B"H
Dear Friends and Family,
As any other person in the world, let alone as a Jew and a "Chabad Chassid", I was watching with abated breath as the tragic events unfolded in Mumbai this past week. Our entire yeshivah here prayed especially for the well being of those trapped in the "Chabad House," following every update...
After the terrible news of those killed and injured throughout India, news broke of the tragic end in the Chabad house: 9 dead; amongst them Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, young emissaries who dedicated their entire lives to helping Jews who came to Mumbai. (Their 2 yr. old son Moshe was miraculously saved by his nanny Sandra, who bravely left her barricaded room when hearing his cries, and ran to his crib to save him.)
What now?
In 1956, Palestinian terrorists infiltrated the small Israeli settlement "Kfar Chabad" near Tel Aviv, opening fire and killing a Rabbi and 4 students.
The people of the newly born settlement, made up primarily of recent Russian immigrants, was devastated. Broken, they sent a letter describing the events to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York (who had guided the building of the settlement). When the telegram arrived in New York, the secretaries decided to hold the letter until after the Rebbe's farbrengen "Chassidic gathering," so as not to disturb his mood. Nevertheless, the Rebbe cried throughout the farbrengen, with the crowd confused as to what the reason may have been. But the secretaries realized that the Rebbe somehow already knew. After the farbrengen, they gently knocked on the Rebbe's door, and handed him the telegram. The Rebbe took it, and slumped into his chair. For 3 days, the Rebbe stayed in his room. Finally he emerged, giving his response to the telegram to his secretaries with just 3 words: "b'hemshech ha'binyan yenachameinu"-"through building will be your comfort."
Dear Friends and Family,
As any other person in the world, let alone as a Jew and a "Chabad Chassid", I was watching with abated breath as the tragic events unfolded in Mumbai this past week. Our entire yeshivah here prayed especially for the well being of those trapped in the "Chabad House," following every update...
After the terrible news of those killed and injured throughout India, news broke of the tragic end in the Chabad house: 9 dead; amongst them Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, young emissaries who dedicated their entire lives to helping Jews who came to Mumbai. (Their 2 yr. old son Moshe was miraculously saved by his nanny Sandra, who bravely left her barricaded room when hearing his cries, and ran to his crib to save him.)
What now?
In 1956, Palestinian terrorists infiltrated the small Israeli settlement "Kfar Chabad" near Tel Aviv, opening fire and killing a Rabbi and 4 students.
The people of the newly born settlement, made up primarily of recent Russian immigrants, was devastated. Broken, they sent a letter describing the events to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York (who had guided the building of the settlement). When the telegram arrived in New York, the secretaries decided to hold the letter until after the Rebbe's farbrengen "Chassidic gathering," so as not to disturb his mood. Nevertheless, the Rebbe cried throughout the farbrengen, with the crowd confused as to what the reason may have been. But the secretaries realized that the Rebbe somehow already knew. After the farbrengen, they gently knocked on the Rebbe's door, and handed him the telegram. The Rebbe took it, and slumped into his chair. For 3 days, the Rebbe stayed in his room. Finally he emerged, giving his response to the telegram to his secretaries with just 3 words: "b'hemshech ha'binyan yenachameinu"-"through building will be your comfort."
Gathering in the town square in Kfar Chabad, the telegram from the Rebbe was read. The people were elated-now they knew what to do! After a meeting, the people decided to build a vocational school for disadvantaged youth. A year and 50,000 shekels later, the school was opened, with much success...
We have to build. The answer to this tragedy, the answer that Gavriel and Rivkah lived for, is an increase in kind deeds and Mitzvot; to build. To help others selflessly the way they did. Not to slouch around depressed thinking of how low humans can go, how low and dark this world is, but rather what we can do to light it up. and helping each other. Each person can choose his own Mitzvah in honor of the slain couple: www.chabad.org.
To build our Jewish lives further is a testament against these terrorists, and for this heroic couple, who left the comfort of their homes in Israel to help their fellow Jews strengthen their souls in India. Let's make them proud and happy. Let's build.
-Daniel
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