Rabbi & Wife Among Dead in Mumbai Terrorist Attack

The last thirty hours or so have been very pleasant. My roommate invited me to his parents' home in West Hartford, Connecticut where we had an enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner. Today, my roomie drove me around Hartford and into Western Massachusetts where we visited Amherst and drove past South Hadley and Northampton.

As enjoyable as this respite has been I knew there was more fallout in Mumbai. While listening to news on NPR it came to my attention that the terrorists had targeted Jews. Today, I learned that they specifically targeted the Chabad-Lubavitch Center in Mumbai and Indian commandoes found six people dead inside including their directors Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, Rivkah. Make no mistake. Jihad, wherever it might take place, is going to target Jews.

What happened in India seems so far away from New England. Yet it isn't. Two of the four hijacked planes on 9/11 took off from Logan International in Boston. I can only hope the incoming Obama Administration is wise not to take on a September 10th mentality to terrorism. Yet when the Obama Administration pins their hopes on allies to fight terror who are unwilling to bear arms to defend themselves it does not inspire confidence. The events of Mumbai are an indication that President Obama will be tested in his Presidency sooner rather than later.

If there is one silver lining in all of this it is that the Holtzberg's son, Moshe, was rescued yesterday by one of the center's employees. On the other hand, Moshe Holtzberg turns two tomorrow without a mother and a father.