Shluchim from Burgas Bulgaria Join CTVP Voyage of Consolation in Israel
Chabad Terror Victims Project (CTVP.ORG) is continuing its massive efforts to bring consolation, help, and hope to victims and families of the horrific bombing attack in the airport in Burgas Bulgaria that targeted a bus filled with vacationing Israeli tourists. Teams have been visiting the wounded and their families as well as the families of those who perished throughout the length and breadth of Israel.
Yesterday CTVP was joined by Chabad emissaries from Burgas who arrived in Israel for emotional meetings with the families who had been in their city at the time of the attack. There was not a dry eye as they went from hospital to hospital, home to home, to bring their personal support to the victims and families
On one visit they met with a grief-stricken family in Rishon LeZion. The entire extended family gathered for this very emotional meeting. Rabbi Menachem Kutner, Director of CTVP, introduced them to Rabbi Chaim Tobradovic and his wife who are emissaries from Burgas.
The family asked many questions about what happened in Burgas during the hours just after the attack while Itzik, wounded himself, struggled to find his wife, Kochava A'H, who was murdered. They wanted to hear every detail starting with the moment of Rabbi Tobradovic’s arrival on the scene.
Rabbi Tobradovic explained how things proceeded in the midst of the chaos that followed the violent explosion. He tried to explain how the Bulgarian officials dealt with the situation from all perspectives. He told them how Chabad in Burgas filled in any gaps in the system and worked round the clock to cover all bases in helping to alleviate the suffering of the wounded while they were in the hospitals in Burgas, while at the same time supplying reliable information to families waiting in Israel to hear about their loved ones.
We traveled on to Tel Aviv's Ichilov Medical Center where we met with a mother and daughter who, in Bulgaria, had been taken into the hospital, one of them on one floor, the other on the floor above. They thanked Rabbi Tobradovic who ensured that they had kosher food. In the aftermath of the explosion and the ensuing confusion, they had gone without anything to eat for hours until Rabbi Tobradovic arrived. They thanked Mrs. Tobradovic for literally running through the halls of the hospital to find extra blankets for the wounded daughter.
In Petah Tikva we met with two grieving families, the parents and widows of two young men. The two wives were both wounded in the attack as well, and one has a small baby. Throughout the night Rebbetzin Tobradovic sat at the side of a wounded widow, offering her comfort and consolation as she struggled with her terrible loss. The two widows met and exchanged hugs and tears as they consoled each other in the painful ordeal they were both going through.
At the home of another bereaved family, Rabbi Tobradovic and his wife were greeted with great emotion when the family realized that they were the ones who spent hours and hours, all through the day and night, to bring reliable information to them and all the families in Israel. They also asked many questions, trying to understand the horror that took place.
All the families praised Chabad for being there to help them through this horrific time and for bringing them information and comfort when it was so desperately needed.
They all spoke of Chabad’s dedication and its teams of staff and volunteers who are devoted to the welfare of every Jew, no matter where they are. They said that Chabad, with its extraordinary support network and caring staff, have helped them and so many others in their darkest hours.
CTVP is continuing all its efforts to be in contact with all of the affected families, working out individual support plans for each of them. And CTVP will continue to be there for them for as long as they need us, whether that is a week, a month, a year or many years. A broad array of services – financial, emotional, spiritual and practical – will be provided for all the families.
Following is an updated list of the names of the wounded who need our prayers for a speedy recovery:
Chaim Daniel ben Aliza
Vered bat Miryam
Amit bat Vered
Natali bat Shulamit
Adam ben Esther
Yael bat Shoshana
Gad ben Mazal
Rimond bat Aliya
Peni ban Aliya
Chana bat Aliya
Cahim Roman ben Prima
Michael ben Yafa
Amit bat Sara
Yitzchak ben Rachel
Gila bat Sarah