Ronald S. Lauder
Photo: Michael Thaidigsmann
The president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), Ronald S. Lauder, has condemned the series of attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai which left over 190 people dead. "We offer the Indian people our heartfelt condolences and our full support in their struggle against terrorism, and we pray for the speedy recovery of all those who were injured in the attacks," Lauder stated. On behalf of world Jewry, he also expressed grief for the members of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg of Brooklyn and his wife Rikva, who were murdered in the Jewish center of Mumbai along with several Israeli citizens. "Once again, Jews were explicitly targeted by these Islamist terrorists. The Chabad House in Mumbai was neither a military nor a governmental institution. It was a peaceful house of prayer, of meeting and of celebration for Jewish visitors to the city. We mourn those who were murdered at the Chabad center, and we are grateful that 2-year-old Moshe Holtzberg was saved by a courageous worker there, Sandra Samuel. The Talmud says that whoever saves a single life saves the whole world," the WJC president pointed out.
The chairman of the WJC Governing Board, Matthew Bronfman, said that the attacks in Mumbai were a stark reminder that extremism, fundamentalism and terrorism were a concern for everybody in the world, irrespective of their country, race, religion, fortune or political orientation, and that consequently, the international community needs to improve its efforts to combat it. "If the world continues to be divided on how to deal with terrorists and with those who surreptitiously support or finance such vicious attacks, no doubt we will see more such attacks," Bronfman said. He called on Muslim countries and organizations to wholeheartedly condemn the attacks and to make the fight against terrorism and Islamist fundamentalism their top priority.
