Friday, December 5, 2008
Students, faculty and members of the Lawrence community gathered for a memorial prayer service in the Relay Room at the Burge Union Thursday in memory of the victims of the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivkah, who were in charge of the Chabad Jewish Center in Mumbai, India, were among the victims of the attacks. Director of the Chabad Jewish Center in Lawrence, Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel knew Gavriel Holtzberg as a classmate, neighbor and friend growing up in Brooklyn.
Rabbi Sholom Wineberg, executive director of Chabad of Kansas and Missouri, speaks words of peace and healing on Thursday night at the memorial gathering for victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. At the end of the gathering, the attendees were asked to donate a mitzvah, a good deed, in honor of the victims.
“We grew up together. He always inspired me with his passion to do good for others.” Tiechtel said.
Tiechtel remembered first hearing the Holtzbergs were in danger when he was contacted via e-mail by the Chabad movement. When the attacks in Mumbai began, the Chabad headquarters had tried to contact the Holtzbergs, receiving no answer until a terrorist picked up the phone and demanded to speak with the Indian government.
In response to the tragic deaths in Mumbai, the Jewish community in Lawrence gathered at the prayer service to remember the lives lost.
Zach Siegel, El Paso, Texas, sophomore, Jordan Leboyer, Chicago sophomore, Michael Solganik, Overland Park sophomore, and others watch Rabbi Zalman Tiechel speak at the Memorial and Solidarity Gathering on Thursday night. The memorial was paying tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
“Tonight was the greatest response. Everyone gathered in unity for those killed, both Jews and non-Jews,” Tiechtel said.
Jeremy Adkison, Leavenworth freshman, chose to attend the prayer service after seeing Rabbi Tiechtel speak to his “Living Religions of the West” class. He said it was good for people to attend the prayer service.
“It’s good to be some place with other people, honoring someone. People shouldn’t forget the dead.” Adkison said.
Along with the prayer service, the Lawrence Chabad Jewish Center is participating in the funds held for the Holtzberg’s orphaned son, and the rebuilding of the Chabad House in Mumbai. Other Jewish couples have already volunteered to work at the Chabad House in Mumbai.
“If this attack deters us we’re giving into the terrorists,” Tiechtel said.
A Jewish Shabbat will be held at 4:30 p.m. today at the Chabad House in Lawrence. There will also be a candle-lighting ceremony. This will be part of “Mitzvot for Mumbai, A Global Campaign of Goodness and Kindness” the Lawrence Chabad House is participating in. The purpose of the campaign is for people to do good deeds and post them to the campaign’s Web site in honor of the victims of Mumbai.
— — Edited by Ramsey Cox
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