Nov 25
JCRC and IAM Remember Victims of Mumbai Terrorist Attacks
2009 at 17:48 pm posted by admin
Minneapolis, MN – Steve Hunegs, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC), and Raj Menon, President of the India Association of Minnesota (IAM), released the following statement regarding the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India:
“November 26th marks the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. Like all Americans, we are still profoundly saddened by the loss of life from the cruel attacks last year. The perpetrators of these atrocities carry in their hearts extreme hate for freedom, pluralism, and the flourishing democracies of the United States, India, and Israel.
“One hundred seventy people were killed and more than 300 were wounded when terrorists bombed and shot two luxury hotels, a café, a train station, and Mumbai’s Chabad Jewish Center. At the Chabad center, six people were killed, including Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his pregnant wife, Rivka Holtzberg.
“Last year, the JCRC and IAM cosponsored a press conference with State Sen. Satveer Chaudhary and other members of the local Indian community condemning the terrorist acts in addition to a memorial service remembering the victims of the terrorist attack. This programming led to a deepening of the friendship between the local Indian and Jewish communities. During those dark times, a light emerged in Minnesota due to the positive relations between Jews and Indians. As a result of this friendship, the Jewish community participated in a dedication ceremony at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota, cosponsored an evening with former Indian Ambassador to Israel Arun Singh, and is developing a teen dialogue between Bet Shalom Congregation and the Hindu Temple of Minnesota.
“In addition to the local deepening of the friendship between the Indian and Jewish communities, the relationship between India and Israel has also been strengthened. Bilateral trade between the two countries has increased from $200 million in 1992 to $4 billion in 2008. Tourism has also increased between the two countries with about 20,000 Indian tourists traveling to Israel and 35,000 Israeli tourists traveling to India in 2007.
“As Americans, we must stand with the victims of terrorism, mourn for those who perished, and encourage the international community to cooperate in the ongoing war against this contemptible, heinous manifestation of terror. We pray for peace.”
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The JCRC… the public affairs voice of the Jewish community fighting anti-Semitism and prejudice, promoting tolerance and social justice, and representing Jews, individually and collectively, here and abroad.
IAM – India Association of Minnesota is a non-profit organization whose aim is to build a strong and cohesive community of Asian Indians in the state of Minnesota, USA. IAM also seeks to represent the Asian Indian population to the society at large. (www.iamn.org)