KATAMANDU, Nepal — Chani Lifshitz, Chabad representative in Katamandu, Nepal, wrote a letter to her close friend, Rivkah Holtzberg, following the tragedy in Mumbai. Lubavitch.com presents a translation from the Hebrew that appeared in the Israeli paper, Yediot Achronot.
I’m Still Waiting For You, Rivki
KATAMANDU, Nepal — Chani Lifshitz, Chabad representative in Katamandu, Nepal, wrote a letter to her close friend, Rivkah Holtzberg, following the tragedy in Mumbai. Lubavitch.com presents a translation from the Hebrew that appeared in the Israeli paper, Yediot Achronot.
“Write,” you told me only two hours and ten minutes before they entered your home. “It’s been a long time since you wrote anything about shlichus,” you noted. “Write something, Chani, for me!”
So I’m writing you, Rivki. For you, my confidant for the last four years.
Only for you, my twin soul.
The tears burn my hands. My heart is torn into small pieces. The screen is a blur. Yet I write, because you asked. After all, when did we ever say no to each other? My Messenger is open, as usual. Yours suddenly went blank. Where are you, Rivki? I’m waiting for you to connect. It’s been three days since we last spoke, and for us that’s like forever. I began the morning with you, I ended the day with you, and I have so much to tell you. Where are you, Rivki? You can’t suddenly disappear on me. This is not what we agreed upon. We’re supposed to be together in this. You and I. It can’t be that you have forgotten. You never forget.
Four hours after we spoke for the last time, my husband, Chezki, quietly woke me. “Don’t panic, but . . . something happened in India,” he whispered gently, knowing the special bond between us. “Something is happening in Bombay . . . let’s check if they’re all right.”
The stars studded the night sky while I left a message on your answering machine every hour on the hour. Dawn rose between the narrow lanes, and with it the worry. Drops of dew coursed down my window and my messages cried and pleaded together with them (“Rivki, answer me, please. Answer the phone. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Please!”)
very imp
we always talk achdus
we must HAVE achdus – action!
“mishichist” or “anti”, lets all be together
b’chdus!!
then moshiach will definitely come
wow!
i have no words, but tears. my heart is crying out in pain, oh g-d help us!
aMommy
That was beautiful….what tears I cry.
ER
Enough!
CH resident
A big thank you to all the shluchim and shluchos. Hashem should please protect you and bring the geula shlaima now. Ad mosai?!
mother of shluchim
Beautiful. Too beautiful. Too much. How can the Aibishter stand it? Moshiach–achdus now.
Brocha
Of course the tragedy has been all-consuming for us all. But as a woman, as a shlucha – nothing quite speaks to me the way that Chani’s sentiments do. Just devastating.
It really brings the story home, makes Rivki so real.
Where are you Rivki? Where are you Moshiach?
BCM
TJ
ACHDUS is definitely a key factor in ending all this pain and terror…..ACHDUS is one of the 10 Mivtzoim, right up there with Tefillin, Kashrus, Mezuzah, Taharas Hamishpacha, etc….We Chabadniks are great about the other 9 Mivtzoim, and we MUST polish up on the ACHDUS part, it’s just as important as the other 9, it often gets put on the back burner, we can’t just forget the Mivtza of AHAVAS YISROEL, and c“v let it fall to the bottom of our list of priorities, because EVERY SINGLE MIVTZA IS IMPORTANT……About Ahavas Yisroel it say: ”Zeh Klal Gadol Batorah”!
NOW IS THE TIME TO FORGET WHAT DIVIDES US, AND TO REMEMBER WHAT UNITES US! After all this terror, we see that we’re all Yidden, and though there are many types….Lubavitch, anti, mishichist, satmar, bobov, modern orthodox, not frum…..and the list goes on…..we must act like who we really are: ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO LOVE EACH OTHER, no matter what type of jew.
I love my family, all of you.
With heartfelt prayers for Moshiach Now, to end the indescribable pain.
ACHDUS IS THE KEY
we must all have achdus and bring moshiach now!!!!!!!
a c.h.er
TJ – very well said!! All should take heart & we’ll be zoche to have the geula NOW!!