Dear Friends,
There are no words!
Our hearts are broken.
So devastating, and painful to hear the news of the murder of our dear colleague in Dubai, Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Zvi ben Alexander HaKohen, who, at just 28 years old, was tragically murdered by barbaric terrorists after being kidnapped on Thursday in Dubai. Zvi and his wife, Rivky, were dedicated members of the Chabad team in the UAE, bringing love and light to their community.
The pain and shock run unimaginably deep. It has left us all shaken.
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 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, with empathy, compassion and concern. Your love and care mean so much to us and give us strength at this trying time.
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 adding light and positive energy of Torah and Yiddishkeit even more than before.
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.
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. Please consider doing a Mitzva in his memory https://onemitzvah.org/tzvi
Our hearts go out to Tzvi’s family and wish them strength and comfort.
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 with love and dedication, bringing G-dliness, morality, and kindness to the world.
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 Fishel & Ettie Zaklos