Artist’s Statement: Shalom! I made this drawing during the week of Chanukah, the week of light in which we celebrate the victory of Torah values over the forces of evil. Even if things look difficult we light our candles, and the light grows with one candle on the first night, two on the second night, till we light eight candles on the last night. Rabbi Gavriel and Rebbetzin Rivkah Holtzberg, who were brutally murdered in the Mumbai terror attacks, did not spread light only on Chanukah; they spread light all year round! Let’s honor their legacy by doing more mitzvahs than we currently do.
This drawing shows some of the many mitzvahs the Holtzbergs loved and cherished, and I made it in honor of all the victims in the Mumbai Chabad House.
In the
top left corner a man puts on tefillin
and takes his son with him to synagogue. A kiddush
cup, symbolizing Shabbat, floats next to him and the name Gavriel. Over his
head is a verse connected to the name Gavriel (the verse begins and ends with
the first and last letters of the name): “I will also praise You with string
instruments, even your truth, oh my G‑d: unto You I will sing with the harp, oh
You Holy One of Israel.” (Psalms 71:22)
In the
middle is an Ark with the letters kaf
and tav, (an abbreviation for keter Torah, the Crown of the Torah). Two
lions on top to honor the victims Aryeh Leibish Teitelbaum and Ben Tzion
Chroman.
On the
right side of the Ark the Rebbe invites people to do mitzvahs.
The
house in the middle is made of Jewish books. To study Jewish subjects is a big
mitzvah. It is open on one side and has a nice table in the middle with warm
inviting light and good food. The people in this house invite guests and make
them comfortable. The wagon of the Baal Shem Tov (above) symbolizes the stories
which are told, the books which are read, the stories about Chassidic topics and
the Torah thoughts which are shared around the table. The wing on the left
belongs to the “good angel” mentioned in the traditional Shabbat song, Shalom Aleichem, which is sung on Friday
nights. Near the table are the names of the victims Yocheved Orpaz and Norma
(Nechamah) Shvartzblat.
In the
bottom half of the drawing several women light Shabbat candles—grandmothers,
mothers with their daughters, young girls. In front of them are two challahs to symbolize Shabbat (like the
man with his kiddush cup), a coffee
pot to symbolize kindness and hospitality, and the name Rivkah. Around them
winds the verse related to the name Rivkah, “Tremble and sin not, commune with
your own heart on your bed and be still, selah.” (Psalms 4:5)
In the
bottom left corner two children put money in a tzeddakah box. I dedicate this drawing to the blessed memory of the
victims, and to little Moshe Holtzberg, may he grow up and be a light in Israel.
