Klal Yisroel Marks 16 Years Since Mumbai Massacre

By Y. S. Gold

YS GOLD 

This past Shabbos marked sixteen years since the day of the infamous Mumbai Massacre in which the lives of Chabad Shluchim, Reb Gavriel Noach and Rivkah Holtzberg, Hy”d—along with Rav Bentzion Chroman and Rav Leibish Teitelbaum, Norma Schwartzblatt-Rabinowitz and Yocheved Orpaz, Hy”d—were murdered in cold blood by bloodthirsty killers. 

Most of us are old enough to remember that day vividly. Klal Yisroel sat rapt with fear and foreboding, awaiting the outcome of the multi-hour standoff. And then came the tragic news about all those who were killed in the attack—bringing the events so close to home. 

The attack began when a group of heavily armed terrorists stormed the Nariman House, a Jewish community center, where the Holtzbergs were hosting guests. They also targeted the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Hotels, leading to a series of deadly confrontations with the Indian authorities. The attack lasted for several days, during which hostages were held, and many innocent lives were lost. In total, over 175 people were killed and more than 300 were injured during the horrific attack.

In Nariman House, the Holtzbergs and their guests were brutally murdered, but Moshe Holtzberg was miraculously saved by his nanny, Sandra Samuel, who courageously smuggled him to safety despite the grave danger. The world watched in horror as the siege unfolded, and the tragic fate of the Holtzbergs and others was revealed.

The dedicated Chabad shluchim were undeterred, however, and soon there was a renewed Chabad presence in place, continuing the shlichus with incredible fortitude and dedication in the ensuing 16 years. 

Tragically, the massacre was brought to the fore once again in the most eerie fashion earlier this month, as Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, a nephew of the Holtzbergs, was murdered in the UAE for the sin of being a Yid, Hy”d. Klal Yisroel in general, and the Chabad shluchim family in particular, rallied in shared horror, and also support, pledging to support these heroes on the front lines of the battle for Yiddishkeit. 

This evening, as 5000 emissaries will gather for the annual banquet of the Kinus Hashluchim, it will be with a renewed appreciation for the deep sacrifice made by these heroic men, women, and children who continue undeterred in their mission until the coming of Moshiach.