Rabbi Kogan’s murder, a catalyst for better Chabad security

Rabbi Zvi Kogan’s murder in the United Arab Emirates is a stark, tragic reminder of the incessant, daily, security-related challenges facing Chabad Lubavitch institutions around the world today. This tragedy highlights that need for serious security considerations for Chabad, the most globally influential Jewish organization, which has thousands of Shluchim (emissaries) of the Chabad Lubavitch Rebbe, spread around the world, and a presence that spans over 100 countries, including some of the most remote destinations.

Rabbi Zvi Kogan HY”D was abducted from Abu Dhabi, where he was a Shliach (emissary), by three Iranian agents who then brutally murdered him, and were eventually arrested by Emirati authorities, almost four days after his initial disappearance. There seems to be ample evidence of both misinformation and a lack of action on the part of Emirati authorities, with too little too late being done for a country with some of the highest surveillance capabilities on earth and a police force with a free hand under a completely autocratic, dictatorial government. The insistence by UAE authorities on calling him a “Moldovan National” for someone who, post-Abraham accords was named as the Chabad Rabbi and emissary in Abu Dhabi, is also very troubling.

This isn’t the first time that Chabad has faced a serious security situation that calls for a thorough reevaluation and, more importantly, concrete actions to protect Chabad Lubavitch Shluchim worldwide. Chabad Chassidim and Shluchim have been shot at, imprisoned, abducted, or murdered—from Ukraine to Ecuador and from Mumbai to Dubai. Rabbi Gavriel and Rivki Holtzberg were the Chabad emissaries in Mumbai who were brutally murdered by Islamic terrorists in their Chabad House in 2008. Rabbi Kogan’s wife, Rivky Spielman, is a niece of Rabbi Holtzberg. Her husband sadly passes away just two days shy of the anniversary of the Holtzbergs’ murder.

It isn’t only Chabad institutions in Arab countries or places with a high concentration of anti-Semitic people that face these challenges. Chabad on college campuses and universities everywhere are regularly faced with threats, and are literally on the front lines of worldwide anti-Semitism. Orthodox Jews in general, and in particular Chabad Hassidim and Rabbis, being a clear visible minority make an easy, identifiable target, thus making security, not a luxury – but an absolute necessity.

Even the security of the iconic 770 Chabad World Headquarters on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, as well as the Rebbe’s Ohel (resting place) in Queens, is, minus a few distantly parked police cars, virtually nonexistent and alarming.

While it is important to be forward-looking, for Chabad to continue to expand its mission of global Kiruv (Jewish outreach), it is absolutely critical that Chabad’s Shluchim leadership take an active role in boosting institutional security worldwide. Perhaps establishing a dedicated branch, whose efforts are to monitor and liaise with governments and security experts and to disseminate warnings, provide surveillance, and deploy security personnel when necessary, would be an effective solution.

Rabbi Kogan’s family are our friends. Chabad and the Jewish people are one big family. This is something that hits close to home. Perhaps establishing a Chabad Security Office and naming it the “Zvi Kogan Chabad Security Office” would be a good first step. A campaign has been set up to help his wife deal with the enormity of this tragedy and next steps, you can donate generously here.