Israeli boy Moshe Holtzberg, who lost his parents during the 26/ 11 Mumbai terror attacks, arrives at Nariman House in Colaba on Tuesday.
Nine years after the 26/ 11 attacks rocked Mumbai, Moshe Holtzberg — better known as Baby Moshe — returned to the city on Tuesday and visited south Mumbai’s Chabad House where 10 Pakistani terrorists had killed his parents, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg. The Jewish couple ran a cultural and outreach centre for the Chabad- Lubavitch movement at the house.
Special arrangements were made for the 11- yearold at the Chabad House, formerly known as Nariman House, where a memorial honouring the attack victims has been created. After his arrival, the media tried to speak to him. But, seemingly shy and confused at being the centre of attention, Moshe just said, “shalom ( a Hebrew word meaning peace that is used as a salutation by Jews), and then uttered two Hindi words, “Bahut khushi ( I’m very happy).”
The boy was accompanied by his grandfather, Shimon Rosenberg and his Indian nanny, Sandra Samuel, who heroically picked up the then- twoyearold Moshe and ran from the building. Ms Samuel was granted citizenship by the State of Israel for her bravery two years after the incident.
Stating that he feels ‘ very good in this country’, Mr Rosenberg said, “I feel very happy to come to India, to Nariman House where I am going to pray. I will greet the people of India.” Moshe, who was first taken to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel at Colaba — another site of the terror attack — was seen in photos chatting and laughing with Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky, who runs Chabad House. Special food and juices were prepared for the boy.
The child, who was keen to exploring the surroundings of the five- storey building, peeped through glass windows in the neighbourhood.