Holtzberg Family Sets Up Gemach

If there was one mitzvah, among the many they performed, that the shluchim to Mumbai Rabbi Gavriel and Rivky Holtzberg HY”D were famous for, it is hachnosas orchim. Who could forget the video clip where Rivky was asked “How is it to live this way – always hosting people?” Her answer was “Zeh Kef”- “It’s our pleasure.”

Gabi and Rivky’s hospitality was legendary, people from around the world have attested to being recipients of their warmth and selfless devotion to every Jew that visited the Chabad House in Mumbai. If ever a Jew needed a place to stay for a day, a Shabbos, a month, the Chabad House was their home. Their regal guestrooms were outfitted with luxurious beds and linens to ensure the guests felt welcomed and comfortable.

“Gabi and Rivky epitomized hospitality at their Chabad House. Being shluchim in such a far away country one would assume that some measure of Hachnosas orchim came with the job description,” says Mordechai Kaler, Gabi’s brother in law. “Yet they never looked at it like that. They saw the opportunity to open their doors as a tremendous zechus and privilege.”

When Gabi and Rivky’s family visited Mumbai this Chanukah for the Menorah lighting in their memory, they found brand new linens Gabi and Rivky had purchased for their guests, still in their packaging, in the now destroyed Chabad House.

Upon returning from Mumbai after the Chanukah ceremony, the family brought back the new linens. The family wished to continue with Gabi and Rivky’s incredible work, so Gabi’s sisters came up with an idea: to provide the Crown Heights community with a Gemach that would lend out bedding to members of the community who are either housing guests for the upcoming Kinus HaShluchos or for various other events that take place throughout the year in the community.

Donations of new bedding are needed in order to help facilitate this. They are asking that anyone who has new bedding or gently used linen that they would like to donate to the Gemach to please contact Devory Spielman at 718-774-4180. Donations can be sent directly to 985 Lincoln Pl. Brooklyn, NY 11213.