Remembering Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka

At a reception on Thursday organised by the Canadian Confederation of Chabad Luvabitch, an Orthodox Jewish organisation,  Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his 'deepest sympathies to the Chabad Lubavitch family and all those who mourn the deaths of  Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg."

The Rabbi and his wife were killed by terrorists at Nariman House in Mumbai during the terror siege in November last year.

In the House of Commons, one Parliamentarian from each political party "made a statement about Chabad Lubavitch and they spoke about Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg," Rabbi Mendelsohn of Chabad of Centerpointe, the emcee at the ceremony, told rediff.com.

"As part of the conference, we incorporated the reception in which  Prime Minister Harper and other political leaders were invited to remember the victims of Mumbai terror attack and pay tribute to the good work that Chabad is doing across Canada, in India and elsewhere," Rabbi Mendelsohn said.

"Last November, the world watched in horror as a group of fanatics systematically murdered more than 170 people in the heart of Mumbai," Harper said in his brief speech at the reception.  "Among those targeted were Rabbi Gavriel and Rebbetzin Rivka Holtzberg . By performing Mitzvahs and bringing more light into this world, the Holtzbergs were fulfilling the late Rabbi Schneerson's vision for strengthening Judaism.'

Harper emphasised that the 'brutal, senseless murders' of the Rabbi and his wife 'were vile affronts to the values that unite all civilised people.'

"As we honour their memory … we are reminded of the need to remain ever vigilant against the forces of intolerance and oppression," he added.

Rabbi Mendelsohn said the brutal murders of their Rabbi and his wife in Mumbai by the terrorists "was a direct blow to the Chabad movement and the movement then made a pact after hearing the sad news, that we would take action but our action would be acts of goodness and kindness."

"We will make sure that the humanitarian aid that we offer would grow in memory of Mumbai victims who sacrificed their lives, including Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, who left North America and traveled to Mumbai," he said.

"It is difficult to live a Jewish religious life in Mumbai," Rabbi Mendelsohn noted.  "But our Rabbi and his wife (with their baby) went there to help others and we would honour their memories and continue their work."

Their baby Moshe, as is widely known, was "saved by the Indian nanny and he is now being brought up by his grand parents in Israel with the help of his nanny," Rabbi Mendelsohn said.
 
The successors of the Rabbi were sent to Mumbai just days after "his brutal murder to head the Chabad (Nariman) House," he said.  

Image: Prime minister Stephen Harper at the Parliamentary reception of orthodox Jewish group Chabad Lubavitch