Baby Moshe's grandparents dream he imitates father

PAINED AT INDIFFERENCE: The slain Rabbi's father would appreciate an official initiative from Indian authorities.

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Mumbai: The Mumbai terror attacks may have left the world aghast but there are some, who though touched by the terror directly, wish to emerge stronger.

The grandparents of little baby Moshe, son of the Rabbi who perished in the attack on Nariman House or Chabad House, are in Mumbai to help rebuild it.

They say they hope the boy will return to Mumbai as a Rabbi someday.

On November 2008, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg was killed along with his wife Rivka during the Nariman house siege. His child, an infant who could escape due to an alert and a courageous nanny, is in the care of his grandparents now.

But the slain Rabbi’s family has arrived in Mumbai to pick up the pieces and get over the tragedy.

Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg , the 29 year old chief of the Chabad Lubavitch centre may be no more but his family is in Mumbai to carry forward efforts in rebuilding the damaged building of the Jewish centre.

Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg and his wife Frieda are hoping that their much-loved grandson, baby Moshe will take over as the chief Rabbi Chabad house here someday.

Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg, father Rabbi Gavriel

Said, “I believe in the end, baby Moshe will be the Rabbi. God willing nobody can take that from him.”

The couple who live in New York have been visiting Mumbai ever since the tragedy in an effort to gather funds to restore the Nariman house building as a memorial for their son and his wife. The Chabad Lubavitch movement is expected to cost over 2 million dollars. But despite the overwhelming number of emails and support for the family, pouring in from across the world, Rabbi Nachman feels India needs to play a more active role in helping them in their mission.

“We need help from India because my son stayed here and offered his services,” said the grieving father.

“I’m still waiting to hear something good. Physically nobody has come. India has sent message through the press but only talk isn’t enough.”

The local close-knit Jewish community considers stepping up security for the Chabad centres across the country; Rabbi Nachman feels that more can be done to uproot terror.

“People must feel secure. I live in America and after the 9/11 terror strikes, a lot of changes happened there,” he compares.