Krinsky Sends Strong Message

By Yehuda Ceitlin, editor of COLlive

A top Lubavitch official has expressed a reassuring message about the safety of Chabad Houses and institutions around the world in the wake of the terror assault on Chabad of Mumbai.

“I cannot elaborate about security measures, but I can say that all Jews are safe in our four Chabad Houses in India and elsewhere,” Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky told a panel on Indian Jewry on Sunday, March 16.

Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch which oversees the activities of Chabad Shluchim worldwide, has recently established the Chabad-Lubavitch Security Commission (CLSC). At this time he is keeping its activities under wraps.

In his remarks at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Lower Manhattan, at a session titled “Jews in the Cradle of India,” he reportedly said, “Hashem creates safety and security.”

In regards to the slain Chabad Shluchim Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, Krinsky recalled the message the Lubavitcher Rebbe relayed after the 1956 massacre in the Israeli Kfar Chabad village.

“Behemshech habinyan tinacheimu (By your continued building you will be comforted),” the Rebbe said then.

IMPRESSED

The panel at the Edmond J. Safra Hall in the museum was attended by Romiel Daniel, President of the Indian Jewish Congregation of USA which co-sponsored the event, and Indian-born Jewish journalist and singer Rahel Musleah.

While a majority of the event was focused on the Jewish communities of Kolkata, Mumbai and Kochi, a portion was dedicated to the recent attacks in Mumbai and its effect on the small but thriving Jewish community.

“I met Rabbi Holtzberg two weeks after he arrived in Mumbai,” an unidentified participant said in the Q&A session. “I expressed my concern that their opening a Chabad House will further the decline of the small minyan at the Knesset Israel synagogue.

“He told me it wouldn’t be an issue. Years later I heard that he took upon himself the operating of the minyan – which in my eyes is a remarkable achievement. I was impressed with his courage.”

To which Krinsky responded: “There are so many stories told by men and women who benefited from the Holtzbergs. They were extraordinary. All Shluchim and Shluchos are, but they seemed to shine through retroactively.”

NO THREAT

For Dr. Leonard Druyan, Senior Research Scientist and the Director of the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University, and his wife Dr. Mitza Druyan, Adjunct Professor of Comparative Literature and Languages at Hofstra University, meeting Krinsky was a delight.

“When we look at him, it’s not what he says but what he represents,” they told COLlive. “For us he is a public face for Chabad. We came say, ‘Shalom Aleichem.’ It was our first time meeting him.”

The Druyans are regulars at Chabad, and have met the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. “Our son got an Aliya to the Torah in 770 near the Rebbe.”

While they were never in India and don’t plan on visiting there, they were attentive at the panel.

“We are not aware of people who are afraid of security at Chabad Houses. Chabad is not particularly a magnet for trouble; Jews are. And some countries are more dangerous than others.

“Chabad changed the face of international Jewry. As we heard now, they revived Judaism in India. When we were in Alaska who do you think we spent Shabbos with?!”