Jewish groups, political leaders ‘shocked and outraged’ by murder of rabbi in UAE

The murder of Chabad-Lubavitch emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan days ago in the United Arab Emirates inspired responses from Jewish groups, government officials and the United Kingdom’s top Jewish leader.

“We condemn this heinous act in the strongest terms and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the Jewish community in the UAE,” the World Jewish Congress stated. “The United Arab Emirates has emerged as a force for tolerance and coexistence in the Middle East, and we are confident that its leaders will ensure that justice is swiftly served and that such violence has no place in its society.”

In a statement, the Jewish Federations of North America said it was “heartbroken and outraged at the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Chabad emissary to the UAE. May his memory be for a blessing and his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion.”

 Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, wrote on X that “we appreciate the actions of UAE authorities to hold accountable those who planned and carried out this heinous act. The ongoing targeting of Jewish communities worldwide is abhorrent and must stop.”

 Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) described feeling “shocked and outraged” by news of Kogan’s murder. “I wholly condemn this terrorist act against an innocent civilian. The increasing antisemitism we are seeing around the world is unacceptable, Jews should be safe everywhere,” he wrote on X.

“I am absolutely devastated to learn about the barbaric and senseless murder of Chabad shaliach Rabbi Zvi Kogan,” said Eric Adams, mayor of New York City. “Our hearts and prayers are with his wife—a native New Yorker—his entire family and the Jewish community who is grieving right now.”

Adams said the incident “is yet another jarring reminder of how it is dangerous to simply be Jewish in many parts of the world,” adding that “New York City will never be one of those places.”

Kathy Hochul, governor of New York, wrote that she was “horrified by the abduction and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan. My heart is with his family and the Jewish community. May his memory be a blessing.” She noted that “this heinous act of antisemitism is a painful reminder that we must continue to fight it wherever it rears its ugly head.”

‘His absence will be deeply felt’

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) called himself “shaken by the news of the antisemitic abduction and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who was kidnapped and killed simply for being Jewish.”

The vocal pro-Israel congressman critiqued a New York Times article reporting on the murder.

“Contrary to The New York Times, Rabbi Zvi Kogan did not just ‘disappear’ in Dubai. He was abducted and murdered because he was a Jew,” Torres wrote. “The media should call the kidnapping and killing of Rabbi Kogan exactly what it is: an act of antisemitic terror.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote, “I am deeply disturbed by the news of the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan. This is an unspeakable act of violent antisemitism. My prayers are with his family, and the entire Lubavitch and Chabad community in Brooklyn, and across the world. May his memory be a blessing.”

Sir Ephraim Mirvis, chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, memorialized Kogan.

“The senseless murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan is not only a devastating blow to his family and the Jewish community in the UAE but to all who cherish the values of peace, respect and coexistence,” he wrote. “Rabbi Kogan dedicated his life to fostering understanding and connection between people of different faiths and cultures. His work reflected the best of our shared traditions, and his absence will be deeply felt by those whose lives he touched.”

Mirvis wrote that “no act of evil will deter us from uniting against the forces of darkness that seek to divide us.”