Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg
Reproduction photo: Hagai Aharon
Mumbai Chabad house before attack
Photo: COL.ORG.IL
Commandos charge Chabad house
Photo: AFP
Chabad: Holtzberg couple killed in Mumbai
Lubavitch movement in NY confirms couple in charge of Mumbai Chabad center killed along with four other hostages before Indian commando overtook building ravaged by terrorists
The Chabad-Lubavitch movement in NY confirmed that Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, were murdered along with four other hostages in the terror attack on the Chabad house in Mumbai.
Initial Reports
Indian CNN television channel reports operation at Jewish center concludes as commandos take over building, killing all terrorists on site. Five bodies of hostages found, believed to include those of rabbi and wife
The bodies of five hostages were found by Indian security forces on Friday after commando troops attacked gunmen at the Jewish center run by the couple. A few hours later the Foreign Ministry reported that another body had been found in the house.
Commando forces overran the building, killing all of the terrorists within. The operation lasted over 24 hours, and at its end the six bodies were taken to the hospital for identification.
Gavriel and Rivka, aged 29 and 26 respectively, first arrived in Mumbai as Chabad emissaries five years ago, after completing a mission in Thailand. They resided in the house together with their 2-year old son, Moshe, who was rescued from the attack by his nanny.
Gavriel Holtzberg grew up in Brooklyn, NY, where his parents still reside. They arrived in Israel Friday morning, before reports of the tragedy were released. The bodies of Gavriel and Rivka were identified a few hours after the commando operation had come to an end.
Frida, Gavriel's mother, told of the couple's commitment to the Chabad center in Mumbai. "There is no other couple like them, they did so much for strangers," she said. "They helped people with money, with everything they could. They gave themselves completely to others."
Rivka's parents, who reside in Afula, left for Mumbai earlier this week together with a ZAKA party that included a doctor, a paramedic, and four aids. They were reunited with their grandchild, Moshe, and now plan to return with him to Israel.
