Chabad rabbi’s murder rocks Jewish world

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to South Africa has extended his heartfelt condolences to the South African Jewish community following the devastating murder of Chabad emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan, killed by terrorists in the UAE last week.

Ambassador Mahash Saeed Alhameli met members of Chabad in Johannesburg this week after sending a heartfelt letter of comfort, expressing his sorrow and sympathy over the “deeply upsetting event”.

He said the UAE remained “steadfast in its mission to build bridges of understanding and collaboration”.

A week ago, Kogan, 28, a Chabad emissary in Abu Dhabi was quietly building a life of service and devotion, largely unknown to the wider world. Today, his name resonates across continents, inspiring thousands to perform acts of kindness in his memory.

Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan national, was last seen alive in Dubai on 21 November. His body was discovered three days later in an abandoned car in Al-Ain, near the border with Oman, by Emirati intelligence and Israeli security services. Turkish authorities assisted in the arrest of three suspects in Istanbul who were then extradited to the Emirates.

His death, described by Israeli officials as an “abhorrent antisemitic terrorist attack”, has shaken the Jewish world, including South Africa.

“In moments of loss, expressing condolences to individuals, nations, and communities reaffirms the values of loyalty and unity that bind us as a shared humanity,” Saeed Alhameli wrote in a letter to Rabbi David Masinter, the director of Chabad House in Johannesburg, after Kogan’s death.

“Together, we will continue to promote kindness and goodness in the world, as this is the true way to honour the memory of Rabbi Kogan,” he wrote.

Masinter was no stranger to Kogan. “Just recently, I was in Dubai, seeing firsthand the work Rabbi Kogan and fellow shluchim were doing there,” Masinter said. “We are all devastated and heartbroken by his senseless and cowardly murder. Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of standing in his home and witnessing and celebrating a bris of a child born in Dubai, a moment of joy and renewal now shadowed by unimaginable tragedy,” he said.

Three suspects from Uzbekistan, Olimboy Tohirovich, 28; Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28; and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33 have been arrested and remain in custody.

His murder has struck a deep chord within the small Jewish and Israeli community in the Muslim-majority UAE, which has been a symbol of hope and coexistence. The UAE signed a peace agreement with Israel in 2020 under the United States-brokered Abraham Accords.

Ross Kriel, who moved there from Johannesburg in 2013 and who serves as a Jewish leader in Dubai, said, “The UAE community is a small, close-knit community living in a setting that is usually a cause for immense hopefulness. In this moment, we share the fate of so many other Jewish communities touched by violence and tragedy. As I review my messages to Zvi, they are a mix of wedding invitations – for his wedding to Rivky in 2022 – orders of arba’ah minim and schnitzel, and sharing of sifrei Torah needed for this or that occasion. The stuff of regular Jewish life. Simple acts such as this are properly viewed as exalted, as is now apparent. How I wish I could message Zvi right now to thank him one more time.”

Kriel said the community was resilient, and expressed gratitude for the support of Emirati friends and government officials, vowing to continue building Jewish life in the UAE, inspired by Kogan’s legacy.

“They are as shocked and injured as we are, and dedicated to our safety and security. There’s no choice but to continue the humble and elevated efforts to build Jewish life in the UAE so beautifully personified by Zvi and Rivky,” he said.

His memory lives on, said rabbonim at his funeral in the central Israeli town of Kfar Chabad on Monday, 25 November, uniting Jews everywhere. It underscores the remarkable role of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in connecting Jewish communities across the globe, even in the most far-flung places.

The procession, attended by thousands, began with speeches ahead of his burial at the Mount of Olives cemetery near Jerusalem’s Old City.

Born in Jerusalem in 1996, Kogan was raised in a family deeply rooted in faith and community. From a young age, he demonstrated a profound commitment to spreading light and kindness said mourners. After studying at prestigious yeshivas including Yeshiva Maoz Chayil and the Mir Yeshiva, he served in the Israel Defense Forces’ Givati Brigade.

In 2022, he married Rivky Spielman, and they embarked on a mission to Abu Dhabi as Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries. Kogan’s dedication and vision quickly made him one of the pillars of the Jewish community in the Gulf.

He worked alongside Chief Rabbi Levi Duchman, managed Dubai’s kosher supermarket, Rimon, and played a key role in establishing the UAE’s first Jewish education centre. His efforts ensured the availability of kosher food and spiritual guidance for Jews in the Gulf, laying the groundwork for a thriving community.

Kogan’s personal story was also marked by tragedy. His wife, Rivky, is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel and Rebbetzin Rivka Holtzberg, the Chabad emissaries murdered in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The echoes of that loss resonate deeply as the Kogan family now grapples with another act of violence against those dedicated to spreading goodness.

Kogan’s father, Alexander, spoke through tears at the funeral, asking, “How can you already be gone?” The pain in his voice was shared by all who attended, including Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef, who lamented the enduring hatred that claimed Kogan’s life.

The tragedy has sparked a renewed sense of purpose among Jewish leaders and communities worldwide. In his memory, three babies have already been named after Kogan, ensuring that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. Jared and Joshua Kushner, along with Ivanka Trump, pledged $2 million (R36.3 million) to support Chabad’s work in the UAE, a testament to the impact Kogan had on Jewish life in the region.