Dear Friends,
You may have heard the sad, horrifying news about Rabbi Zvi Kogan - Zvi ben Alexander HaKohen, a fellow Chabad Rabbi, 28 years-old, who was murdered by Islamic terrorists after being kidnapped on Thursday in Dubai, while serving the Jewish community in the UAE.
Ever since the signing of the Abraham Accords peace deal with Israel, the Emirates has seen its Jewish population grow exponentially. There have been shuls opened, the first Jewish education center in the Gulf, and a wide selection of kosher food.
Rabbi Zvi and his wife Rebbtzin Rivky Kogan soon moved on Shlichus and lived in Abu Dhabi. She taught in the school while he operated the Rimon Kosher supermarket in Dubai, the city that drew most of the tourists and visitors.
“He was a cheerful person who never said ‘no’ to anyone, always helping and assisting everyone,” a friend of his said. “Every person would leave him feeling better; he always knew how to guide and assist. He was a modest individual who honored his parents in a remarkable way, a truly G-d-fearing person who always remained humble and grateful.”
Our hearts go out to Tzvi’s family and wish them strength and comfort. As we keep sending strength and comfort to our brother and sisters in Israel, to all the families of the murdered, the wounded, the hostages, the heroic soldiers of IDF.
Thank you to all who have reached out to us, as fellow Chabad Shluchim in a more ‘remote – exotic’ location, with empathy, compassion and concern. You love and care mean so much to us and give us strength at this trying time.
For me personally, this reawakens the searing memories of the treacherous attacks on the Chabad House of Mumbai, (sixteen years ago on November 26). It was then, after the horrific murder of our colleagues, that we started to implement security protocols at all our Jewish Thailand locations. This current development and general climate of anti-Semitic hatred, calls for further review and strengthening of security arrangements.
That attack in Mumbai was around the time of the international conference of Chabad Shluchim. This current tragic loss is just a few days before this year’s annual conference.
The Rebbe repeatedly reminded us that darkness is banished by light, fear is dispelled by acts of connection to G-d and that above all, Jewish life must be celebrated and fulfilled joyously.
My colleagues and I will recommit ourselves to returning to our countries, cities and communities and adding light and positive energy of Torah and Yiddishkeit even more than before. (Parts of the conference will be streamed live, more details in my weekly email).
Friends, there is a worldwide effort to delegitimize, instill fear, and destroy the Jewish people in Israel and everywhere and this is not a time to stand by.
We must all take the necessary precautions, ensure that our security protocols are up to date and be proactive about our rights to live openly as Jews without fear and without danger.
And we must keep our unwavering trust and faith in Hashem ironclad and vibrant.
This has been a very difficult period for the Jewish people.
The horrific attack on October 7th, and the subsequent multi-front war in which we have lost hundreds of IDF soldiers, the holiest of our people, who stand between the Jewish People and those who seek our annihilation. We have also lost innocent civilians who have been killed in rocket attacks and other terror attacks in Israel. 88,000 or so are still displaced from their homes, too many thousands wounded - physically, and so many more emotionally, mentally, psychologically, etc. We continue to pray for the welfare of the captives and their immediate return, in safety and enduring security, as well the as the overwhelming success of those who are putting their life on the line to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish people and all who live in Israel.
As a peaceful nation, with a Torah of peace, we seek peace for all, and we look forward to a time very soon when there will be goodness and kindness for all of mankind. We are all created in G-d's image, and we all deserve dignity and peace.
Please take the time to connect to your Judaism today in some way. Put on tefillin, give tzedakah and random acts of kindness, to study some of the Torah portion or to read a Psalm, and to strengthen your connection to other people or do any other mitzvah of your choice. Now is the time to commit yourself to Jewish UNITY and think of one way in which you can personally stand up to say: I am my brother's keeper, and I will do something about it.
Our hearts go out to Tzvi’s family and wish them strength and comfort.
As we keep sending strength and comfort to our brother and sisters in Israel, to all the families of the murdered, the wounded, the hostages, the heroic soldiers of IDF.
We will mourn, we will cry, but more importantly, we will re-energize and shine brighter than ever before.
Zvi - as so many of our brothers and sisters - lived heroically fighting against evil and hate. We must continue your legacy of serving the Jewish people with love and dedication, bringing G-dliness, morality, and kindness to the world, leading to the day when we will see the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Torah, the day when peace will come to our world and all evil will cease--may it be soon.
With best wishes for only the best and happiest of news in the future, and we say to Hashem - Ad Mosai, until when? Enough is enough, its time for all the promises to our ancestors to be fulfilled in reality!
Shavua Tov - may you have a bright, blessed, and good week going forward,
Rabbi Yosef Kantor