By IANS,
Toronto : Outraged over the “barbaric” attacks in Mumbai, Canadian Jews have expressed their sympathy with the families of the victims who they said were singled out for hatred and terrorism.
In a joint statement, Jewish leaders of Chabad Lubavitch of Ontario province and B’nai Brith Canada also expressed their shock over the killing of hostages at the Chabad Jewish community centre.
They identified Mumbai’s Jewish spiritual leader Rabbi Gavriel Holzberg and his wife Rivka as among the victims of the terrorist carnage.
“Amidst the wider Mumbai tragedy, we note with concern the singling out for hatred and terrorism of the Chabad Orthodox Jewish centre,” the statement said.
“We are deeply saddened by the grim news of the murder of Jewish hostages at Mumbai’s Chabad religious institution, a vibrant Orthodox Jewish centre of learning and spirituality.
“As the nightmare of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai continues to unfold, we are mindful of how this situation impacts on us all with so many foreign nationals, including Canadians, who were murdered in these brutal attacks,” the statement said.
In another statement, Canadian Jewish spiritual leader Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum said, “Words cannot describe our deep and searing pain which pierces our hearts from the tragic and barbaric ending to the lives of innocent Jews and community leaders.”
The rabbi said, “We mourn the passing of Rabbi Gabriel and Rivka Holtzberg, among others, not merely as fellow Jews and colleagues but as family. The young Rabbi and Rebbetzin elected to serve in a remote small Jewish community, away from family, and conventional amenities most of us take for granted.”
A community memorial service for the victims will be held in Toronto Sunday where a scholarship will launched in memory of the Jewish couple’s orphaned son Moshe.