The Jewish world is reeling from the brutal murder of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, 28, a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary who was found dead in his car near Dubai over the weekend.
In a tragic echo of past terror, Rabbi Kogan was married to the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed alongside his wife Rivky in the 2008 Mumbai Chabad House attack.
Police discovered Rabbi Kogan's body in his vehicle approximately 90 minutes from the kosher grocery store he operated in Dubai. Investigators reported evidence of a struggle inside the vehicle, suggesting he fought with his attackers before being killed.
In a heartbreaking detail that emerged Sunday, close friend Ari Katz revealed to media that Rabbi Kogan had worn his Rabbi Holtzberg's suit at his own wedding in 2022. "Even with the recent tensions following October 7, Tzvi remained steadfast in his commitment to serving the Jewish community in the UAE," Katz said.
The murder comes just days before thousands of Chabad emissaries are set to gather in New York for their annual International Conference of Shluchim. Sources within the movement confirmed that this year's conference will partially focus on memorializing Rabbi Kogan and reinforcing the movement's commitment to their global mission.
"After the Mumbai attack, we doubled down on our dedication to spreading light in the darkest corners," a senior Chabad official told reporters. "As the Rebbe taught us, you don't fight darkness with sticks, but with light. Rabbi Kogan exemplified this mission, and we will honor his memory by intensifying our work worldwide."
Rabbi Kogan is survived by his wife Rivka (née Spilman) of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The couple had been serving the growing Jewish community in Dubai since their marriage, operating a kosher grocery store and providing religious services to both residents and visitors.