Posted to Chabad News on

Barak Obama during his visits to Sderot, with the letter expressing his condolences, inset.

WASHINGTON, DC [JTA] — Barack Obama sent condolences to the Chabad-Lubavitch community on the slayings of its emissaries in Mumbai.

Full letter in the Extended Article.

Obama Sends Condolences to Chabad

Barak Obama during his visits to Sderot, with the letter expressing his condolences, inset.

WASHINGTON, DC [JTA] — Barack Obama sent condolences to the Chabad-Lubavitch community on the slayings of its emissaries in Mumbai.

Full letter in the Extended Article.

Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg “were taken from us by terrorists with no regard for human life, and we must remain steadfast in support of efforts to bring the perpetrators of these acts to justice,” the president-elect wrote in a letter sent to Chabad of Illinois director Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz in advance of a Chicago event that was held Wednesday in memory of the Mumbai victims.

“As you mourn and remember those we lost, you should know that so many Americans share your grief and pain,” Obama wrote. “May their memories be a blessing.”

The Holtzbergs were among six Jewish victims killed last week in the Mumbai Chabad House during a spate of terrorist attacks in the Indian city.

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29 Comments

  • Good Morning Barack

    Nice of him to wake up. If anyone listened to his press confrence on security several days ago, he made but one fleeting passing remark about how we will be more resilient than the terrorists. No condolences. No outrage. No plan. Nothing but a few words.

  • did anyone expect better from him?

    I’m surprised he bothered. If it takes him a week to respond verbally to such an atrocity, G-d only knows how long it will take him to find the red phone in the middle of the night.

  • Gershon

    is that all he has to share?
    no duh they should be taken into justice. firstly they’re dead and secondly he’s saying what bush said (but in a stupider way)

  • c-mon, grow up

    He has responded in a timely fashion – the family is now sitting shiva. Other matters occupy his attention, folks, not just Mumbai.

  • annoyed at obama shlama

    someone must have told him something. i was wondering when the heck he was gonna wake up. his words are too late though

  • Levi

    Boy the comments here are so cynical.
    He is the President-elect, not the President, and is not responsible to address every community whos son or daughter has been a victim of terrorism, otherwise George Bush would have spent the last 7 years writing letters.
    He reaches out to this community by writing a thoughtful letter, and all people can do is complain? Give the guy a break.

  • READER

    WHY ARE ALL OF YOU MAKING NASTY COMMENTS YOU ALL SOUND LIKE RACIST. WE ARE ORTHODOX JEW WE SHOULD ALL SOUND BETTER THAN WHAT MOST OF YOU PEOPLE SOUND LIKE

  • Eductaed

    To the first commenter, he had actually made several statements during the siege prior to monday. there was a statement from wednesday and again on friday. just because you were too busy fressing to notive doesnt mean it didnt happen. mondays conference was business that had to take place and he did what he had to.
    this is certainly not his first words on the matter and he gave specific detailed statements at least twice before that were released to the media.

  • California Chick

    everyone needs to chilll out!!!! seriously!! all these rumors are ridiculous! So ya OBAMA is gonna do america very well YIH! and NO he is not a terrorirst!! hes gonna do very well as our firs black president!

  • Viewer from afar

    You know what?! It seems to me that no one has even learned one thing from the Holtzbergs and their martyrdom. Please everyone stop the arguing, stop the Loshon Harah and please please try to focus on the positive that happens to all of us and the entire world, on a daily basis. We have seen that the impossible and incomprehensible can and does happen. Live each day, each moment in the way that would befit a decent human being. We take for granted the good middos that used to come so easily to us when we were innocent children. Now we are not so innocent, and not so quick to keep our good middos. Give the future generation of children, the understanding and tools they will need to ultimately bring Moshiach.

  • Gershon

    The reason why everyone is jumping on him is BECAUSE he is the president-elect and his time in office is about to begin.

    He should at least practice to be a president and if his nature is to pop up things late then-sorry everyone

  • give him a chance

    wow! everyone is so critical!
    all the guy did was send condolences, and he gets attacked! i understand you guys might not all love the guy, but when you go in with that attitude, you will find a fault with everything he does! why don’t you all go out of your little boxes of “not like Obama” and give him a fair chance! he deserves it..he did nothing wrong yet! seriously, grow up peoples! he did NOT have to send a letter, he did anyways..give him the credit he deserves! he’s going to be the president whether you like it or not–just work with what you’ve got!
    Moshiach Now!

  • Beverly Hills Princess

    To California “Chick” PUHLEEZ give me a break and come to your SENSES! Here let me help u out:
    1. Take a deep breath
    2. Think about what u just wrote
    3. Understand that what wrote is soooo moronic
    4. and GET A LIFE
    PS: G-d should help u

  • Change of Heart

    If anything, I’ve had a small change of heart for our President Elect. I did not vote for him, really did not like his style, his ideas etc. Now however, seeing that he took the time to send sincere condolences (and no it wasn’t late, he addressed the attach several times) I’m going to give this man a fair chance.

  • shmuel

    This guy creeps me out. a. it took him more a whole week to publish a statement b. he had to word the closing like an old Jewish Bubby -may their memory be a blessing…

    i don’t know, he just gives me the creeps.

  • meir

    “This guy creeps me out. a. it took him more a whole week to publish a statement b. he had to word the closing like an old Jewish Bubby -may their memory be a blessing…

    i don’t know, he just gives me the creeps.”

    great logic there

  • Ilana

    Do not speak LOSHON HARA! If you have something to say against Obama may it only be CONSTRUCTIVE! For those of us who did not vote for him, we should say that, God willing, he will live up to the hopes of those who did vote for him. There’s no use complaining now because he has already been elected!

  • oy

    shmuel you are wrong he issued multiple statments every day.
    this was a specific condolence letter to the chabad community during mourning.

  • DanG

    I think it is a very nice letter, and people are interpreting it based on their preconceptions. Here in America, we are fortunate to live in a democracy which guarantees rights to us to speak and live as Jews. Obama was elected fairly, he is the choice of the country where we choose to make our home. And so let us pray for hm to have judgment and strength as he faces the difficult issues ahead.

  • hello

    seriously what you guys are arguing about is so worthless! He is going to be our prsident weither you like it or not so you might as well fing the good in him. He didn’t have to write a letter. Even though it might not have been the best… etc!!!