Spring Break
Candlelight vigil honors Mumbai victims
By: Madiha Rizvi
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: News
The Chabad Jewish Center in College Station had a vigil to commemorate victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai Friday by lighting candles in their honor.
Participants hoped the light of each candle could dispel the darkness created by the terrorist attacks. The attacks from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29 left at least 174 people dead and more than 239 injured. It has been said by many this is India's 9/11.
Among the casualties were Rabbi Gavriel Holzberg and his wife Rivkah, who had established a Chabad Center catering to the needs of Jews in Mumbai.
"Chabad [Center] is where every Jew is welcome. It is a haven for them and this special couple reached out to a community," said Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, one of the co-directors of the Chabad Center in College Station.
Some students said it hit them very hard because they considered members of the Chabad Center their extended family.
"Chabad is almost like a second home to me," said Kate Putnam, a sophomore political science major. "It [Mumbai] is really far away and there is not much of our Jewish population there but they were like my family. They are part of us."
The Chabad Center teamed up with the Indian Student Association to sign mitzvahs, which literally translates to "commandment used to connote a good deed."
"We [Chabad Center, India Association, Indian Student Association] made students sign yellow pledge forms where they have promised to do a good deed, a mitzvah," Yossi said.
The yellow pledge forms were displayed on one of the walls of the Chabad Jewish Center. They will be sent to the Holzbergs' son.
"All these are going to their son, Moishe'le Holzberg," said Manya Lazaroff, co-director of the College Station Chabad Center. "The only way to counteract random hatred is random kindness."
Kevin Bell, an international affairs graduate student, said what happened was terrible, but revenge was not the way out of the problem.
"Instead of lashing out and demanding revenge, it is better to do good deeds," Bell said.
Some students said it was important to hear what the terrorists were asking for.
"These attacks were a symbol of hatred and miscommunication. The same effect of us [Indians] hearing their needs and wants could be addressed without the violence and hatred," said Divya Srinivasan, a junior finance major.
In addition to the Chabad Jewish Center's vigil, the India Association, a graduate student group, had a candlelight vigil on Tuesday to condemn the attacks and light candles for peace.
Participants hoped the light of each candle could dispel the darkness created by the terrorist attacks. The attacks from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29 left at least 174 people dead and more than 239 injured. It has been said by many this is India's 9/11.
Among the casualties were Rabbi Gavriel Holzberg and his wife Rivkah, who had established a Chabad Center catering to the needs of Jews in Mumbai.
"Chabad [Center] is where every Jew is welcome. It is a haven for them and this special couple reached out to a community," said Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, one of the co-directors of the Chabad Center in College Station.
Some students said it hit them very hard because they considered members of the Chabad Center their extended family.
"Chabad is almost like a second home to me," said Kate Putnam, a sophomore political science major. "It [Mumbai] is really far away and there is not much of our Jewish population there but they were like my family. They are part of us."
The Chabad Center teamed up with the Indian Student Association to sign mitzvahs, which literally translates to "commandment used to connote a good deed."
"We [Chabad Center, India Association, Indian Student Association] made students sign yellow pledge forms where they have promised to do a good deed, a mitzvah," Yossi said.
The yellow pledge forms were displayed on one of the walls of the Chabad Jewish Center. They will be sent to the Holzbergs' son.
"All these are going to their son, Moishe'le Holzberg," said Manya Lazaroff, co-director of the College Station Chabad Center. "The only way to counteract random hatred is random kindness."
Kevin Bell, an international affairs graduate student, said what happened was terrible, but revenge was not the way out of the problem.
"Instead of lashing out and demanding revenge, it is better to do good deeds," Bell said.
Some students said it was important to hear what the terrorists were asking for.
"These attacks were a symbol of hatred and miscommunication. The same effect of us [Indians] hearing their needs and wants could be addressed without the violence and hatred," said Divya Srinivasan, a junior finance major.
In addition to the Chabad Jewish Center's vigil, the India Association, a graduate student group, had a candlelight vigil on Tuesday to condemn the attacks and light candles for peace.
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