The holy and pure - The Jewish Standard

All day, a melody has been playing in my head. It is a sad melody, or more precisely, a solemn one. “Kel Malei Rachamim…” O G-d, full of compassion. It is the famous prayer we recite as we plead with G-d for the soul of a departed loved one.

I have sung this melody countless times, often at cemeteries, surrounded by grieving families quietly sobbing as they bid farewell to someone dear.

Today, after learning the shocking news of the brutal murder of my fellow Chabad rabbi, Rabbi Tzvi Kogan of Dubai, this melody plays in my head.

Some words stand out, repeating themselves over and over: “In the exalted spheres of the holy and pure.” Whenever we pray for someone who passed on, we pray they should be elevated to the same holy place of the holy and pure.

Who are those holy and pure? I have no doubt that Rabbi Tzvi is among them, a truly holy and pure soul taken from this world too soon.

Holy and pure, because he was targeted and viciously murdered only because he was Jewish.

Holy and pure, because he could have chosen the comfort of living in Brooklyn, near his wife, Rivky’s, parents, or in Jerusalem, close to his own family. Yet he chose to dedicate his life to the Lubavitcher rebbe’s vision, establishing a vibrant center of Jewish life in a foreign land.

In Dubai, a rapidly growing hub in the United Arab Emirates, Rabbi Kogan joined the Chabad House and was a shining light for the local Jewish community and the thousands of Jewish tourists who passed through each year.

Holy and pure, because his holy soul ascended straight to the highest of high, to the place reserved for the most righteous people.

I know what Tzvi is going to do for us now. In his lifetime, always with a big smile, he welcomed Jews, helped them celebrate their Judaism and fulfilled mitzvot (divine commandments).

I know that Tzvi will go straight in front of the master of the world and beg him to bring an end to all suffering.

The question is, what can we do for Tzvi? How can we honor his memory, how can we bring Nachat (spiritual joy and pride) to his holy and pure soul in heaven?

Looking at my schedule, I see that this week I’ll be visiting a Jewish family who just moved to town to help them kasher their kitchen. And then a thought came to mind.

Tzvi’s life’s mission was to help people embrace the mitzvah of keeping kosher. As the director of Rimon Kosher Supermarket, the first kosher grocery store in Dubai, he made it possible for countless Jews to observe this central mitzvah, no matter where they were.

Someone shared with me a video filmed just a few days ago, showing Rabbi Tzvi proudly talking about how he ensured the highest quality kosher products. He’d import them from all over the world, just to make sure that every Jew in Dubai can keep kosher.

Tragically, his dedication to serving others may have made him more vulnerable to this attack, as his predictable schedule at the store exposed him to danger.

Let’s take this coming week, the shiva period, as an opportunity to honor Rabbi Tzvi’s legacy by bringing more kashrut into our lives and the world around us.

If you don’t keep kosher, perhaps you can for this week do something kosher:

• Choose to eat one kosher meal a day

• Visit a kosher restaurant

• Check for a kosher symbol on the foods you’re already buying

• Or simply avoid eating some non-kosher food this week

If you already keep kosher, consider finding ways to enhance your observance. There is always room for growth and improvement!

And to Tzvi’s family, his dear wife Rivky, his parents, siblings, in-laws, friends, and all my fellow Chabadniks: may G-d comfort you — us! — all. Dear G-d, it’s high time for you to fulfill what you promised, a day when you will wipe away the tears forever.

Thank you to all who reached out. We greatly appreciated it.

Mendy Kaminker is the rabbi of Chabad of Hackensack and an editorial member of Chabad.org. He welcomes your comments at rabbi@ChabadHackensack.com