Daily Archives: December 10, 2008

Outpouring of Emotion Seeks to Make Sense of Mumbai Tragedy

BROOKLYN, NY — Perusing the more than 600 reflections submitted by readers to Chabad.org in the days after India’s worst terrorist attack, one thing becomes clear: In the course of their short lives, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg – the directors of the Chabad-Lubavitch center in Mumbai whose bodies and those of four other victims were recovered the night of Nov. 28 – managed to touch many lives.

Behind Chabad Fundraising, A Stealth Security Campaign

NEW YORK, NY — In the weeks since the Mumbai terrorist attack, the Chabad movement has directed contributions from supporters primarily to two campaigns: One to aid the child whose emissary parents were slain, and another to rebuild the badly damaged outreach center and re-establish operations there, which could cost as much as $1 million, according to a Chabad estimate.

But at the same time, some Chabad leaders are acting on their own to secure funds and resources to make dozens of Chabad houses in far-flung outposts safer.

A group of emissaries in southeast Asia, led by Rabbi Yosef Kantor, who is based in Bangkok, Thailand, has launched a campaign aimed at improving security at their centers, and distributed donation cards at Lubavitch world headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, last week.

Father of the Jewish Internet – 10 Years to his Passing

In honor of the tenth yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (“YY”) Kazen, of blessed memory, on the 12th of Kislev (December 9th, 2008), Chabad.org unveiled a special section to memorialize its legendary founder.

Well before most people – or any Jewish organization – knew of its use or potential, Rabbi Kazen used the fledgling internet to reach Jews throughout the world. Many were profoundly touched by YYK in those early years when he pioneered Chabad In Cyberspace – later to become Chabad.org – when he rightfully earned the title: “Father of the Jewish Internet.”