"These were indescribable days," Yehoshua Chroman said of the period since his 28-year-old brother Bentzion's death in the Mumbai terror assault last week.
Bentzion left behind a 24-year-old wife, Emuna, and three children, the oldest just five years old, the youngest barely three months.
Speaking at the Bobov Yeshiva in Bat Yam, where Chroman had studied, Yehoshua called on his lost brother to help the family through the difficult time ahead.
"You left us here without you. You left your young wife alone," he said between sobs. "Don't forget them. Be with them always. Remember us.
"We will need a lot of strength. A link in our family's chain is broken, so we'll have to hold on to each other harder."
At the gathering of over a hundred members of the Bobov hassidic community, local rabbis and friends spoke of a "sweet, smart boy."
To the sound of weeping, neighborhood rabbi Yaakov Rojza recalled knowing Bentzion "since he was eight years old. He was such a smart and charismatic child. We're going to bury him today. How do you bury such a sweet child so soon?"
"I met him at prayers," said neighbor Moshe Yaronsky, who recalled he was always "a smiling, gentle man."
A yeshiva friend and member of the ZAKA team who went to Mumbai to collect the bodies recalled "entering Chabad House on Saturday night. It was like a nightmare.
"When I saw you [Bentzion] I couldn't look at you. We took your passport and identification card from your pocket. We shouted out Shema Yisrael.
"I want to apologize to you, Bentzi, if we missed a bit of blood. It was such hard work."
A dual US-Israeli citizen, Bentzion worked as a kashrut supervisor for the New York-based Volover Rebbe, Rabbi Nahum Ephraim Teitelbaum, the father of fellow victim Aryeh Leibish Teitelbaum.
He was in India for a plant inspection and was on his way home to Israel when he visited the Mumbai Chabad House, said friends. The terrorists attacked the building, known locally as Nariman House, shortly after he arrived.
Speakers at the memorial ceremony said he was beloved by those he worked with.
"He did his work intelligently, beautifully," said Rojza. "No one was ever angry with him. He sanctified God's name among the Gentiles he worked with."
"There is no filling the vacuum left behind here in Bobov," said another speaker.
Yehoshua told the gathering that Bentzi had planned to end his work travels, which were taking a toll on his family.
"Before he left for India, Bentzi said, 'this is the last time I travel. I can't bear to leave the kids like this.' But he needed to make a living, to support his family."
"I never believed that a brother has to accompany his younger brother to his funeral," added Yehoshua. "How do I go to a funeral of someone so young, a brother who barely started his life?
"But we have no questions or complaints for God," he insisted in a broken voice.
As they escorted the body of the young man into a ZAKA van that took it for burial to Petah Tikva, Chroman's mother and wife wailed, "we love you, Bentzi."
Jpost.com
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The blood of Mumbai’s kedoshim will never be forgotten!
Dear Friend,
Last week’s attacks in Mumbai hit the Jewish world like a gunshot to the heart. The hatred; the brutality; the viciousness were in no way directed only at the innocent souls in India’s Chabad House. They were directed at every Jew in every corner of the world.
The terrorists were given clear directives. They were to target Americans, Britons, and Jews. And though the murderers spared no mercy for any of their victims, they reserved their most brutal treatment for the Jews. Doctors who examined the Chabad House victims post mortem were astounded at the extent of the torture they had obviously endured.
One doctor said, “It was very strange. I have seen so many dead bodies in my life, and was yet traumatized. A bomb blast victim’s body might have been torn apart and could be a very disturbing sight, but the bodies of the victims in this attack bore such signs about the kind of violence of urban warfare that I am still unable to put my thoughts to words.”
In truth, no one can adequately put to words the pain we suffer today. And when the Jewish people are left without words, they must turn to actions.
I am asking you to act on behalf of one of the victims – Rabbi Benzion Kruman of Bat Yam, Israel, and help create a fund to support his family.
Rabbi Kruman, 28, went to Mumbai as a kosher supervisor. As such, he was away from home much of the time. He endured lengthy flights to countries around the world, subsisted on canned food, and braved often-hostile environments – all so that his fellow Jews would have kosher food. He dedicated his life to the Jewish people - and he gave his life as its representative. He was killed only because he was a Jew.
Now the Jewish people must take his place, and ensure the future and wellbeing of his young wife and three children.
The children are very young – and may never remember their wonderful father. But they will learn about his sacrifice – details of which are only beginning to emerge.
They will hear that their father gave his life al Kiddush Hashem, in shul, as he prayed the Mincha service.
They will hear that their father was tortured and gunned down in cold blood, with senseless brutality and hatred.
And they will hear that the shots that were fired at their father were truly shots heard round the world – that all the world wept for him and for them, his orphaned children.
Let the children hear one more thing. Let them hear that they were never for a moment abandoned to their fate as orphans – that the Jewish people fought hatred with love; and cruelty with compassion. Let them hear that together we mourned, and together we rose to ensure their futures.
Under the leadership and guidance of esteemed leaders of the Jewish community, we have formed the Kruman Foundation, to support the widow and orphans of Rabbi Benzion Kruman. We urge you to demonstrate your solidarity, and to take action in this terrible time, by sending a large contribution to the foundation. This is the Jewish response to tragedy. Please send as much as you can, today.
Sincerely,
P.S. As this letter goes to print, the bodies of the kedoshim, the holy martyrs, are being flown to Israel for burial. The Kruman children will not greet the smiling father they loved. Instead, they will greet his bullet-riddled tortured body, and escort him on his final journey. Your contribution today will not ease their pain today, because nothing – nothing in the world – can comfort them in face of such raw sorrow. But it will bring them peace of mind in the future.
Make your Donations here www.krumanfoundation.org
Last week’s attacks in Mumbai hit the Jewish world like a gunshot to the heart. The hatred; the brutality; the viciousness were in no way directed only at the innocent souls in India’s Chabad House. They were directed at every Jew in every corner of the world.
The terrorists were given clear directives. They were to target Americans, Britons, and Jews. And though the murderers spared no mercy for any of their victims, they reserved their most brutal treatment for the Jews. Doctors who examined the Chabad House victims post mortem were astounded at the extent of the torture they had obviously endured.
One doctor said, “It was very strange. I have seen so many dead bodies in my life, and was yet traumatized. A bomb blast victim’s body might have been torn apart and could be a very disturbing sight, but the bodies of the victims in this attack bore such signs about the kind of violence of urban warfare that I am still unable to put my thoughts to words.”
In truth, no one can adequately put to words the pain we suffer today. And when the Jewish people are left without words, they must turn to actions.
I am asking you to act on behalf of one of the victims – Rabbi Benzion Kruman of Bat Yam, Israel, and help create a fund to support his family.
Rabbi Kruman, 28, went to Mumbai as a kosher supervisor. As such, he was away from home much of the time. He endured lengthy flights to countries around the world, subsisted on canned food, and braved often-hostile environments – all so that his fellow Jews would have kosher food. He dedicated his life to the Jewish people - and he gave his life as its representative. He was killed only because he was a Jew.
Now the Jewish people must take his place, and ensure the future and wellbeing of his young wife and three children.
The children are very young – and may never remember their wonderful father. But they will learn about his sacrifice – details of which are only beginning to emerge.
They will hear that their father gave his life al Kiddush Hashem, in shul, as he prayed the Mincha service.
They will hear that their father was tortured and gunned down in cold blood, with senseless brutality and hatred.
And they will hear that the shots that were fired at their father were truly shots heard round the world – that all the world wept for him and for them, his orphaned children.
Let the children hear one more thing. Let them hear that they were never for a moment abandoned to their fate as orphans – that the Jewish people fought hatred with love; and cruelty with compassion. Let them hear that together we mourned, and together we rose to ensure their futures.
Under the leadership and guidance of esteemed leaders of the Jewish community, we have formed the Kruman Foundation, to support the widow and orphans of Rabbi Benzion Kruman. We urge you to demonstrate your solidarity, and to take action in this terrible time, by sending a large contribution to the foundation. This is the Jewish response to tragedy. Please send as much as you can, today.
Sincerely,
P.S. As this letter goes to print, the bodies of the kedoshim, the holy martyrs, are being flown to Israel for burial. The Kruman children will not greet the smiling father they loved. Instead, they will greet his bullet-riddled tortured body, and escort him on his final journey. Your contribution today will not ease their pain today, because nothing – nothing in the world – can comfort them in face of such raw sorrow. But it will bring them peace of mind in the future.
Make your Donations here www.krumanfoundation.org
Reb Bentzion Chroman HY”D
The residents of Kiryas Bobov in Bat Yam are having difficult accepting the painful news, that the young avreich, R’ Bentzion Chroman is no longer with them. He too was among the victims in the Mumbai Chabad House, a mashgiach for the Volover Rebbe of Boro Park Shlita. He is survived by a wife and three children, with the oldest being 3.5 and the youngest 3 months.
Bentzi as he was known, was a popular figure, someone who friends explain “got along with everyone”.
Bentzi was named after Rav Bentzion of Bobov HY”D ZY”A. His father is a pillar of Torah, and Bentzi was raised in a home where learning was not just a daytime activity. His mother toils to ensure her husband is permitted to continue occupying the halls of the beis medresh.
He was educated in his early years in Bobov Yeshiva in Bat Yam and from there to Yeshiva Kochav Yaakov. He was married in 5762 to the daughter of Rav Dovid Levin of Ganei Tikvah. Shortly after their wedding they settled in Bat Yam, near Bentzi’s parents.
The young couple decided not to burden the parents, and they purchased their home with their own funds, and Bentzi then entered into the kashrus world, deciding to be self-sufficient, not wishing to place the burden of supporting his family on anyone else.
This however did not bring an end to his limudim, and he had a late night shiur and was a regular occupant of the large Bobov beis medresh in Bat Yam during the nighttime hours.
Of late, it was known that he added to his daily learning seder and he was in the beis medresh until the very late hours of the night. During the last yomim noraim, friends commented on the intensity of his tefillos.
His last visit to India was delayed over and over again due to difficulties pertaining to his visa. Last motzei Shabbos he finally left, and was scheduled to return on Wednesday. He packed up his belongings in the hotel and headed to the Mumbai Chabad House to say goodbye to Rav Gavriel and Rebbitzin Rivka, to daven and to thank them for their hospitality. It appears the terrorists arrived shortly after him – and it is believed he tried to run for his life. His body was found on the fifth floor, shot at point blank range.
A website has been established as well. Click HERE to donate.
Bentzi as he was known, was a popular figure, someone who friends explain “got along with everyone”.
Bentzi was named after Rav Bentzion of Bobov HY”D ZY”A. His father is a pillar of Torah, and Bentzi was raised in a home where learning was not just a daytime activity. His mother toils to ensure her husband is permitted to continue occupying the halls of the beis medresh.
He was educated in his early years in Bobov Yeshiva in Bat Yam and from there to Yeshiva Kochav Yaakov. He was married in 5762 to the daughter of Rav Dovid Levin of Ganei Tikvah. Shortly after their wedding they settled in Bat Yam, near Bentzi’s parents.
The young couple decided not to burden the parents, and they purchased their home with their own funds, and Bentzi then entered into the kashrus world, deciding to be self-sufficient, not wishing to place the burden of supporting his family on anyone else.
This however did not bring an end to his limudim, and he had a late night shiur and was a regular occupant of the large Bobov beis medresh in Bat Yam during the nighttime hours.
Of late, it was known that he added to his daily learning seder and he was in the beis medresh until the very late hours of the night. During the last yomim noraim, friends commented on the intensity of his tefillos.
His last visit to India was delayed over and over again due to difficulties pertaining to his visa. Last motzei Shabbos he finally left, and was scheduled to return on Wednesday. He packed up his belongings in the hotel and headed to the Mumbai Chabad House to say goodbye to Rav Gavriel and Rebbitzin Rivka, to daven and to thank them for their hospitality. It appears the terrorists arrived shortly after him – and it is believed he tried to run for his life. His body was found on the fifth floor, shot at point blank range.
A website has been established as well. Click HERE to donate.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
