Nariman house, a tragedy.

MOSHE - NEW HARRY POTTER?

Nariman House, also known as Chabad House to the Jewish community, was among the buildings attacked by terrorists in Mumbai on the night of November 26, sometime between 9.30 – 9.45pm. Unlike the other iconic buildings that came under attack, Nariman House was relatively unknown to the rest of the world, apart from the Jewish community. Chabad Houses are homes away from homes for Jews travelling abroad or within the US., and also places to celebrate Hanukkah, Passover or weekly Shabbat dinners.This house was run by a young couple, Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, 29, and his 28-year-old wife, Rivka.

Chabad Houses can be found in many countries and Nariman House was just one such house, a simple six-storey building in a humble neighborhood of Mumbai, which came under attack. This is the first instance of Jews being attacked on Indian soil – the attack came from foreign nationals on Indian soil from members of LeT – a terrorist group based in Pakistan.

The two terrorists, from a group of ten who touched the shores of Mumbai in inflatable boats, walked to Nariman House. It was a ten minute walk from the point where they arrived. Moving quickly once they got there, they threw a bomb at the petrol station close by, and entered the Nariman House. The Rabbi and his wife were strangled and five others shot. The six hostages, all Israelis, were killed very early into the attack on the night of November 26. The seventh life lost was that of an NSG commando. The young couple’s toddler son Moshe, was soon to celebrate his second birthday on Saturday. His life was saved by his Christian nanny Sandra Samuel, who had worked at the centre for years. Sandra was hiding in the floor below, when she heard Moshe crying. She ran upstairs, found him crying beside his parent’s bodies, picked him up and ran out of the centre. This was Thursday morning, hours after the terrorists first entered Nariman House. Sandra remains unavailable for any comment. But having talked to others who live in the house, they say that. 26/11 was one horrid day in their lives that they could never forget. The Holtzbergs moved to Mumbai in 2003, to open and run the Nariman House in the city. Neighbors describe them as a warm and a friendly couple. Their home in this Colaba neighborhood became a popular destination among Jewish tourists.

The couple’s older son is gravely ill with a congenital disease, in an Israeli hospital, and Moshe, the two-year-old is now parentless. He turned two on Saturday, November 29, 2008. The images of an inconsolable Moshe, will be etched in ones mind. He is now in Israel with his nanny Sandra, and his grandparents.

On the occasion of the second anniversary of what transpired during 26/11 and the two days after it, a mob had gathered outside this house to commemorate the lives of the innocent. Till date the burning candle for the dead brings tears in the eye of anyone who cares enough to look. Moshe’s life is this burning hope, that one day he would try and find justice.