December 1, 2008 / 4 Kislev 5769
Dear friends,
It was with profound shock that I heard the terrible news: Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg, directors of Chabad of Mumbai, were among those brutally murdered in the recent attacks. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the people of India, and to the innocent victims and their families.
But for me, Gabi was different, for he was an old school-mate at Yeshiva. He was a year younger than I, but the program was small and encouraged collaboration between the classes. Later, we traveled to Thailand as rabbinic interns, where we--and others--helped lead Passover Seders. I think that he felt his calling in that environment, and it seemed natural to me when I learned that he was returning as a Chabad Shliach to Mumbai.
Gabi and Rivky were motivated by the vision of boundless love and service of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of saintly memory. A part of the global Chabad Lubavitch family of over 3000 rabbis and rebbitzens in 47 US states and 80 countries around the world, they lived in a crowded section of one of the most crowded cities on earth, unnoticed and unknown to many of their neighbors, without glory or financial stability. Instead, they opened their home to thousands of people, Jews from every conceivable affiliation and background--providing a meal, an embrace, a home. They provided teaching and counseling and help to people caught up in unhealthy behavior, and spiritual inspiration to the many seeking it. Expatriates, backpackers, local Jews, and the occasional Wash. U. student were all part of their community.
Gabi was, and it is painful to discuss Gabi in the past tense, an intellectual activist with the deep grounding in the extraordinary weltschauung of Chasidism. He was--to borrow a line from baseball--a "five tool rabbi." Gabi could do it all. He was deeply learned and richly appreciative of the human condition, he served his community as a teacher, a mohel, and a shochet.
While the attack was on a Chabad center and a family of Chabad representatives were murdered, the loss is not limited to the Chabad movement. Gabi and Rivky were not targeted because they represented Chabad; Gabi and Rivky were killed for being Jewish. I would go even further to say that this was not only an attack on the Jewish people, but on anyone who values peace, goodness, and kindness. In their deaths, as in their lives, Gabi and Rivky brought people together from diverse backgrounds, uniting them in the celebration of Yiddishkeit. Let us join in ensuring that the lives of the Holtzbergs and the other victims live on by continuing that unity, that enormous outpouring of love in our own homes and communities and, indeed, in the world at large.
I have no words, and no theological answers…
The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught of the need to turn tears into action. While it is early to discuss specifics, I know that the Chabad center in Mumbai will be re-opened, and I am certain that further centers will be developed in India and throughout the world.
As students make their way back to campus this week, we will together seek proper and meaningful ways to memorialize Gabi and Rivky by bringing additional light into our own community. "The soul of man is the candle of G-d." We are within the month of Chanukah. Let us redouble our efforts to add in the celebration of Chanukah, a holiday characterized by increasing light--physical and spiritual. Details and other suggested Mitzvah memorials can be found at www.chabadoncampus.org.
I have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emails, facebook messages, and other communications I have received over the past few days. I hope to respond to each once, though it will take some time. aFrom now on, may we only celebrate joyous occasions together and live to see a better and brighter world with the coming of Moshiach speedily and in our days.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Hershey Novack
