Chairman, of the worldwide Educational and Social Services arms of the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement
Friday, November 28, 2008 (12:30 pm)
With profound sadness and deep sorrow, we received the definitive news, just a short while ago, confirming the brutal murder of two of our finest, Rabbi Gavriel Noach, 29, and Rivkah Holtzberg, 26, our dear representatives in Mumbai, India, who served their community with love and devotion.
On behalf of their colleagues and fellow shluchim and shluchos around the world and on behalf of the entire world of Lubavitch, we express deeply heartfelt condolences to the parents and family of this beautiful, young couple, and to the families and loved ones of each of those who have been brutally murdered in this senseless, barbaric attack. In the traditional Jewish blessing to mourners: May G-d Almighty comfort you amongst all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
And may all those wounded in this horrible ordeal be blessed with a complete and speedy recovery.
We, indeed the entire world, were all praying until now that Gaby and Rivkah would be spared along with the remaining hostages. Alas, now the situation has changed. This news is fresh and the wound is raw.
Words are inadequate to express our outrage and deep pain, at this tragic act of cold-blooded murder of innocent men, women and children, fueled by causeless hatred.
The targeting by terrorists of foreign nationals, underscores the need for governments to work collectively to fight terrorism resolutely and effectively, so that the hands of those seeking to destroy life and disrupt peace will no longer reach their targets.
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One Response
This is a beautifully eloquent and sensitive response, especially since it was said while in the midst of the tragedy. May HaKadosh, baruch hu, protect the shluchim and all of am Yisrael, and help the Muslims and the rest of the world take pride in their own good deeds, and take encouragement from yidden – to help them find reassurance in themselves through us, as the real root of any senseless jealousy or base emotions. (Thinking about the reports of the terrorist waving tzitzis from the window of the Chabad center).