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Photographs of National Security Guard commandos being lowered to and standing outside the Nariman Bhavan, the Jewish center targeted in the Mumbai terror attacks, from the AP
Yesterday, it was reported that Brooklyn Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka (pictured, left) "are among the westerners taken hostage at the Mumbai headquarters of the New York-based outreach group Chabad Lubavitch" during Wednesday's terror attacks in Mumbai, India. Terrorist gunmen had entered the Chabad house, and reportedly took a number of people hostage. Commandoes just stormed the building, and CNN-IBN reports that "5 hostages killed at Mumbai Jewish center." (More details on the raid at the Times of India.)
It's believed that the Holtzbergs' 2-year-old toddler Moishe was rescued. Their nanny, who managed to get out, said, "It was terrible. There were explosions everywhere, gunfire - they tried to shoot me."
The NY Times says Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg moved to Mumbai in 2003, when they were "barely out of their teens," "to manage a mix of educational center, synagogue and social hall known as a Chabad house, one of about 3,500 outposts around the world run by the Lubavitch Hasidic movement.The place soon became a year-round magnet for Israeli backpackers and the Jewish businessmen and tourists who flock to Mumbai, as well as for the Iraqi and Indian Jews who live there."
Both were born in Israel, but Gavriel Holtzberg was raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. His mother Freida told the Daily News yesterday, "I don't know what is going on inside the building All the lines of communication have been cut off. I haven't heard his voice since last week. I don't know if my son is alive. I don't know anything."
The fighting continues in Mumbai; the death toll is currently at 143, with hundreds injured.
Update: The Chabad-Lubavitch Movement has confirmed that Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg were killed.
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She ain't bad looking at all.
Wonder when the Hasid bashing will begin?
Exactly what makes him a "Brooklyn" rabbi? That he used to live here?
As long as they keep moving away from here, there will be less bashing
As we raised our glasses and gave thanks before our dinner yesterday, I discussed these current events with my kids. We should all be thankful we live in a city where we can be with loved ones in peace, and we should all take a moment to think of those in the world who live in fear and danger.
it depends on how they felt about bike lanes.
You people are rotten to the core. I can't even begin to describe my disgust.
what do you mean "you People"?
There's a good chance that these two young people are dead, and their child an orphan, and some of you are making jokes. I can only hope that Karma will see your heartlessness, and raise you 1 more.
If they were in fact killed, may their souls rest in peace.
I guess the bike lanes may not be as important to this fine specimen after this ordeal.
Apologies. I meant "you filthy basement-dwelling trolls."
Let me tell you a secret ... now promise me to keep hush about this ... I'm whispering...
Here goes. No such thing as Karma. It's true. It's all bull. So is religion. And astrology. Hear me, Gemini?
Oh, a lot of people are dead and dying in India. Why focus on these two? They are no more or less tragic than the others. And the ones suffering and dying before this incident. You just don't have it to feel compassion for the rest, right?
Aren't you the heartless one!
your argument is as flawed and disgusting as you. When anyone dies and suffers it is a tragedy, so don't pull the 3rd grade logic on us. By the way, the Rabbi and his wife were found among the dead. Sleep well tonight you odious motherfucker.
is Karma like liberal guilt the conservatives love to talk about?
you know who was heartless? Nostradamus. at least he could have been more specific in details.
so much for following the comment policy!
You are right. I will not sleep well because you said so ... ha ha.
"As we raised our glasses and gave thanks before our dinner yesterday, I discussed these current events with my kids. We should all be thankful we live in a city where we can be with loved ones in peace, and we should all take a moment to think of those in the world who live in fear and danger."
Do you live in the city thats a constant target for terrorism and the one where 3000+ people died when jets crashed into its highest buildings?
OK, i might be caught up in the fear mongering fox syndrome...but hey makes for good conversation.
The rabbi and his wife are among the dead at the Jewish center. May they rest in peace, and their murderers brought to justice.
#17 , EXACTLY! It seems some of us have forgotten about that little tragedy we had 8 years or so ago.
Yes, sizzle, we gave thanks. You're right, NYC is a target, BECAUSE this is the greatest place to live in the world. My 12-year old son gave thanks for the opportunities we provide for him. He gets it, why don't you? I'm not suggesting we ignore the threats here, but I am imploring you to recognize how lucky we are to live in the relative safety.
My heart goes out to the families of those who died in these attacks. And before the haters start in again, please show some sensitivity. these people were hunted because they were jews. Before you think about Israel-bashing, consider if the Israeli government supports and encourages open season on specific groups, the way jews have been specifically targeted all these years. Shame on you for suggesting NY is a target because the US supports Israel.
@r1b2, et al.
sure, many of us who live in nyc should be or are thankful we live in a place like this and be with loved ones in peace, but don't forget that there are plenty out there who do not feel or get the respect or love they should be getting.
just ask those that get the stop-n-frisk dance from the nypd or the driving-while-black pullover, etc. even on their way to thanksgiving gatherings.
just sayin'........
@peanuthead, you are unfortunately absolutely correct. The other evening I saw a group of about 7 police officers in front of my home in downtown Brooklyn. I asked what was going on, as there was a bunch of activity earlier in the week around a double shooting (Hoyt Street.) They said they saw someone who matched a profile. There I was, white, middle-aged, in a suit, and all too painfully aware of the imbalance in the city. I am the beneficiary of some terrible history. I am never profiled. I ahte living in a city where I walk into a sandwich shop with my kids and the counter healp is never white like we are. There is still too much homelessness, too much hunger.
But it's better than it was, better than it's ever been, and getting better all the time. I was born in the days befroe the civil rights amendment. I never would have been exposed to segregation growing up here in the North, but it was a reality in my youth. Today we have a president-elect who is not a white man. This is not meet the new boss, same as the old boss. If nothing else, it's important to be thankful for CHANGE.
a very incoherent statement, rolltide23. you make me so proud to be from alabama.
I can never get too broken hearted when religious fundamentalists die. First of all, it's what they want. They want to be with their 'god.' So off they go then I guess. Now there's less time for them to fuck up the planet some of us care about living on. And I guess that leads to the second reason. They fuck up MY shit. They change laws, resist social change, cause war, cause suffering and even if THIS particular one never started a war he is an enabler of an institution who seeks the destruction of mankind.
"As we raised our glasses and gave thanks before our dinner yesterday, I discussed these current events with my kids. We should all be thankful we live in a city where we can be with loved ones in peace, and we should all take a moment to think of those in the world who live in fear and danger."
you must not live in NYC...
They were expecting attacks to take place in NYC as well.
Why the heck did it take the Indian govt so long to mobilize its special forces? I mean the army didn't even get there for NINE hours.
#28, you don't just drop in a team on a rooftop minutes into a hostage situation like you see in the movies. The SF teams need to plan an assault - get the layout of the buildings, estimate the number of hostages, try to determine the number of terrorists involved and their location in the building, try to get intelligence from those inside, and memorize and rehearse the assault plan.
Nine hours actually seems goddamn fast given the scope and spread of the attacks. In comparison, in 1980 British special forces teams didn't assault the Iranian embassy for SIX DAYS into the situation.
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
#1 I was thinking the same thing.
I'm not talking 9 hours to stage a rescue - that took 30 hours. They didn't bring the army to Mumbai for 9 hours and when they got there, they had not yet been briefed on anything. The whole operation was a clusterfuck.
"However, it took a while before the National Security Guards and naval commandos in the city were pressed into action. What explains such delay? Was it a multiplicity of commands or plain bureaucratic lethargy? The point is even in circumstances when personnel and infrastructure are available, planning and execution are shockingly poor. "
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/EDIT_Its_War/articleshow/3766472.cms
How come no Muslim clergyman ever condemns these murderers?
Did anyone notice those flocks of birds flying around the Taj Hotel during its Mumbai seige? They were hoping the terrorists would target Zoroastrians so they could pig out on all the yummy human carrion.