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Jews refuse house to new rabbi

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After the death of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who headed Mumbai's Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish center that worked from the Nariman House in Mumbai, his successor [Rabbi Dovber Goldberg, (and his wife] Ryvka Liba?) are now looking for a safe new place to restart its activities, sources said.

Holtzberg, an American, and his Israeli wife Rivka were killed in the terrorist attack on the Nariman House, on November 26.

“The rabbi has approached a few local Jewish bodies asking for a safe place to house the centre,” said a source, who did not want to be named.

However, Mumbai’s Jewish community, which has so far said the attack was not on the Jews but on foreigners, has refused to give space to the ultra orthodox Jews affiliated to the Chabad movement.

“We do not want to invite trouble,” said Solomon Sopher, chairman of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity trust. “We have lived here peacefully for over 200 years without any kind of attack,” he added.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=29877c70-8024-4de5-a516-2b8ef9a252b8

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These "Mumbai Jews" on the one hand say that the attack was against foreigners not Jews and on the other say they don"t want to invite trouble by assisting Chabad. They can"t have it both ways - either the attack was against Jews (which of course it was) in which case their reticence is understandable if not agreeable or it wasn"t in which case why deny assistance. They remind me of Muslims who blame America and Israel for 9/11 yet at the same time celebrate the event as a victory against the infidels. Happy Chanukah

Posted by Deers on 2008-12-22 04:16:25 GMT

It is well known that the response by the Indian police etc to the attack was slow, indecisive and perhaps as already suggested, even cowardly. It took days for them to respond appropriately to the scene in the Chabad house. By then it was too late to save all. Fortunately, Moshele was saved thanks to the heroism of that wonderful assistant of Rivki"s HYD!

Posted by SM on 2008-12-20 22:22:48 GMT

Addendum: I heard a first person interview with an Indian photographer on the scene. He said the police ran away, even as he urged them to shoot. 10 fanatics killed almost 200 - cowards all? or co-conspirators - some?

Posted by Roberta on 2008-12-20 21:57:51 GMT

I heard that this report from the Hindustan Times is not reliable. In fact throughout the actual time of the terrorist attacks thier reports were unsubstantiated and incorrect. I now wonder if the Mumbai Jewish community actually refused assistance to help find accommodation for the new rabbi.

Posted by SM on 2008-12-20 20:30:19 GMT

MM"s assessment is probably based on general media accounts. They did not report that the Islamic terrorists SOUGHT OUT and in fact had stayed at the Chabad House to get familiar with its layout. Israelis and other traveling Jews very often were hosted in that location. With only ONE Jewish facility in the entire region it was one of the prime targets. This was not a random choice, it was a specific choice, and evidence proves Rabbi Gavriel & Rivkah Holtzberg were tortured before dying.

Posted by Roberta on 2008-12-19 21:18:03 GMT

Roberta, you are so right.The aim of the terrorists is to bring fear and terror to the entire western world, men, women and children. No matter where.Shall the western world be non responsive? Hardly!

Posted on 2008-12-18 21:30:58 GMT

It is understandable that the locals feel fear. They are wrong, however, that they are safe because their 200 year history has proven this. Islamic terror attacks are our new reality. The Chabad House guard had no weapons. Now I know why guns are necessary. Islamic insanity has made it a fearsome world.

Posted by Roberta on 2008-12-18 21:10:47 GMT

Of course the rabbi won"t give up. The locals probably rely a lot on the visitors who come to Mumnbai for trade or otherwise. Chabad houses provide a venue for these travellers in a manner that no one else does, as has been described worldwide.Locals benefit from these Chabad havens as well. To help them would be helping themselves.

Posted on 2008-12-18 20:12:13 GMT

This will definitley be considered as a victory by the terrorists. They started it and the Jews like Solomon Sopher will finish it. Is the rest of the Jewish world silent??? Burn down a synagogue and don"t dare to rebuild it because " we do not want to invite trouble"? Shame Shame Shame.

Posted by Disgusted on 2008-12-18 11:32:28 GMT

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Posted by Leonid on 2008-12-18 10:50:18 GMT

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