The Rabbi's message at the Memorial Service at Queensborough Community College Thursday December 4, 2008
Good evening community leaders, dignitaries, elected officials, ladies and gentlemen:
I would like to offer my heartfelt condolonces for the victims of the Mumbai massacre. Close to 200 innocent men, women and children lost their lives in this horrific attack plus the countless others who were injured.
It is impossible to truly comfort and console the survivors and their families in the face of this atrocity, all we can do is stand by their side, feel their pain and make sure they know how much we care.
As a Chabad Rabbi, the attack struck very close to home. Rabbi Gabi and Rivka Holtzberg were part of my family. We were not related physically, but we shared the same world view and way of life.
Our revered spiritual leader the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, embarked on a unique mission. He envisioned a world the way G‑d meant it to be. A world of peace, a world of unity, a world where all of mankind share the same goal of spreading goodness and kindness throughout.
To that end he created a spiritual peace corps. Sending emissaries – young families like the Holtzbergs to far flung corners of the globe to set up Chabad houses (– over the last week, we heard that term over and over again). A Chabad house is a place where all people are welcome, whether it is a meal you need, a place to sleep, a service to attend, the Chabad house is open to all.
Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg grew up in Crown Heights, a few blocks away from where I lived and a truly sweet soul he was – very gentle and humble, always looking to help someone in need.
Together with his wife Rivka, the Holtzberg family created a beautiful Chabad house in Mumbai and in the few short years that they were there, had reached out and assisted thousands.
The eyes of the world were riveted to the various media outlets as they covered this terrible attack.
For two days we lived in hope of a peaceful outcome; however on Friday afternoon those hopes were dashed when we received confirmation that all in the Chabad house were dead.
Our hearts were broken as we watched a young Indian orphan lying in the hospital bed not even aware that his parents and family were gone.
At a memorial service in a synagogue in Mumbai, before the bodies were flown to Israel, we watched the gut wrenching scene of the young orphan Moshe crying out again and again ima ima mummy mummy. How can we not cry bitter tears knowing that young Moshe will never again see his dear mother.
I was asked on national radio what my feelings were about retribution and revenge.
I am sure that the appropriate measures will be taken by the authorities to find and destroy those responsible, but for average citizens of the world, we have been taught by the Rebbe that we must fight back. The terrorists are doing everything they can to bring as much darkness and pain into the world. It is our holy duty to respond with an overwhelming show of force – all of us must commit ourselves to performing as many acts of goodness and kindness as possible. Those good deeds are our weapons, those good deeds will bring so much light and joy into the world that the darkness and pain will disappear. This is the best way to memorialize the victims of the mumbai massacre.
It is my fervent wish and prayer that almighty G‑d have mercy on all of us and usher in an age of true peace and tranquility for all of mankind – amen!