Rabbi Recalls Colleagues

by Debra Rubin, NJ Jewish News

In what was an otherwise joyful celebration of the first night of Hanukka, the crowd gathered at the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe stood silent and introspective as the rabbi who took over for a murdered colleague in India spoke to them by phone.

During the Dec. 21 call, Rabbi Dov Ber Goldberg offered his hope that “the light we bring into Hanukka will bring light into” Mumbai.

Goldberg has taken over at the Nariman House Chabad Jewish Center in Mumbai, where Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivkah, were among six killed by Islamic terrorists who stormed the building Nov. 26.

Goldberg touched on the “terrible tragedy” that struck Mumbai’s Jewish community and was felt by Jews throughout the world. The new Chabad representatives had earlier lit a broken menora taken from the damaged Jewish center as part of their holiday celebration.

“People here took it very hard,” said Goldberg, who said many members of the Jewish community had gathered in Mumbai for the menora-lighting ceremony. “The lights of Hanukka will light the darkness.”

Because of the more than 10-hour time difference, Goldberg stayed up to take the 2:30 a.m. phone call from Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky of the Monroe Chabad. Zaklikovsky said he and his wife, Chanie, made the connection because Goldberg’s wife is Chanie’s cousin.

Goldberg said those attending that first-night ceremony in Mumbai were heartened “in a spiritual sense.”

Triumph of identity

“During the festival of Hanukka, even after the tragedy, we remember the miracle of Hanukka,” said Goldberg, recalling how Jewish identity triumphed over Hellenistic forces.

“People want to eradicate our bodies,” added Goldberg, who said the Jewish spirit would continue to shine brightly like the Hanukka lights.

“Light and goodness will win the darkness,” he said. “Around the world we will increase our good deeds and not give up. We will concentrate on strengthening Jewish identity and giving it to our kids.”

Zaklikovsky reminded the gathering they should not take for granted the religious freedoms they enjoy as Americans. He noted that in Monroe alone, three menoras had been erected on public land with the full blessing of the municipalities.

“We live in a culture where different religions and nationalities can come together to celebrate,” said Zaklikovsky. “As we celebrate Hanukka today, we must remember there are places in the world where there is not freedom of religion, where there is darkness.”

He urged the crowd to remember the dead in Mumbai and fight the evil that took their lives, “not with violence but by continuing to project righteousness, goodness, and kindness.”

Monroe councilwoman Leslie Koppel-Egierd recalled her own childhood Hanukka memories.

“When I look back, it’s not the presents I remember, but the menora and latkes,” she said.

The group moved outside where a large hanukkia was lit, and Zaklikovsky and some of the others braved a muddy lawn to dance a joyful hora.

Back inside, the chilled celebrants feasted on latkes, jelly doughnuts, and hot cider and chocolate.