Indian Envoy Met Holtzbergs

By Baila Olidort – Lubavitch.com

India’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Nirupam Sen, visited the Holtzberg family in Brooklyn Wednesday afternoon to offer his condolences. The Ambassador said it was important for his country that a representative of the Indian government extend personal condolences to the family of Rabbi Gabi and Rivki Holtzberg, murdered last November in the Mumbai terror attacks.

Mr. Sen later met with with representatives at Lubavitch World Headquarters. The terrorist attacks on Mumbai, he said, “were a terrible shock for us.”

Never in India’s long history with the Jewish people, he said, tracing it back as far as “when the Jewish people were exiled by the Romans,” did something like this happen.

“The best tribute to Chabad is to build the Chabad House again,” said the Ambassador, promising to do everything in his power to facilitate assistance on both the municipal and federal levels for the rebuilding.

During an emotional encounter at home of Rabbi Nachman and Mrs. Freida Holtzberg, the Ambassador took time to learn more about Gabi’s life and background. He perused family albums and heard about his scholarly achievements and the extraordinary personal challenges he and his wife Rivki, confronted.

The parents of Gabi, said the Ambassador, “have much to be proud of.”

Gabi’s sister, Nechama Popack, greeted the Ambassador with thanks for representing a country that produced a hero “like Sandra Samuels, who saved the life of our Moshe.”

Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of the Chabad-Lubavitch educational and social services division told the Ambassador that millions of people worldwide followed the attack on the Chabad House over the course of nearly three days, and responded with an outpouring of love and support that crossed all denominational borders.

“It was a tragedy that affected millions who are looking to see us rebound,” he said.

Towards that end, the Chabad Mumbai Rebuilding Fund has been established, and is working to garner wide support for the son of Gabi and Rivki, little Moshe, as well as for the Chabad House.

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Lubavitch Headquarters, told the Ambassador that activities are under way to prepare for rebuilding Chabad in Mumbai with full security arrangements.

Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, Director of the Chabad Mumbai Rebuilding Fund, accompanied the Ambassador on his visits today.