In The Darkest Places Pure Light Shines
BANGALORE, India [CHI] — Chanukah parties in the Chabad House in Bangalore was celebrated throughout the eight nights with a wide variety of people in attendance, including businessmen, students as well as families and children. But the special story of finding a lone Jew, who has been in India for more than 40 years, particularly brightened the local Shluchims Chanukah.
This amazing story took place over Chanukah, and it all began with a short email which told the local Shluchim about a Jewish American woman who has been living in India for over 40 years. After a traumatizing incident this woman fled her family and homeland, and joined a cult. She had not been in touch with her family for over 30 years.
Recently the woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and she got in touch with only daughter and expressed her desire to receive a proper Jewish burial.
“And this is how we found this lone Jew” tells Rabbi Tzvi Rivkin, director of the local Chabad House “we went to visit the woman with a group of Jews, we heard her story and lit the Menorah with her, and together we celebrated Chanukah with her.”
A special thanks goes to Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky for the support that he gives all year round to the Chabad House.
Chabad-Lubavitch of Bangalore is run by Rabbi Tzvi and Noa Rivkin. Click Here to visit their website and support these Shluchim!
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BRACHA VE HATZLACHA to these people, the shluchim and the guests.
Anonymous
B”H
Chen! Chen! G-d should bless this young couple for their spiritual strength, fortitude and Ahavat Yisroel, to leave their families, comforts of home,et. al to do the Rebbe’s work!!!
forever grateful
This brief account only hints at the amazing mesiros nefesh of Rabbi and Rebetzin Rivkin. Without the Rivkins, this “lost” Jew would have died as sadly as she lived, and she would have been cremated as a Hindu. The Rivkins touched her heart and her neshama. She said that the few days before she died brought her the greatest joy of her entire life–because of the Rivkins. How do I know? She was my mother.
ship mate
May HaShem grant Rabbi and Rebetzin Rivkin abundant brocha and hatzlocha for the great mitzvos they did. To help this woman do tshuva at the end of her life and to provide a kosher tahara and kevura with a minyan. Ashreichem! All of klal Yisroel owes them a debt of gratitude – we’re all on the same ship.
The lone Jews grandchild
Thank you Rabbi Rivkin she was my grandmother. My mother told me all the amazing selfless things you did to help her and its unbelievable that a person would do all this for a person and family he did’nt know.
A friend
How wonderful that the children of this lost Jew were able to find the compassion to help her in her request, after she had fled her family so many years ago.
And how wonderful to have the technology to arrange for her care at such a long distance! It is a great testimony to the strength of their hearts and desire to honor her wishes, no matter that she had lived her life without them.
Working together to make a person’s last days a comfort to them through respecting and fulfilling their last wishes. She was blessed, indeed, at having the opportunity to return to her familiar roots after a lifetime of exploration in India.