An attack on Crimea and dozens of cities across Ukraine. An earthquake in Turkey. A terrorist attack on a Jewish school. Coordinated attacks across Paris. A massive hurricane in the Atlantic. Unprecedented bushfires in Australia. The kidnapping and murder of a Chabad emissary in Dubai. A shooting at a major Chanukah celebration. A devastating typhoon… At any given moment, something can happen somewhere in the world. With thousands of Chabad emissaries and their families serving Jewish communities across the globe, and one incident following another, CWA is always there.
CWA – Chabad’s Global Emergency and Security Center – serves as the central hub overseeing thousands of locations where Chabad emissaries operate, providing professional assistance in real time.
Chabad emissaries work around the clock wherever there are Jews. They serve in welcoming countries and hostile ones, in developed Western nations and developing countries. Some run large, established centers serving hundreds of families and thousands of visitors; others work with small, remote communities. Most live permanently in their communities with their families, raising young children, while some smaller locations operate only at certain times of the year.
Chabad centers span time zones, serve different populations, offer a wide range of services and events, and face threats ranging from terrorism and armed conflict to natural disasters. In this reality, professional, around-the-clock emergency, security, and medical support is essential.
Our headquarters in Kfar Chabad houses our global command and control center, connected in real time to dozens of locations across several continents. Using advanced technological systems, we support Chabad emissaries through complex security incidents, medical emergencies, and logistical challenges.
CWA works closely with international security agencies and leading medical experts. Today, it is Chabad’s designated professional body for emergency and crisis management.
In November 2008, just days before the opening of the annual International Conference of Chabad Emissaries at the Rebbe’s headquarters in New York, a devastating terrorist attack began in Mumbai. One of ten locations targeted across the city was the Chabad House. Four armed terrorists stormed the building, taking several people hostage, including the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s emissary, Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg, his wife Rivky, and their son Moishy.
After two agonizing days, Gabi and Rivky were murdered in cold blood, along with three guests. May their blood be avenged. Little Moishy was miraculously rescued by their nanny, Sandra, who risked her life to carry him to safety. From that moment, the world of Chabad outreach changed forever.
The Mumbai terrorist attack, the recurring threat of terrorism from radical Islamist and other antisemitic groups, and the continued growth in the number of Chabad emissaries worldwide led to a decision: under the guidance of the late Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, Chabad’s central educational organization, a dedicated division was established to protect emissaries, their families, and everyone visiting Chabad centers.
