Moshe Holtzberg, who lost his parents during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, will return to the Nariman House in the city this week for the first time since the tragedy struck the family more than nine years ago.
Moshe was two years old when his parents - Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivika - were killed during the siege at the Nariman House by 10 Pakistani terrorists in November 2008. The terrorists carried out the attacks over three days and killed 166 people.
The Jewish couple ran a cultural and outreach centre for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement at the Nariman House in South Mumbai’s Colaba area.
Moshe’s grandfather Shimon Rosenberg said he and his wife will accompany their grandson when he lands in Mumbai on Tuesday.
“We are all very excited to visit India. This will be Moshe’s first visit to the Nariman House in over nine years,” Mr. Rosenberg told PTI over phone from Israel.
“Moshe will later fly back to Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 19,” he added.
Netanyahu’s India visit begins today.
Also accompanying Moshe will be Sandra Samuels, the brave Indian nanny who saved him during the terror attack.
Ms. Samuels, who was awarded an honorary citizenship by the Israeli government so that she could live in the country and be with Moshe, continues to share a unique bonding with the little boy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Moshe and his grandparents during a visit to Israel in July last year and told him that he could visit India anytime.
While meeting Mr. Modi, Moshe had said, “I remember our connection to Nariman House. I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai and when I get older, live there.”
“Dear Mr Modi, I love you and the people in India,” Moshe had said.
While accepting the long-term visa which India issued to Moshe and his grandparents, Mr. Rosenberg had requested the Indian ambassador that the Nariman House building be registered with the land registry department as belonging to Moshe Holtzberg.
Published - January 14, 2018 01:02 pm IST
