(By: Naftali Salomon, a close friend of R’ Gavriel Holtzberg HY”D wrote this, and submitted it to YWN) The tragedies that unfolded this past week have left us all with sadness, sorrow and mourning; with more questions than answers.
Yet none is greater than the question asked of Hashem by our forefather Avraham in the book of B’reishis. When Hashem informed Avraham of His intent to destroy Sodom for their wicked ways, Avraham asked:
הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה, צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע…חָלִלָה לְּךָ מֵעֲשֹׂת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה, לְהָמִית צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע, וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק, כָּרָשָׁע; חָלִלָה לָּךְ–הֲשֹׁפֵט כָּל-הָאָרֶץ, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט.
“Will you destroy the wicked together with the righteous?…It is beneath You to do this: to slay the righteous with the wicked, so the righteous should be equal to the wicked; it is beneath You, that the Judge of all the earth shall act unjustly?”
When the brave rescuers entered the Chabad House of Mumbai after the standoff, they discovered a grisly scene: bodies scattered throughout the building: those of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, his wife Rivka, and their guests, all of whom died al kiddush Hashem, may G-d avenge their blood. Also among the dead lie the bodies of the terrorist thugs who committed the heinous acts of murder and destruction.
On that day, in the very same building, both the epitome of righteousness and the epitome of evil were slain; וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק, כָּרָשָׁע.
Any instance in which a Jew is murdered, rachmana litzlan, is considered al Kiddush Hashem – a sanctification of G-d’s name. Yet this event epitomizes mesiras nefesh al Kiddush Hashem. The president of Iran makes the ludicrous claim that he does not hate Jews per se, but that he hates “Zionists”. The Palestinians make the equally-absurd claim that they do not hate Jews, but that they hate the “occupiers who are living on their land”. But the terrorists that brutally murdered the kedoshim that day in Mumbai did not do so claiming that they were “Zionists” or “occupiers”. They singled them out simply because they were Jewish.
There are two instances, both in Chumash Vayikra, chapter 21, in which the Torah mentions Mumbai by name, “מוּם בּוֹ”.
The Torah, in Vayikra 21:21, states: “לְהַקְרִיב אֶת-אִשֵּׁי ה’ מוּם בּוֹ – to bring forth the karbanos of Hashem; Mumbai”. Here the Torah refers to the ultimate sacrifice made by the kedoshim in Mumbai.
Additionally, the word לְהַקְרִיב has the same gematria, or numerical value, as the words רבקה and גואל. Thus, the Torah is hinting that the sacrifice made by Rebbetzin Rivka in Mumbai will hasten the coming of the גואל, the redeemer.
Two verses later, in Vayikra 21:23, the Torah mentions Mumbai, “מוּם בּו”, one more time. In that verse Torah says “לֹא יִגַּשׁ–כִּי-מוּם בּוֹ”. The words “לֹא יִגַּשׁ” have the same gematria as גבריאל נח and גואל, further indicating that the mesirus nefesh al Kiddush Hashem of Rabbi Gavriel Noach will hasten the coming of the redeemer of the Jewish people.
I was lucky enough to have spent a summer with Gabi over ten years ago, and I can personally attest to the fact that he epitomized purity and selflessness. I fondly recall falling asleep and awaking to the low hum of his learning and davvening. In fact, I can hardly recall him actually sleeping, since he was always up and learning before me, and was still awake and learning when I went to sleep.
Gabi and Rivka’s entire goal in life was nothing other than to help a fellow human being in need, bring a fellow Jew closer to yiddishkeit, or to simply put a smile on the face of someone who was feeling down. And they did so with the utmost sacrifice, selflessness and humility; never taking credit for their accomplishments or patting themselves on the back.
As questions continue to remain unanswered and the families and friends of the victims continue to mourn the tragic loss of these special souls, no words can bring solace or comfort; no expressions of sorrow or sympathy will bring them back; nothing can fill the gaping hole their absence will leave.
Avraham’s conversation with Hashem in which he pleaded with G-d to not indiscriminately kill the righteous together with the wicked, concludes with וְאַבְרָהָם שָׁב לִמְקֹמוֹ – after G-d finished speaking with him, Avraham made no further argument, accepted G-d’s judgment, and silently returned to his place.
As the tears continue to roll down our faces, we come to accept Hashem’s decisions and forge ahead, quietly coming to terms with the tragedy, loss, anger, fear, and pain.
What else can one do but look for the glimmers of light and hope amid the darkness and bitterness? The lasting impact they had on the individuals they encountered while on shlichus and throughout their lives; the mikvah they established; the minyanim they conducted; the Jewish weddings they presided over; their son Moshe who miraculously survived thanks to the heroic nanny.
These lasting memorials leave us with the tools needed to combat despair with hope, doubt with faith, pain with joy, tears with laughter, fear with courage, and anger with resolve.
This past Shabbos, as the events were still unfolding, my 2-year-old son suddenly and unexpectedly pointed to a large picture of the Rebbe hanging on our kitchen wall. “Rebbe”, he said, “I wanna kiss the Rebbe.” I promptly lifted him up to kiss the picture of the Rebbe.
When I went online after Shabbos to see the latest updates on the unfolding events, the first thing I came across was the story of how the ZAKA volunteers came across a shocking scene. When they entered the Chabad House there was blood and destruction strewn across every single surface of the building. There was, however, one picture of the Rebbe hanging on the wall that remained unscathed.
My eyes welled up as I realized that the untouched picture of the Rebbe was the very same picture that my son had been suddenly drawn to that very day.
May we merit to be reunited very soon with all of the kedoshim who were brutally murdered al Kiddush Hashem, with the coming of Moshiach, when the dwellers of the earth will arise and rejoice.
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28 Responses
Indeed very interesting.
Hashem is hinting to us, He wants to bring the redemption – but its up to us to help Him. We gotta perfect ourselves and do Teshuva!
INTERESTING HOW COME YOU DIDN’T SEE IT BEFORE IT HAPPENED
HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 VISION
Please keep in mind the name Mumbai, is the name of an Avoda Zarah. To tryo to find a name of an Avoda Zara spelled out in the Torah, may be inappropriate.
By the way I have heard that R’ Gavriel HY”D was makpid not to pronounce Mumbai correctly, as it is a shem of Avoda Zara.
There are computer programs out there that will give you any gematria of your choice, within seconds. Within the parsha of hashavas aveida, you can find yiush shelo midaas havi yiush, like Rava, and lo havi yiush, like Abaye. I’m sorry that I don’t remember exactly where it is.
BPZAIDE,
Don’t you know that in this Golus we are not allowed to see things bafore they happen???
“Vero’eeao es achoray…”
#4 the torah and navi is full with names of avodah zarah very uplifting article
Beutiful!
As an aside, I am one of those heimishe Yidden that travels a lot and have been nehene from many Chabad Houses around the world, HUNDREDS of times and of course I am almost always meeting other heimishe Yidden doing the same.
I have taken upon myself to start contributing in an even bigger way than I have aleady been doing.
I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say that Mumbai is the same as the Hebrew words מום בו. That in English would phonetically equal Mumbo. Also, in terms of gematriya, unless you have a source in Chazal who mention it, you can make up your own gematriyot, but they are utterly meaningless.
I enjoyed your article very much.
One point though. Please excuse my litvishe question but is one allowed to kiss pictures of people? Is this not bordering on avoda zoro too? Before all of you come shouting at me for making machlokes etc. I am asking an innocent question and I would love an honest objective answer. As someone commented above, Reb Gavriel hy”d was very makpid on such things.
And what would you have found in the Torah with the original name, Bombay?
To #13: The Torah does not conform to the world; the world conforms to the Torah.
Hence, the Torah does not have to change and contain the word “Bombay”, rather the city had ITS name changed to be compatible with the truth – that is, Torah.
These “remazim” from the pesukim are amazing. Note that the full letters of the name Rivka are in that first passuk, as are most of the letters of Gavriel in the 2nd one.
Only 1 problem: that the referrence to Mumbai in the pasuk is pronounced “mum BO” by most of the ashkenazi world. Mum BOI in the more yeshivishe velt, as “mim BOY” in the chassidishe velt. However, in the Lubavitcher velt, quite ironically, it is pronounced as we read the name of that Indian city – Mum BAY.
Very interesting. “Leika midi d’lo ramiza b’oraisa”.
#10
In Chabad and other (litvisher) places it is indeed read MUM Bei (their Choilom sounds to us like a tzeirei .. )
Even in the Karlin Stolin Chasidut I heard rabbi Piltchik read a Choilom like a tzeirei MUM BEI
So the shtick torah still stands!
To #4: In Parshat וָאֶתְחַנַּן, the Torah the mentions Avodah Zara Baal Pe’or by name, TWICE in one posuk (Devarim 4:3)!
In fact, a few pesukim earlier, the Torah mentions by name the city named בֵּית פְּעוֹר for its resident Avodah Zara, similar to Mumbai which you stated is named after Avodah Zara.
The names of Avodah Zarah that are mentioned in the Torah are akin to nicknames, which often serve to cynically denegrate that particular idol. Halachicly it IS forbidden to pronounce its name without distorting it somewhat. Once it becomes the name of a city, it might not contain the same connotation as its original meaning.
Truehonesty
In different cultures there are different ways for expressing reverance. By hungarian circles, many would kiss the Rebbes hand. After Petira the Chafotzim of tzaddik is revered and kissed. By Litvishe some would kiss the corners of a Godols Frock. And in lubavich they hang up pictures. Its based on the inyan mentioned in Chassidisher sefarim of Letzayer Tzuras Hatzaddik. A kiss is a sign of reverance to their Rebbe. Strange if you ask me but in no way kefira.
#12 You are right on.
# 16 Rabbi Pilchik from Stolin speak that way since he learnt in lubavitch.
# 12
Its bifeirush not A’Z.
As a frequent travler to many Chabad Houses on the end of the world, I noticed once how a Shliach who is a very derhoibener Yid was saying shma and after shma, his son kissed his Tatty and then to my horror he kissed a picture of the Rebbe.
As soon as I got back I called my Rosh Yeshiva (one of the excepted gedoiley hador) and without telling him, who the picture was of, I asked him this exact shayla. His answer was that it is toluey on what you have in mind.
Is it a’z for me to kiss a picture of my zeida who is not alive? Is it a’z for me to kiss a picture of my kids when I travel (especially after this story last week)? NO!
So why should it be a’z for a chabadsker who misses his rebbe to kiss a picture of him?
As we have learned (if you watched the livaya – and if not go watch it now – ) Lubavitchers have a different relationship with their rebbe than we do with our gedoilim. He is the bal shem tov for them. He is the gra for them. I can tell you, if I had a chance of kissing the gra and or the bal shemtov or kissing his picture after having a relationship with him, I WOULD DO IT!!!!
well said yochi.
This was moving! I think the message is we must UNITE! From Lubavich to litvish to chasidish…we must all feel like we are brothers and sisters. To the author: You are doing exactly what you are supposed to do after such a tragedy: see the message and try to act upon it. Yashar Koach!
One more thing. I am not from chabad but I have A LOT of respect for chabad because I find that they really actualize the mitzvah of ahavas yisrael as they open their homes and sacrifice their lives for other Jews no matter what walk of life they are from. This is the MOST IMPORTANT tikun for bringing moshiach! Since the churban came due to sinas chinam. Let us all put our differences aside and learn a lesson from the HOLY KEDOSHIM who epitomized ahavas yisrael by putting aside our differences and loving all Jews and devoting some time to do kiruv (beahava) Just like Gavriel and Rivkah A”H!
And if the gematria doesnt work, add “kugel” and it will work.
The Rebbe is for us Moshe Rabbeinu and helps us to awaken our direct connection with Hashem. Different communities have different customs. In Lubavitch we never touch the Rebbe but we do have a few pictures around and its not uncommon to kiss such a picture out of love for the Rebbe.
Anyway, nice article. I would pronounce it mum boy but those with more of a gezhe background might do it differently.
Many Chasidishe (and Litvishe) Gedolim befeirush did not allow pictures to be taken of them, precisely because of the avoida zora aspect to it.
Who said the Lubavitcher Rebbe held that pictures are a holy object? Kiss the hand of the Tzaddik himself, yes. But a picture?
To pronounce a Choilom as “ay” is the old-russian way of speaking. HaRav Yaakov Galinsky talks and davens this way, the Steipler did and many other gedolim of the previous generation, including the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Beautiful article, thank you Rabbi Salomon.
why the big deal about the exact pronunciation? Where do we find Haman in the Torah? Ha-MEEN HaEitz, not Ha-MAHN HaEitz.
Are we allowed to find our own “puns” (for lack of a better word) in the Torah? That I’m more surprised about. But the actual pronunciation is not so crucial.
If you guys who are so “concerned” about kissing a picture, etc. etc. were half as concerned with your observnace of bein adam l’chaveiro, moshiach would be here already. Usually I’m no lubavitcher – but at a time like this we are all one.