarters has announced Monday the official appointment of the new Chabad Shluchim to Mumbai, 2 years after the terror attack.
Rabbi Chanoch Gechtman and his wife Leah have received entry visas this week from the Indian government, the Vice Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch told participants of the Living Legacy Conference in Washington, DC.
With India’s ambassador to the U.S. Ms. Meera Shankar in the crowd, Rabbi Kotlarsky added: “No one can replace Rabbi Gabi and Rivki Holtzberg, but this new dedicated couple will be filling their position.”
The news was received with excitement by ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corp who joined Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchim for an International Luncheon at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium.
The Holtzbergs, along with another 5 Jews, were brutally massacred in the Chabad House of Mumbai when terrorists captured the Nariman House building on 26/11 2008.
“Chabad has not left Mumbai since Thanksgiving Day 2 years ago,” Rabbi Kotlarsky noted. “All the while we had bochurim – Lubavitch students – visit and run the day to day operations.”
Rabbi Kotlarsky said the new Shluchim will not be working out of the Nariman House.
“Security will not allow us to use the building,” he told COLlive.com. “We will be renovating it to be used as a living testament to the Holtzbergs and the Jewish people.”
The Israeli-born Gechtmans will be heading to India in the coming month with their 1 year-old girl Mussie.
They will be working under the guidance of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, Head Shliach to Thailand.
As the Bubbie of a young boy who was taught to layin tefillin and had his Bar Mitzvah with Rabbi Gabi, I am so happy that the new schlichim have received their visas and that now there will, once again, be a permanent Chabad presence in Mumbai.
yevarechca H` VEISHMERECH.
wow they you have lots of mesiras nefesh may hashem protect you from all harm and watch over mussie
Very nice!
You should have a lot of Hatzlacha on your Shlichus!
Hashem will watch over all of you.
(Being that it is Mumbai, I recommend that you get weapons training and hand-to-hand combat lessons, if you can, as well)
Sure looks like him.
The delays were caused by visa problems.
Kol Hakovod! this makes me happy and I assume the rest of us. May we continue to only hear good news!
Hashem will surely protect you and sustain you, and shower you with much success bgi’r
Mazal Tov, much hotzlocha..we are praying for you
kol hakavod!
a lot of broche vehatzloche on the shlichus..!
As someone who lives part of the year in Mumbai and used to visit the Holtzbergs regularly I am happy to learn that their life’s work will be carried on by the Gechtmans. I have to say that it has taken too long to appoint a permanent shaliach. Rabbi Berkowitz has been spending a lot of time in Mumbai working on the rebuilding there and a lot of money has been raised. All the while more and more Jewish business persons and tourists as well as doctors and educators continue to come to India and it is becoming a more… Read more »
mazel tov mazel tov
the world is watching you guys and smiling
Yibarechicha Hashem Vyismirecha vchulu…
we should all have such emunah to go back and to continue to spread yidishkeit in every way!!!
Never heard of this Gechtman Rabbi before (and his Rebbetzin), but if they’re moving there after the first shluchim were murdered, all I can say is WOW! Kol hakavod! That’s BIG TIME mesirus nefesh.
may they have all the brachos to continue in the most active way possible w/ moshiach now!
hatzlacah raba
Indefatigable, undefeatable, unshakeable,unmistakable
(these adjectives fit my old friend Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky also, as well as Chabad) this is our nitzochon, we rebuild bigger and hopefully better, hatzlocho rabbo
All the best on your appointment to mumbai. I am origanally from mumbai myself and am very touched. There was no Chabad there in my times.
May Hashem protect them from any harm and may we merit to he Geulah Shleima immediately!!!
hatzlacha rabba in ALL areas!
may HASHEM bentch you with everything!
hatzlochoh Raboh
Much hatzlacha to the Gechtmans. They have very big shoes to fill, but they will make their impact in their own way.
much hatzlacha and safety!
kol hakavPr