Reprinted from 2008 after the tragic murders in Mumbai

As thousands of Americans were off from work “celebrating Thanksgiving” on Thursday, we were supposed to remind of ourselves of the Plymouth protagonists: the pilgrims and the Indians. I couldn’t help but reflect on a different set of Indians this Thanksgiving; not the Native Americans who deserve our support and respect, but the people of India and in specific, the natives of Mumbai.

I have been unable to write since I’ve been glued to the news over the past 24 hours. The threat of terrorism is so real; the hatred that some have of our people continues. The carnage on humanity by those who hate western civilization and Godly ethics is too excessive to even imagine. Now, as I’ve just learned of the confirmation of the evil, tragic and painful murder of our brothers and sisters in the Chabad House in Mumbai, I’m numb. Rosh Chodesh has transformed into Tisha B’av. The elegies we read on Tisha B’av speak of how our heroes were cut down tragically by our enemies.

I never met Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg z’l, Hashem yinkom damam, may God avenge their blood. Over the past day, as I davened for their safety, I tried to learn as much about them as I could. During my quest for news and updates, which affected my sleep, I started reading posts by anonymous individuals on the website www.vosizneias.com. Permit me to share one with you penned by a D. Lichtenstein.

“I was in Mumbai this year on business. It is a city from Dante’s hell, filthy and crowded beyond a Westerners nightmare. There is no kosher food or minyan in Mumbai, so I went to the Chabad House. They have 3 minyanim a day and after every minyan the Shaliach and his wife (a’h hy’d) serve meals. There are 20 to 50 people eating there per meal, mostly traveling Israelis and businessman, many frei (not Orthodox). I asked Rabbi Holzberg ‘Where do you get the food?’ He replied, “I shecht (ritually slaughter) 100 chickens a week to serve 400 fleishig (meat) meals, and my wife cleans them. Since there is no pas Yisroel (Jewish bread) here, my wife bakes bread (for about 800 people per week). Every bit of food is home made.” They ask for no money and charge nothing. By every meal he says a d’var Torah, to inspire the orchim (guests). Avraham Avinu would be proud of Rabbi Holzberg. May Hashem who rescued Avraham from Nimrod’s furnace save the shaliach and his family.”

I also would like to share some further comments. Anonymous (#21) commented, “A smart Yid told me once that Lubavitch is finishing what Avrohom Avinu was beginning; to open the door for everyone who looks for God.”  Yosef wrote (#39): “These Chabad guys are unheralded heroes. All they want to do is serve klal Yisrael. I never met their Rebbe, but he has left footprints of kindness and compassion to all.” ‘Shturem’ (# 168) offered chizuk to the Chabad shluchim in the field and added: “I am reminded of what I heard from Rabbi Nemes from Metarie, LA who was in a real matzav of sakanah (danger), because he stayed in the Hurricane Katrina to help those who needed it. He said, “I wouldn’t go through what I went through for a million dollars, but I wouldn’t sell that experience for a million dollars either.”

"ויהי רעב בארץ מלבד הרעב הראשון אשר היה בימי אברהם, וילך יצחק אל אבימלך מלך פלשתים גררה. וירא אליו ה' ויאמר אל תרד מצרימה, שכן בארץ אשר אמר אליך. גור בארץ הזאת ואהיה עמך ואברכך כי לך ולזרעך אתן את כל הארצת האל והקמתי את השבעה אשר נשבעתי לאברהם אביך" (בראשית כ"ו:א-ג)

“There was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine that was in the days of Avraham; and Yitzchak went to Avimelech king of the Phillistines, to Gerer. Hashem appeared to him and said, ‘Do not descent to Egypt; dwell in the land that I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and to your offspring will I give all these lands and I will establish the oath that I swore to Avraham your father” (Bereshis 26:1-3).

Rashi, citing the Midrash (Bereshis Rabba 64:3 and Tanchuma 6), offers an opinion why Yitzchak was informed not to leave the land, and expands this rationale past this incident and to the rest of his life.

"שאתה עולה תמימה ואין חוצה לארץ כדאי לך" (שם פסוק ב' ד'ה 'אל תרד מצרימה').

“You are a perfect offering and outside of Israel is not appropriate for you.”

What does this mean?  It could mean that the ideal is to remain in the Land of Israel – a place of holiness – and assure that one’s piety will be at its acme without the excessive temptations of foreign cultures. We could also learn that it refers specifically to Yitzchak because of his halachic status as a korban, an offering.

Both Mizrachi and Sifsei Chachamim, the major commentaries to Rashi, assume the latter. A korban cannot be removed from the Temple precincts; in the time of Yitzchak, the entire land of Israel had that status.

From where does the idea come that one should remain cloistered in their home? It seems that Yitzchak’s particular situation warranted the limitations on his travel.

Pirkei Avos relates a story about Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma (Avos 6:9) who was walking on the road and met a certain acquaintance. The man asked, “Where are you from” and Rebbe Yossi responded, “From a large city of great scholars and sages.” The man asked if he would like to live with them and receive an enormous salary. Rav Yossi responded:

"אם אתה נותן לי כל כסף וזהב, ואבנים טובות ומרגליות שבעולם, איני דר אלא במקום תורה"

“Even if you were to give me all the silver and gold, precious stones and pearls in the word, I would dwell nowhere but in a place of Torah.”

It is worthwhile to analyze this Mishna on a textual level. There are so many layers to it (and I would recommend the commentary of the Abarbanel). Does this mishna tell us that we should not strive to go to the far-reaching corners of the world and spread the message of God’s Torah?

Rav Kook, the great lover of the Land of Israel, cites the Talmudic passage (Kesubos 110b) that it is preferable to live in a non-Torah environment in Israel rather than in a very religious and spiritually-uplifting setting in the Diaspora. Rav Kook explains that there is nothing more precious than the Torah of Israel. But right below that in importance is a community of Torah scholars. If one has to choose between an Israeli city devoid of Torah values and a city of Torah, one should indeed choose the city of Torah. Thus said Israel’s first modern day Chief Rabbi.

For several decades now, the call to outreach by the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt’l) has not only been heeded by his beloved Chassidim; they rear their children with reverence for this calling. If the ‘central office’ in Crown Heights does not have the funds to promote a start-up,  the young Chabad couple – as has been documented in Sue Fishkoff’s “The Rebbe’s Army” – will go to an uncharted city, find a phone book and start calling names that sound Jewish. No one is more successful in Jewish outreach – no one! – than Chabad. Each and every member of this prestigious Chassidic dynasty sees themselves as put on this earth to help Jews reconnect to their Judaism. People joke that when Neil Armstrong placed Old Glory on the soil of the moon, Chabad beat him to it. Nothing will stop Chabad, and the impact that they have had is one of the greatest successes in Jewish history. When Mashiach comes, I truly believe that this selfless movement of loving Jews will be credited. We all need to learn from them.

I just saw a press conference by Rabbi Yehudah Krinsky of Chabad. Visibly broken and shaken, he offered his condolences to the family, spoke of Chabad’s continued resolve to never cease their avodas Hashem and looked into the camera and spoke to his hundreds of shluchim, assuring them that their work will continue. Knowing that he had the world media focused on him, he encouraged young women to ‘add light to this darkness’ and light Shabbos candles this Shabbos.

Somehow I think that couples have already submitted their names to ‘770’ (Eastern Parkway – the world headquarters of Chabad) to continue the holy work of the Holtzbergs. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a waiting list. That is the passion, love dedication and vital nature of the Chabad shaliach. May HASHEM strengthen all of them, for all of our sakes.

Today we live in a virtual makom Torah. This past week I met a shliach from a small community in Ontario. He told me that his son goes to school online. Chabad developed a cheder for the children of shluchim – so they can always live in a makom Torah. But they do more than live in a makom torah. They create m’komos shel Torah.

Our collective hearts are broken over this tragedy. The Holtzbergs lived the life of Yitzchak. They offered themselves as a sacrifice. They lived a life of akeidah, and unfortunately, died that way as well. But they were able to take the values of aretz hazos – of this holy land – their nations of origin, and bring them to Mumbai, a city devoid of an Orthodox minyan. Their orphaned son – rachmana litzlan – will learn of the heroic life and death of his parents, and he will be proud. I would not be surprised if he marries and devotes his life to the Jewish people. With God’s help, little Moshe Tzvi – who turns two on Shabbos – will represent his parents in this world as we all greet Mashiach together. I have no doubt that his parents have already been ushered in to meet Yitzchak, and the other patriarchs, matriarchs and tzadikim of the generations.