A particularly poignant obituary was posted at the entrance to the Israel Diamond Exchange’s (IDE) trade floor this morning, mourning the brutal murder of Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg and his wife Rivka at the hands of the terrorists who took over Chabad House in Mumbai last week.

There is no doubt that Jews all over the world are pained by the horrifying death of the Holtzbergs, who were only in their twenties. But a profound sorrow can be sensed within the walls of the Israel Diamond Exchange. This is because Chabad House in Mumbai served as “a home away from home” for dozens of Israeli diamantaires who regularly visited the site during their frequent business trips to Mumbai.

Rabbi Hagai Halevi, Honorary Secretary of the Israel Diamond Exchange, explains: “Our diamantaires would go to Chabad House in Mumbai and enjoy a kosher dinner every night. Rabbi Gabi would even make sandwiches for the Israeli diamantaires and deliver them to wherever they were doing business so that they would have kosher food for lunch too.”

He continues: “There were even diamantaires who would leave spare clothing in lockers there on a regular basis. They would arrive, shower, change their clothes, and sit down for dinner – just like they do at home.”

Religious and non-religious Jews, older tourists and young backpackers – it didn’t matter to Rabbi Gabi or his wife, Rivki – they received each and every one with great warmth and a ready smile. Rabbi Halevy says: “The diamantaires called them ‘the angels.’ Gabi would receive each guest – and particularly the Israeli diamantaires who visited the center regularly – with a warm hug and contagious enthusiasm as if it had been years since they had seen each other rather than a few weeks.

The Israeli diamantaire, Avi Natanel, donated the Holy Ark to Chabad House’s synagogue in Mumbai and subsequently donated a Torah scroll as well.

Rabbi Halevy notes sadly: “Chabad House in the Israel Diamond Exchange served as a kind of ‘older sister’ to the Chabad House in Mumbai. Rabbi Gabi met with IDE President Avi Paz several times. The Israeli diamantaires were happy to provide him with help and support.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)