What is the Jewish community’s thinking on security now?
As Jews, we believe that whatever has happened has happened for a reason but this does not stop me from taking security measures. We have been told to use grills, stronger doors, more fortification, security personnel. We have asked for security from the Mumbai Police and they have given it. One of the things the [Israeli] Consulate pointed out, especially to the Chabad [some months ago], is that the door should have more than one guard and it should be kept closed. A CCTV was also advised. If the Chabad had proper gates and entry rules, it wouldn’t have been easy for the terrorists to get in. They had this idea of open doors and open house – the wrong people took advantage of it. Maybe it was contradictory to the rabbi’s beliefs? An open house cannot have closed doors. It was about his trust in God. It was not contradictory because we Jews are supposed to pray and also to make effort. We have to work on our security and ask God for his blessings on this. That’s also Jewish philosophy.
