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December 02, 2008
The Horror Continues: Rivka Holtzberg ZT'L, Six Months Pregnant
Two-year old Moshe Tzvi Holtzberg, son of Rabbi Gavriel and
Rivka Holtzberg, May Their Blood be Avenged.
Photo: Reuters
Seraphic Secret is deeply sorry to add more anguish to this already horrific story, but it is now public knowledge that Rivka Holtzberg ZT'L, May Her Blood Be Avenged, was six months pregnant when she was tortured and murdered by the Islamo Nazis.
Her father broke the news during an emotional funeral service in Israel attended by thousands.
Rivka Holtzberg's pregnancy added to the intense sense of anguish felt across Israel at her death along with five other Jewish victims.
They died when the Chabad community house in Mumbai was targeted by armed gunmen.
Mourners walied as eulogies were delivered over the bodies of Mrs Holtzberg, 28, and her husband, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, 29, in the small village of Kfar Chabad near Tel Aviv.
The two bodies, wrapped in blue and white prayer shawls, were laid out on benches set on a podium while members of the orthodox Chabad community prayed and listened to eulogies.
Rabbi Dov Goldberg said during the service that Rivka Holtzberg told him "a month ago that she was five months pregnant."
Moshe Tzvi calls out: “Imma, Imma,” Mommy Mommy. I believe that the man reciting Kaddish is Rivka Holtzberg's ZT'L father.
Contribute to a fund for the Holtzberg children—an older child is in the hospital with Tay-Sachs disease—and to rebuild the Chabad House In Mumbai by going here. H/T Seraphic Friend: Ralphie
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at December 2, 2008 12:03 PM
Comments
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Oh, my God. Just when I thought that this horrible event couldn't get more tragic...
My heart just breaks for their families.
Posted by: Raizy at December 2, 2008 03:50 PM
Heartbreaking.
Posted by: Anita at December 2, 2008 03:55 PM
Heartbreaking.
Posted by: Anita at December 2, 2008 03:56 PM
This whole thing is tragic beyond belief, but hearing Moshe scream for his ima, it made me want to rip my heart out.
Posted by: Fern at December 2, 2008 09:18 PM
Oy. Just seeing that little sweet boy crying for his mommy makes me want to scoop him up and hold him. The trauma this child has and will endure is just heartbreaking. May Hashem soothe and watch over him.
Posted by: Rachel at December 3, 2008 06:10 AM