26/11 Survivor Who Lost Parents Gets Emotional About Mumbai Visit

In a meeting with PM Modi on 5 July in Jerusalem, the young boy had expressed his wish to visit Mumbai.

File image of Moshe Holtzberg. 

(Photo Courtesy: Embassy of Israel)

(This story was first published on 15 January 2018. The Quint is republishing this piece from its archives as lsraeli ‘baby Moshe’ visits Mumbai’s Chabad House for the first time since he lost both his parents in the 26/11 attacks.)

Moshe Holtzberg, the Israeli child who, as a toddler, survived the 2008 terror attack at a Jewish centre in Mumbai, is feeling "emotional and excited" as he prepares to visit his birthplace during the four-day visit to India by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January.

Moshe, 11, was two years old when his parents were killed in the Mumbai attacks at Nariman House (also known as Chabad House) by Pakistan-based LeT terrorists.

The boy, standing and crying between his dead parents' bodies, was saved in a daring move by his brave nanny, Sandra Samuels, who was hiding in a room downstairs when the attack happened.

Moshe is very excited and at the same time emotional as he gets ready to leave for Mumbai on 15 January. He is returning to his birthplace and is waiting to see many things connected to his late parents that he has heard about from us and his nanny. There are lots of memories.

Shimon Rosenberg, Moshe’s Grandfather

In an emotional meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 July in Jerusalem, the young boy had expressed his wish to visit Mumbai.

"I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai, and when I get older, live there. I will be the director of our Chabad House," Moshe had told the Indian Prime Minister.

Modi had responded by saying, "Come and stay in India and Mumbai. You are most welcome. You and your all family members will get long-term visas. So you can come anytime and go anywhere".

Netanyahu then promptly asked Moshe to join him when he travels to India, a promise he did not forget and has invited the family to join him in Mumbai during his forthcoming visit to India starting on 14 January.

Moshe says that he was touched by the warm embrace he received from Prime Minister Modi when he met him in Jeursalem during his July visit to Israel. He says that he felt like it was one of his own people giving him a warm hug.

Shimon Rosenberg

Heartwarming to See India Hasn’t Forgotten Us

"He is waiting to host Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sara, and hopefully PM Modi at his home in Mumbai," his grandfather said.

The young boy will be accompanied by his grandparents, Shimon and Yehudit Rosenberg, nanny Sandra, and a psychologist during his trip to Mumbai.

During a meeting with the psychologist, who has been mentally preparing him for the visit, Moshe gave him an account of places in Mumbai he would like to visit. He has done his homework and knows about not only the sightseeing places but also other places where his parents carried out works related to their assignment.

Yehudit Rosenberg

Moshe's parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, who were serving as Directors at the Chabad House, were killed along with six others when the place came under attack by Pakistani terrorists during the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.

It is heartwarming to see that the Indian leadership and the people of India haven’t forgotten us and share our pain. It gives us strength and makes us feel one.

Yehudit Rosenberg

Moshe’s Bar Mitzvah in Mumbai?

In a brief telephonic call, Sandra, who was in Afula in the north of Israel where Moshe and his family lives, said that the boy is excited and told her before leaving for school on Sunday that it is like "homecoming" for him.

The family also plans to celebrate Moshe’s bar mitzvah in Mumbai.

A bar mitzvah is a ceremony performed for Jewish boys at the age of 13 which some Israeli scholars compare with upnayana, or the thread ceremony.

India issued ten-year multiple-entry visas to Moshe and his grandparents to ease their travel to the country in August. Prime Minister Modi is said to have personally followed up on the matter as promised to Moshe during their meeting.

Sandra also now lives in Israel and has been felicitated with an honorary citizenship by the Israeli government.

(This copy has been published in an arrangement with PTI.)