Mumbai Horror: Rescue Workers Shocked by Chabad Massacre Site
MUMBAI, India — Israel Police forensic teams will be heading to Mumbai Sunday on an Air Force plane in order to offer their assistance in identifying the remaining bodies in the Chabad House massacre.
Officials are saying that eight or nine people were murdered at the Jewish center. Six bodies have been identified so far – five Israelis and a Jewish Mexican national.
More pictures in the Extended Article. (Graphic).
The names of the five Israeli victims have been cleared for publication:
Rivka Holtzberg
Gavriel Holtzberg
Leibish Teitlebaum
Bentzion Chroman
Yocheved Orpaz
Shuki Brif, a member of the ZAKA disaster victim identification force sent to Mumbai, recounted the horrifying scenes at the site of the massacre.
“When we entered the Chabad House, we saw a home completely ruined by hand grenades. The building was completely destroyed and we saw live grenades on the floor. It was a shocking sight. Prayer books and many other objects were all over the place. It was a shocking sight even for a veteran ZAKA member.”
“The bodies of the rabbi and the kashrut observers were in one room. Two more bodies were bound with phone cords,” Brif said. “The body of the rabbi’s wife was draped in a prayer shawl. We estimate that she died earlier, and the rabbi covered her. We removed the bodies that could be removed. Later, security forces continued to neutralize the explosives, and only after that we continued to remove the bodies.
ZAKA members say they insisted that the bodies would not be subjected to an autopsy. ”We explained to the Indians how important it was for us not to perform an autopsy and not to touch the bodies,“ one ZAKA official said. ”We were arguing over this until nighttime.“ For the time being, ZAKA members are staying at the massacre site to watch over the remaining bodies.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Ambassador to India Mark Sofer told Ynet about the difficult moments he experienced.
”We, and India as a whole, went through difficult days. The result is very grave for the Israelis and Jews who were murdered,“ he said. ”If I’m not mistaken, more Israelis were murdered than any other foreign nationality.“
”The most important thing for us is to complete the identification of the bodies,“ Sofer said, while praising the work of Israeli diplomatic officials in recent days.
”Everyone performed amazingly…even though they did not sleep for three days,“ he said. ”The two consul generals from Mumbai and Delhi traveled between hospitals constantly in order to look for Israelis. Later, they examined hundreds of bodies, including ones in very difficult condition, in order to identify Israelis. This isn’t an easy situation for anyone, and particularly for people who are not used to it.”
Adva Naftali and Roni Sofer contributed to the story
distraught
so horrific
we need Moshiach now!!!!!!
Other side of the world
Words fail me. Very interesting the Rebbe’s portrait is still in tack.:). any news about the Sefer Torah, is it safe???
debbie
As I looked at the bloodshed I also felt that this was holy ground-their shattered bodies could never take away from their pure souls and Gdliness. I hope and pray we can get strength to go on because we know this is what they would have wanted of us. How grief stricken we feel and shaken to the core.
From Lazer beams
Moyshel’e, You’re an Orphan
Moishele Moyshel’e Holtzberg (photo, left, AP via Jerusalem Post) keeps bleating like a little lamb, “Mommy” and “Totty.” But Mommy and Totty – Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rebbetzen Rivka – are no longer in the flesh, may Hashem avenge their sacred and martyred souls. The bitter word of their murder at the hands of bloodthirsty subhuman forces of darkness reached us in Israel as soon as we departed from the sacred Sabbath. Moyshel’e, with his irresistable belkalech (fleshy little cheeks) will soon celebrate his second birthday as an orphan.
Here is a list of Rabbi Gavriel’s and Rebbetzin Rivka’s “crimes”:
* The gave up a cushy living in the West to live in the primitive and difficult conditions of India.
* They dedicated their lives to Jewish Outreach.
* They devoted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to uplifting lost souls.
* They were Jewish.
* They were Lubavitcher Chassidim.
* They had American and Israeli passports.
People are already writing me and asking me what we can do to sanctify the memories of Rabbi Gavriel and Rebbetzen Rivka, may Hashem avenge their sacred and martyred souls. The answer is simple – continue their legacy. Do whatever you can for Jewish Outreach. If you’re not Jewish, then spread the seven Noahide commandments. Send links to leading Jewish websites to all your friends, family, and acquaintances, especially those who haven’t yet discovered the sweetness of emuna and a true and meaningful connection with Hashem. Help spread the word and hasten the full redemption of our people. This is the least we can do for the martyred Holtzbergs.
Moyshel’e, you’re an orphan. But when you grow up, you’ll realize that your parents helped make this world a better place. They were brave front-line soldiers in the war for redemption. One thing I can promise you – thousands of Jewish Outreach activists will raise your parents’ fallen torch. We won’t rest until Moshiach comes and Hashem revives the dead as He promised. Soon, G-d willing, your parents will return to take you in their loving arms, amen.
sh
I do not understand why anyone would celebrate the survival of the rebbes picture if the rebbes shluchim and guests did not survive this horrific ordeal
YY
PLEASE TAKE DOWN ‘THE LEAD PICTURE OF THE REBBE SURVIVING’
THIS IS MAKING A JOKE OF EVERYTHING. NO MIRACLES AND IREPEAT NO MIRACLES HAPPENED HERE (ASIDE FROM THE TWO YR OLD SON).
ME2
sh wrote:
I do not understand why anyone would celebrate the survival of the rebbes picture if the rebbes shluchim and guests did not survive this horrific ordeal
My thoughts exactly………………
Im confused by it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sad
if the rebbe pic stayed safe why couldnt the rebbes shluchim shluchim!!and btw i think i see a hand cut of in the corner of a pic its gross
thinking...
to sh- use it not as a celebration but rather as a sign that the rebbe is with us in all our hard times and good times watching us and taking care of us- yes G-d ha his plan for the world which we dont know and cant change but if there is something positive that can come out of tragedy than we have to take it and use it- thru out our existence we have been tried and tested and the way we pass these tests is to move on and celebrate life, be thankful everyday for what we have and to remember that we have to keep on going on so we can welcome our righteous moshiach-NOW!!
anonymous
Perhaps it is time to reevaluate the security of all chabad houses. and sending shluchim to bangalore or other places which are not stable. Or our reaction to an attack. How to fight…
lane
sh I totally agree with you- what is this supposed to signify?Look-look at the blood around. Look at the korbonos and someone is asking about the picture? I think the REBBE himself would ask this question and he must be weeping….at the bloodbath of his beloved flock.
Dovid
It seems that part of the mussar haskil we can take from this is based on the Indian people – Hodu in hebrew, meaning ‘praise’, is to eat and live more simply. When we eat a bread meal instead of tossed greens, or kal v’homer, sugary nosh, we need to better justify the indulgence.
They who understand, will comprehend.
The last Sacrifice, Moshiach now!
The Rebbe is taking care of us in these hard times More than
ever!.
Moshiach is MUCH closer. —-Unfortunately everyone is now
TALKING about CHABAD LUBAVITCH.
Every one is checking up what this “CHABAD” Stuff is.
Moshiach is closer than ever.
May their Neshomos be the LAST sacrifice and Moshiach come this instance!!
DDUUUHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Rebbes’s picture remained whole………This is very beautiful….although our shluchim were killed so tragically, the Rebbe was with them and holding their hands, taking them upstairs with him; the Rebbe needed THEIR help to bring moshiach NOW!!! We should all have the zchus of having the Rebbe with us when our time comes…but NEVER AGAIN so tragically….
Shua
Can people stop “celebrating” foolish things like “pic being saved”??
And, no it does not mean to show “The Rebbe is still looking after us”, that is Avodo Zoro.Plain and simple
.Hashem has no boundaries ,Hashem is looking over us.We cannot fathom out why and when something like this should have happened.
We need to work on Ahavas Yisroel, first and foremost and realize that in the terrorists book and plan there is no difference between any Yid, Lubavitch or Satmar or anyone else.Every single one of us would have been a target had we been there, and that ‘there’ can be anywhere…
Other side of the world
Can someone help me please, what arent I comprehending? sure its horrific and we all are deeply saddened and distaught, but doesnt the Rebbes picture surviving give you some hope?, Hes your Rebbe! Hes the one you looked up too and write letters to and have plastered all over CH, surely him picture suviving only gives comfort and hope, it doesnt distract from the horrific past days, nobody is saying, its better the Rebbes picture survived as opposed a young couple, what it says is in the darkness theres hope.
not right
I don’t think these pictures should be up.Its disrespectful for the souls that were lost,and of the family members.just imagine if it was your family.would you want to see such images?
Rochel
sh – i too thought the exact same thing. The survival of the Rebbe’s piture means nothing when juxtaposed to the horror of the sweet young couple who were murdered by those disgusting animals. Makes me sick. I am so sad for them. They did everything right. I know that HaShem has a plan. We need to wake up and realize the threat. We are so comfy and cozy in our own little bubbles. Well, the bubble should be burst by now. We need to take this seriously and do what we can to rid the world of the muslim threat to humanity. Amalek lives and we need to fulfill the Torah’s directive to abolish the Amalekites and all their possessions from the face of the earth. Moshiach NOW!!!!!!
BP yid
David, there is no place to mussar in this kehilla.
please remove pictures
i think the pictures are disrespectful to the family who is mourning and should be removed
YS-DP-UA
BS“D
Look at the Rebbe’s picture and remember that its presence in the Chabad House symbolizes the legacy of good that the Rebbe left behind and continues to inspire.
And then look at the disgusting work done by a band of two legged wild beasts who are capable of nothing but destruction.
These cowardly murderers did in destroying so much and in showing their true nature as they deprived an innocent baby of his parents whose whole life was about helping others.
Yet,the Rebbe’s picture remains as a message to us that the victory these beasts are undoubtedly celebrating over a glass of boiling acid in the nether reaches of Gehennom was a victory only in their deluded minds and perverted souls.
We will rebuild and continue to do good, whereas their only legacy is destruction and in the end, they destroyed themselves. In fact, they have enraged the world to the point that voices everywhere are crying out in the name of the kedoishim HY”D to wipe any future murderers and their disgusting ideology off the face of the earth once and for all.
Jewish Princess
All of us Yidden are together in this final battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil that will struggle in this final battle that will G-d willing bring Moshiach. We have known from our Prophets that we will face such struggles and that it is part of the Divine Plan. All of the kedoshim who perished in this battle are going to be in the highest levels of Gan Eden, and we hope to be reunited with them soon.
What’s all the argument about the Rebbe’s picture surviving intact? It is what it is; a sign of our Moshe Rabbeinu who will again lead us into Redemption.
There is not one Jew who can sit in an artificial bubble of false security, except for those of our brethren who are far removed from reality. Personally, my identification with the daily happenings in Eretz Yisrael is so deep that there is no comfort zone. Not the least of this is that I have a son who is now in intensive training in an elite IDF commando unit that he chose to join so that he could put his very self into the battle to save our people everywhere.
We are One Holy People and G-d protect us all!!
Dr. B
I see two meanings of the Rebbe’s picture surviving intact. First, I think it signifies the nitzchius of Chabad, that we will survive and outlast this attack on us (and I think that Gavriel and Rivkah HY”D, would be pleased that the Rebbe’s picture still stood. 2nd, on a more earthly level, I suspect for all the evil intent in their hearts, I thinking looking on the picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, they were afraid and left him alone.
s613
no it doesnt mean anything but if it comforts people let them think it…everyone needs to be comforted now and everyone is comforted in a different way
anonymous
It’s so sad
May Moshiach come now!!!!!
We need him right away!