HOW DO WE FIGHT EVIL? WITH ACTS OF GOODNESS AND KINDNESS!
It is with a heavy heart that we gather here this evening to pay our respects to all who were massacred last week in Mumbai, India.
Those killed and injured were of many nationalities- Indian, American, Australian, Canadian, German, Singaporean, French, Israeli, British, Chinese, Italian, Japanese ,Jordanian, Malaysian, Mauritian, Mexican, Spanish, Thai, Austrian, Filipino, Finnish, Norwegian. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the innocent victims and their families, and to all the people of India who bore the brunt of this tragedy- their own 9/11.
We wish a speedy recovery and convalescence to the many hundreds that were wounded. We note the sacrifice of those police officers and security personnel, who lost their lives in the line of duty.
At the same time we salute the bravery and self sacrifice displayed by the nanny - Sandra Samuel- a non Jewish woman –in saving the crying toddler, Moshe Holtzberg. This brings to mind the biblical story of the daughter of Pharoah, a non Jewish woman- saving the life of the crying baby Moshe- Moses. In saving one life we save a world.
HOW DO WE FIGHT EVIL? WITH ACTS OF GOODNESS AND KINDNESS.
I want to draw your attention to our colleagues, Gabi & Rivki Holzberg.
They left their families in N.Y. and Israel to move halfway around the world. They did not do it for the excitement, the money, the fame or the glory. They did it out of the love for the Jewish people and as dedicated Chassidim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of Blessed memory.
Their home was sought out by business people needing kosher provisions while traveling; by tourists from around the world; and by the many Israelis, backpacking across India, after completing army service. Each guest was welcomed with open arms, unconditional love and respect. Kosher in India meant that Gabi has to shecht- ritually slaughter- 100 chickens every week and Rivki has to bake 80 loaves of bread – reminiscent of our Patriarchs Abraham & Sarah who welcomed wayfarers- to feed Jews whom they had never met before, and might never meet again. Gabi and Rivki were there, always with a warm smile, a warm word and a warm meal.
They were a beacon of light for all who wished to come and pray. A .light extinguished by 10 evil men. Where 10 evil men come to destroy, 10 good men - a quorum, will once again make a minyan and pray (fighting darkness with the light). The power of 10!
We are here tonight to comfort one another. We cannot fathom the ways of the Almighty, nor to make sense of a terrible and senseless event. We have no theological answers. We are not obligated, nor expected to become G-d’s defense attorney. We are however; called to act as the biblical Aaron did, when hearing of the loss of his two sons. Torah says VAYIDOM AHARON. “Aron was silent”. He made no attempt to explain the why .He accepted G-d’s will with silence. We cannot understand – for to understand is to become complacent and that we can never be.
WE WILL FIGHT EVIL WITH GOODNESS AND KINDNESS.
As we just saw on the video, some 50 years ago there was a terrorist attack in the Chabad village near Tel Aviv, in which a teacher and 5 young students were brutally gunned down in the midst of their evening prayers. The village had been established a few years prior, by Chassidim who had escaped Stalin’s Russia and Hitler’s Europe. The attack was devastating, with many ready to leave the village and the country, for safer havens. They wrote to the Rebbe in pain and sorrow expressing their helplessness. The Rebbe responded with a 3 word telegram” Behemshaich Habinyan Tenacheimu”. “You will find comfort through continued building”. And the Rebbe sent 10 of his devoted followers to lift the spirit of the community with light and joy. The Rebbe was teaching us that we must turn our tears into action.
These three words Behemsheich Habinyan Tenacheimu,” You will find comfort through continued building” galvanized the community into establishing a vocational school for North African Immigrants, as a living memorial to the fallen students.
HOW DO WE FIGHT EVIL?- BY BUILDING - BY ACTS OF GOODNESS AND KINDNESS.
The Talmud states Anon pa’alah diyamoma anan – we are but day laborers. In this vein, Chabad Lubavitch of Texas, will continue to serve the growing Jewish community of Texas in the spirit of the Holzbergs, may G-d avenge their blood.
To date, we have centers in 10 cities with 17 institutions. Tonight, we would like to announce the opening of the 11th city and the 18th institution and welcome Rabbi Yossi Zaklakovsky who together with his wife Esther and 2 year old son will shortly be moving to a growing Jewish community with the establishment of a new Chabad Jewish Community Center in Pearland!!
The new Chabad establishment in Pearland , will provide a Torah center to serve the entire community with outreach and education and most importantly, it will be a place for goodness and kindness. This is our response here in Houston, and this is our response to the evil wrought in India.
We are not closing our doors in Mumbai. We will rebuild!
Before Shabbat there were already a half dozen resumes from young couples ready to move to Mumbai to continue the Holzbergs Legacy . In fact, I was just informed this morning that Rivki Hotzberg’s parents are ready and willing to continue the work of their children in India.
We too, should turn our grief into action. Do another Mitzvah – a good deed. Find another vehicle for making this world a brighter and more peaceful place. The power of love is stronger, more durable and more eternal than any power of hate.
This evening we came together to give each other strength and courage. The cards distributed, contain suggestions of Mitzvot you could explore, to honor the Holzbergs’ memory.
Tonight we use the 3 pillars of which Torah teaches us, support the world. They are Torah, Prayer and acts of loving kindness.
We have recited words of prayer;
We will share words of Torah;
and we will commit to acts of Loving Kindness.
On a personal note, we here in the greater Chabad Houston area thank all of you for coming here tonight in a show of unity. We thank you for the flood of thoughts prayers, calls and emails.
Many of you have asked about making a contribution to help little Moshe or to support Chabad in Mumbai. Please visit our website www.chabadtexas.org/chabadmumbai for the many ways to get involved.
We will conclude with the study of Torah, with a Mishna and a memorial prayer. Thank you all for coming this evening. May the Almighty help us that we have many opportunities to come together to share simchos, and happy occasions. Thank you.