Swampscott memorial service to remember rabbis slain in terror attack

SWAMPSCOTT – North Shore rabbis and their congregation members will gather in Swampscott today to mourn the loss of two colleagues who were among those murdered in last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg were slain by terrorists during an assault that left more than 200 dead.The Holtzbergs had deep connections to Chabad rabbis in the Boston area, many of whom studied with them at Chabad institutions in New York and in Israel.Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, director of Chabad of the North Shore, knew the Holtzberg family well.”We have truly lost our finest,” he said. “Since 2003, Gavriel and Rivah directed a thriving hub of spirituality and kindness, with a Chabad center that serviced thousands of tourists and business people, as well as the local Jewish community.”The memorial service at 44 Burrill St. begins at 7:30 p.m.Traditionally, in times of sorrow, the community comes together in a show of solidarity, said Peter Nathan, president of Chabad of the North Shore. The public and the media are invited to attend and share in this moment of reflection and remembrance, he said.Chabad representatives in Swampscott and Peabody will be among those mourning the loss.”The harrowing events have elicited prayers and heartfelt tears from every sector of our community,” says Rabbi Nechemia Schusterman, director of Chabad of Peabody.Upon confirmation of the tragic end to the three-day ordeal, Boston area Chabad representatives asked their communities to honor the wishes of the family of Rivkah Holtzberg and light Sabbath candles before sundown on Friday. Hundreds of responses poured in. “I gathered my family and we lit candles together,” said Wendy Polins of Swampscott. “In a darkened world, we must respond with light.”At least six bodies were found at the Nariman Chabad Center, including those of four Israelis. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the families of the victims of this heinous act of terror and we pray for the recovery of all of the wounded,” said Lipsker.The Holtzberg’s toddler son, Moshe, was heroically rescued by his nanny and marked his second birthday yesterday, in India, with his grandparents. A special fund has been set up for the boy and his younger brother, who is sadly ill and living in Israel.Contributions in support of the family can be made online at www.nsjewish.com.According to Nathan, many North Shore residents learned of the tragedy and the planned Swampscott memorial service through the Chabad of the North Shore email list, or through another list dispatched by the North Shore Jewish Federation. Chabad sources indicated that an ELAL flight has left Israel to retrieve the bodies and that the funerals will be held today, he said.In addition to attending today’s memorial service, the North Shore community is asked to respond to the Mitzvah Memorial, using the “submit your mitzvah” link at www.nsjewish.com and pledge acts of goodness in memory of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg, Nathan said.