New Delhi: Moshe Holtzberg, who lost his parents in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, arrived here Tueday for the first time since the tragedy struck the family over nine years ago and said he was happy to visit the city.
"Shalom...bahut khushi (I'm very happy)," said a shy Moshe, who arrived at the Mumbai airport shortly after 8 am.
The boy, who is now 11 years old, was accompanied by his grandfather Shimon Rosenberg, who said he would visit the Nariman House, where Moshe's parents were killed in the terror attack in November 2008, and pray there.
"I feel very happy to come to India, to Nariman House where I am going to pray. I will say hi to the people of India. I feel very good in this country," Rosenberg said.
Moshe was two years old when his parents - Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka - were killed during the siege at the Nariman House by 10 Pakistani terrorists in November 2008.
The Jewish couple ran a cultural and outreach center for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement at the Nariman House in South Mumbai's Colaba area.
Moshe's nanny Sandra Samuel now lives in Israel after being granted honorary citizenship in 2010. She works as a full-time nanny for disabled children in Jerusalem after Moshe turned 10.
However, she visits him almost every Sunday at Afula, around 100km from Jerusalem. When prime minister Narendra Modi visited Israel, Moshe shook hands with him at a function.
According to reports, Moshe studies religious books, Mathematics and English. He also loves loves football, (Lionel) Messi and Ronaldo.
Moshe is likely to visit the Chabad House in Mumbai during the visit.
"He (Moshe) will be accompanying the prime minister (Netanyahu) and there will be a ceremony in Chabad House in Mumbai. There might be other elements of participation of Moshe who has gone through a terrible tragedy and his coming here," an official said.
There could be a few more elements to Moshe's visit, the official added.
Modi had invited him
Prime minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Israel in July last year, had invited Moshe to Mumbai.
While meeting 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," the boy had said.
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