Rabbi Gives First Account of Shooting in Dagestan

Chabad.org ^ | 7/28/13 | staff

[Nachum]

Rabbi Ovadia Isakov, Chabad-Lubavitch emissary and chief rabbi of Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan, gave his first account of a shooting that he said was “motivated by anti-Semitism” as his condition continued to improve following emergency surgery in Israel.

Although Isakov had trouble speaking, he briefly confirmed that he was returning from performing a ritual slaughter for kosher meat when he was attacked late Thursday evening. "There was one man waiting for me,” Isakov said, “and as I was entering my house he shot me. He did not say anything and did not ask for anything. I do not remember anything after the shooting.”

“This is not the first time such attacks have occurred,” Isakov continued. “There have been attacks during Jewish holidays, and they even threw a bomb at our mikvah.”

Despite the shooting and other assaults, Isakov claimed that Jewish community members in Derbent do not live in fear. The rabbi says he is looking forward to returning home and continuing his work as a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary. "Life goes on as usual. I really want to go back there and continue my shlichus. There are many good people there and very good community.”