Moishe’le…
By: Naomi Weisberg
“Ima, Imaaa!” you wail,
“Where are you, where have you gone?”
Where’s the only one who can comfort you,
A mother to her son?
“Ima, Imaaa!” you whimper,
“Just show me where you are!
Embrace me once more with your loving smile,
Take me home, don’t leave me far!”
“Ima Imaaa!” you holler,
Your cries more desperate than before,
“I’m sick and tired of hide n’ seek,
Just open up the door!”
Moishe’le I wish I could explain it to you,
Peer down into your pure, innocent eyes,
Give you clarity, give you reason,
Calm your bitter, heart wrenching cries.
I wish I could explain to you,
Why things happen as they do,
Why the world is run the way it is,
Why evil prevailed while goodness withdrew.
I wish I could explain to you,
What goes on in G d’s mind,
Why your parents fell in a puddle of blood,
Leaving you, and your shattered life behind.
I wish I could explain to you,
Why a nation burns in senseless hate,
Why our shaken prayers and acts of kindness,
Couldn’t break the clouds of certain fate.
I wish I could explain to you,
Why your parents’ glowing light had to extinguish,
Why they were shot amidst their holy mission,
Why you now live in deep pain and anguish.
But Moishe’le precious child,
How could I ever explain,
If all those questions retain their question marks,
With no answers to soothe the pain.
I wish I could explain it to you,
But I can never explain it clear,
Because some questions just don’t have answers,
That are revealed to us down here.
Moishe’le the only comfort I extend to you,
Is our own wracking, pleading cries,
That mirror your own painful, salty tears,
Bursting through the skies.
“Father, Fatherrr!” we wail,
“Where are You?! Where have You gone?!
You’re the only one, who can comfort us,
G d to His chosen nation.
“Father, Fatherrr!” we cry,
“Show us where You are!
Embrace us once more with the light of redemption,
Bring us home, don’t leave us far!”
“Father, Fatherrr!” we holler,
Our cries more desperate than before,
“We’re sick and tired of hide n’ seek,
Just open up the door!”
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Why Did We All Cry About Mumbai?
People die all the time. Some die making themselves a cup of coffee, some die making others a cup of coffee.
The reaction is always the same: pain. The family cries for their loss. The community misses them. The country mourns the death of innocents.
The end is also always the same. We get over it. We move on. Because life must continue.
But when do we feel pain and actually care for people who died? When it’s our family, our community or country. The bigger the circle, the less emotional we get.
* * *
The terrorist attack in Mumbai caused an overwhelming reaction. Not only in the immediate family, but also in the family of Lubavitch, the Orthodox world, the Jewish world and the entire world. People are in pain, real pain. People feel like they knew the Holtzbergs. They’re personally relating.
Why did this tragedy cause such a reaction? It seems that the reaction is ‘bigger’ than the event itself.
Perhaps it was the ‘build up’. For three days everyone was anxiously glued to their TV, waiting for good news. When the worst happened, it was a great shock.
Perhaps because it was a terrorist attack.
Maybe it was the brutal, senseless murders.
Or maybe it’s little Moish’le, to whom everyone’s heart goes out.
Perhaps because they were such nice people.
Perhaps because they were Shluchim.
All of the above is true, but it still does not account for the intensity of the reaction. After all, this is not the first time that terrorists killed parents and left an orphan. We hear about it, we say “oh, how terrible”, and move on. Not this time.
This has touched a nerve in our heart of hearts. We ‘jumped’ as if we got hurt, as if it was our brother and sister that perished.
People who don’t go to Shul on Shabbat, felt a need to go. Women who do not light Shabbat candles, felt the need to do so. Stories just keep on coming out about the powerful effect this event had.
People who are not Lubavitch and not friends of Lubavitch, wrote with great sorrow. They tell us they cried, without understanding why. They just did.
The Gerer Rebbe was not himself for days. He came to the airport to meet the bodies, something he never does.
Why? What is it about this story that touched us so deeply?
* * *
The purpose of creation, the “Ta’chlit Ha’kavana”, is that the world become holy and G-dly. We accomplish this by doing Mitzvos, by spreading goodness and kindness.
This purpose ‘got hurt’, was ‘messed with’. It seems that the world is not ‘getting there’. After all, Shluchim, who devoted their life to this purpose, died in battle . . .
We’ve been touched in our Jewish core. So we can’t help it, and we feel for it. We cry, we can’t get over it. When the core of our existence is threatened, by a natural Jewish instinct, we care deeply about it.
* * *
“Lev Yisroel – Er”. “The Jewish heart is awake”. Our souls are sensitive to G-dliness and to the purpose of creation. So let’s use this story to keep it awake for the longest time possible. Let’s not let it go back to sleep, and even “dream awake”, of the time when the entire world will be alive and awake forever, very soon. Amen!
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THEIR LEGACY; OUR DESTINY
A Tribute to my beloved colleagues, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holzberg Z”L
By Rabbi Pinchas Allouche
The World Standing Still
For forty six hours, the world stood still. Multitudes of hearts were shattered, countless tears were shed and immeasurable words of Psalms were recited as myriads of anxious Jews around the world tuned in to the evolving events with a profound belief that salvation will imminently sprout from this inconceivable calamity. And yet, after almost two days, the horrific, heart-wrenching news emerged about the Chabad emissaries, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holzberg, fracturing the last remnants of our hope. Indeed, “The secret things belong to G-d” . This tragedy is beyond the capacity of our intellect, afar from the human mind.
Nevertheless, its impact remains deep. Jews worldwide were uniquely captivated by it. Anguish and concern conquered Jewish homes and centers around the globe. Wherever one walked, whomever one met, this tragedy rapidly, captured the center stage of our conscious, and swiftly dominated many conversations. But why was this tragedy so perturbing? Which of its components led us to be particularly disturbed by it?
Extraordinary Role Models
Rabbi Gavriel Holzberg, and his wife Rivkah, were extraordinary role models. Their personal lives revealed untold sufferings that few could withstand. Their eldest son died at the tender age of three. One of their two remaining children remained in Israel in the home of his grandparents, for his grave illness could not be attended to appropriately in the city of Mumbai, India, where his parents lived. Their Jewish, Rabbinic lives defied convention. With exceptional self sacrifice, they left the comfort of their homes and cultures, to become Chabad emissaries and selflessly devote themselves to the mission of the Lubavitcher Rebbe of blessed memory to assist every Jew materially and spiritually, in a place stricken by poverty and idolatry.
Self-Reflection
Our excessive attention was drawn to their exemplary lives, not only because of the Holzbergs’ supreme righteousness and uncompromising dedication to our people. Our curiosity and care for the Holzbergs may have been awakened by yet another magnetizing component. Perhaps it can be categorized as: “self-reflection”.
When we saw Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holzberg, we saw ourselves in them. They were there, in the realms of the unknown, to sound our voice, to carry our torch, to share our common ideals to the world with a demeanor that we clandestinely envy and a comportment that we secretly dream to emulate. Google their names, and you will find your subconscious resumé. Explore their journey, and you will hear the inner calling of your soul.
Indeed, every human being, possessive of a ‘G-dly image’, also yearns to increase goodness and divinity in this world. It is no coincidence that songwriters, scriptwriters and poets are finally translating into words the Jewish principle of “Tikun Olam – rectifying the world” , which Rabbi Holzberg and his wife remarkably personified. And it is this self-reflection that enthralled us all in a whirlwind of admiration, veneration and appreciation toward their immortal example and the everlasting legacy that they have now left for us all.
A Lesson That Ought To Be Learned
As we mourn their untimely and incomprehensible deaths, it is high time for each of us, to continue their work with renewed vigor and conviction. There could not be a sweeter revenge for the barbaric terrorists, ym”sh, who murdered them so cold bloodedly. They were there for us, at the front lines of our war for Jewish survival, during the darkest hours at the darkest places. It is now time for us to be there for them. We ought to continue the mission for which they sacrificed themselves for; to perpetuate Judaism in our lives and in the lives of every Jew that we encounter.
Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holzberg, following the footsteps of our historic leaders, voiced the tone of our heritage. We must now transform it into an everlasting melody. Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holzberg ignited a beaming spark of Judaism during their lives, and even more so, during their death. It is our obligation to shine it and enhance its flame toward the four corners of planet Earth. Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holzberg, along with the giants of our generation, paved the way to our Jewish future. We are now compelled to persuade ourselves and our surroundings to follow it with unconditional devotion until the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “For G-d shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of G-d; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”
Their legacy must now become our destiny.
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To the Holzberg and Rosenberg families
By Chanie Chanin (Crown Heights)
A short letter I write to you to express,
How my mind and thoughts the past week were at no rest.
From Wednesday night I followed the news and reports,
Of all the horror and torture the shluchim had fought.
Gabi and Rivky, the wonderful people I’ve never known,
Only through videos and articles, I’ve seen all the good deeds they’ve sown.
The couple I’ve seen they were so aidle and pure,
If only they lived on to brighten up the world some more.
Little Moshe’s cries for his mother, penetrated my heart,
Although I do not know him and we are so far apart.
I wish him the best to grow up strong and secure,
A shliach of the Rebbe, he’ll bring his parents much chassidishe nachas for sure.
I’m sure Gabi and Rivky joined the tzaddikim in gan edan,
Their neshomas are learning, sitting together in farbrengen
Begging Hashem to end this dark long golus and for the geulah to bring,
And soon together we will all be reunited with Moshiach and praise to Hashem we will sing.
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a song of chizuk lezecher THE HOLTZBERGS
A SONG OF CHIZUK
By Chanale Weisz
TTTO: Amonst Majestic Mountains
Standing at the כינוס a rush of pride is felt,
We’re part of a nation that is conquering the velt,
The Rebbe gives us כח – our תפקיד we will reach
Then each returns to his post continuing to teach.
The inspiration channeled the Shluchim start the year,
From such a peak a fall so great; of tragedy they hear,
From dancing all together, fighting for one common goal,
A part’s destroyed, now our army is no longer whole.
Chorus:
But we will remember their souls forever,
A treasure, a diamond – their impact is so clear.
They will always be more then just a memory,
Candles; still burning, lighting dor hashvii
Now standing here reflecting thoughts flow through my mind,
How could we continue in the world they left behind,
To give up’s not an option, we will fight back so much more,
Then on the eagles of Moshiach together they will soar
Chorus:
But we will remember their souls forever,
A treasure, a diamond – their impact is so clear
They will always be more then just a memory,
And Shluchim with אמונה we’ll continue to be.
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Pesha Leah Azoulay, an Administrative Assistant at the OK Kosher Labs, worked closely with Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg to plan annual inspections in India. “Don’t Leave us Stranded” is the title she gave for her personal reflections upon hearing the devastating news of the terrorist attack that claimed the life of Holtzberg and his wife.
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OP-ED: “In the beginning, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivki Holtzberg had a choice between Melbourne and Mumbai. They chose Mumbai. Hashem planned that our paths would cross one way or another.” Australian Dr. Isaac Balbin writes of his memories in India for COLlive.
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GAVRIEL NOACH RIVKAH. = 611 SAME AS TORAH
GAVRIEL NOACH (ROSHEI TEVOS) GAN