No words 🕯️ Baruch Dayan HaEmet…
It is with deep sorrow that we share the heartbreaking loss of Rabbi Zvi Kogan hy”d, a devoted Chabad shliach to Abu Dhabi, UAE. Rabbi Kogan was tragically murdered by terrorists after being abducted in Dubai on Thursday afternoon. His body was recovered by Emirati authorities early Sunday morning, and his family has been notified of this devastating loss.
Rabbi Kogan, a dual citizen of Israel and Moldova, dedicated his life to expanding and enriching Jewish life in the UAE. Partnering with Rabbi Levi Duchman and other Chabad shluchim, he helped establish the first Jewish education center in the Gulf and made kosher food widely accessible. His dedication and warmth touched countless lives, including those at our Chabad House in Chisinau, where his visits left a lasting impact.
In 2022, Rabbi Kogan married Rivka, the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg hy”d, the Chabad shliach who was murdered in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. At his wedding, Rabbi Kogan wore Gavriel Holtzberg’s suit. Ari Katz, speaking in an interview with Ynet, recalled saying to him, “A groom wears a new suit.” Rabbi Kogan’s response now echoes with profound emotion: “If we die, then we die sanctifying Hashem’s name.” This statement, a reflection of his unwavering faith and commitment, truly encapsulates the essence of his life.
Our hearts go out to his wife Rivky, his family, and the entire Chabad community in the UAE during this unimaginable time. Please honor his memory by performing a mitzvah for the merit of Rabbi Zvi ben Alexander Hakohen, hy”d. May his soul be bound eternally in the bond of life.
