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Mumbai, India - Cries Fill Local Synagogue at Funeral Service of Chabad House Terror Victims |
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Two-year-old Moshe Holtzberg is held by his grandmother Yehudit Rosenberg as grandfather Shimon Rosenberg looks on during a condolence prayer meeting in a synagogue
Mumbai, India - About 100 odd Jews gathered for a funeral service for the Jewish terror victims held in one of the largest synagogues in Mumbai this morning.
Rivka Holtzberg's father gave a tearful eulogy for his daughter and her husband, and praised Sandra, the nanny of his grandson, for saving the boy's life.
"With great resourcefulness Sandra saved the life of my grandson. Had she not [done this] he surely would have been murdered," Shimon Rosenberg told more than the hundred family members and relatives of the victims, as well as members of the local Jewish community who also attended the service.
The Israeli ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, also spoke during the event.
"The state of Israel will not sit quietly while Israelis and Jews are massacred just because they are Jews," he said. "We will continue to work with India and with other countries in the world in order to prevent these kind of events from happening in the future."
"This is a terrible day for India, for Israel, and for the Jewish people, and most importantly, for the families of those who were murdered," Sofer continued. "This is not the time to think about why the international community is not doing enough, or why people get to this level of cruelty. This is the time to think only of the family."
Meanwhile the two-year-old Moshe, dressed in a bright green T-shirt and blue shorts, was carried into the synagogue to attend the prayer of his parents.
Holding a ball in hand, Moshe who was orphaned on the day of his birthday kept looking around, probably wanting to see his parents even as his caretaker picked him up in his arms.
Standing right next to him was his grand-parents who had come all the way from America as soon as they heard about the blast.
As the prayers started, Moshe could be seen getting fidgety and ended up crying which he stopped only after he was allowed to play.
As the synagogue echoed with the prayers, sobbing could be heard from all who had come for the prayer meeting. While the ladies present wiped their tears off, men could be seen trying best to hold back their tears.
"We found the child on the second floor. We had initially thought he was sleeping on the fifth," said the caretaker of Moshe, who was rescued in a dramatic fashion by the cook of the house, Sandra Samuel (44). Samuel had literally pulled off a coup when she, hiding inside one of the rooms after having slammed the door on a terrorist's face, rushed to the second floor after hearing Moshe yelling out her name continuously.
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Read Comments (25) — Post Yours »
1
Dec 01, 2008 at 08:40 AM Anonymous Says:
wow what a story a goyte should save a yiddish kid like that..i sill cant belive this whole india story...i hope im just dreaming and i wake up soon..
2
Dec 01, 2008 at 08:45 AM Anonymous Says:
well its time for u to wake up!!!!! CHULEM NISHT do something!!!!!
3
Dec 01, 2008 at 09:59 AM Anonymous Says:
5 days latter - i cant stop crying.
4
Dec 01, 2008 at 10:04 AM Shaul in Monsey Says:
“ wow what a story a goyte should save a yiddish kid like that..i sill cant belive this whole india story...i hope im just dreaming and i wake up soon.. ”
Do you really think that seeing Sandra Samuel as "the goyte" instead of a human being, let alone a hero, serves any purpose now?
5
Dec 01, 2008 at 10:04 AM Anonymous Says:
to # 1
i think goyte is not a very polite term for someone that risked her life to save that of a precious jewish neshoma
just my opinion
but i think a more sensitive term is needed
6
Dec 01, 2008 at 10:17 AM heartbroken Says:
My heart breaks for Moshelle....he is the symbol of this unimaginable tradegy,a two year rescued from the carnage and left orphened and doesn't have a sibling or another family member that he knows alive....I don't think one could think of a worse case senario.
May the Avi Yesomim look after Moshelle in the best possible way.
7
Dec 01, 2008 at 10:35 AM ezras nashim Says:
Referring to a good person as a non-Jew, as in "can you believe a non-Jew would do such a good thing?" is pure am haratzus. Un-thinking Yidden who are surprised when aino Yehudim are heroic fail to understand that the jams we get in as an "am" are of our own doing. We DON'T have the zchusim -- and it's the Aibishter using the aino Yehudim to potch us or not potch us. (Precisely Yitzchok's brocha to his sons, that when one's up the other's down.)
Furthermore, if you look at others without seeing their tzelem Elokim and the neshama that the Aibishter gave to mankind, your vision is corrupted and you are an embarrassment to am Yisroel.
8
Dec 01, 2008 at 10:58 AM r u serious Says:
I now realize how bad it is to have internet especially blackberry. I have followed this story minute by minute since thursday and I am emotional wiped out from the whole thing. I know the family is really suffering and we should be at one with them, but I am a complete idiot for over internet newsing myself. I can't sleep and feel sick. I am doing nobody a favor with all the details I have in my head. For me this is worse than 9-11 because I didn't have internet then. Anybody feel the same ?
9
Dec 01, 2008 at 10:56 AM Anonymous Says:
yes it is the right think the baby doesnt know anyone just the nani so he feels comftrble woth here if not he cries got it dont act like a dum guy
10
Dec 01, 2008 at 10:51 AM Anonymous Says:
“ to # 1
i think goyte is not a very polite term for someone that risked her life to save that of a precious jewish neshoma
just my opinion
but i think a more sensitive term is needed ”
(Reply to #4 & 5): What's wrong with the term Goite? A non-jew was allways called a Goi or Goite.
11
Dec 01, 2008 at 11:12 AM Anonymous Says:
Who says she is a Goyte? For all you know she is Jewish! She was Moseres Nefesh to save a Jewish child, that is quite a Zechus.
Regarding the comments regarding the Israeli flag, one must remember that we are in Galus today - even in Israel. A state funeral is a political statement, not a religious statement.
12
Dec 01, 2008 at 11:12 AM BoroParker Says:
“ I now realize how bad it is to have internet especially blackberry. I have followed this story minute by minute since thursday and I am emotional wiped out from the whole thing. I know the family is really suffering and we should be at one with them, but I am a complete idiot for over internet newsing myself. I can't sleep and feel sick. I am doing nobody a favor with all the details I have in my head. For me this is worse than 9-11 because I didn't have internet then. Anybody feel the same ? ”
This feels like the first time we are all informed and knowledgeable minute by minute as only the internet can do.....we are all feeling along with the situation especially if we knew them....but even if we didnt, the connection is there, the horror is felt by everyone. H"YD. We should use this information to make improvements in our lives and emulate these people for how they lived.
And beseech the One Above that we cannot take any more suffering.
We need the geula shelamah!
13
Dec 01, 2008 at 11:27 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I now realize how bad it is to have internet especially blackberry. I have followed this story minute by minute since thursday and I am emotional wiped out from the whole thing. I know the family is really suffering and we should be at one with them, but I am a complete idiot for over internet newsing myself. I can't sleep and feel sick. I am doing nobody a favor with all the details I have in my head. For me this is worse than 9-11 because I didn't have internet then. Anybody feel the same ? ”
so pray to g-d to help all the jews dont wast your feelings
14
Dec 01, 2008 at 11:44 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I now realize how bad it is to have internet especially blackberry. I have followed this story minute by minute since thursday and I am emotional wiped out from the whole thing. I know the family is really suffering and we should be at one with them, but I am a complete idiot for over internet newsing myself. I can't sleep and feel sick. I am doing nobody a favor with all the details I have in my head. For me this is worse than 9-11 because I didn't have internet then. Anybody feel the same ? ”
I too am obsessed with this tragedy, and crying non-stop. Little Moshe'le became mine, I have been virtually hugging him and crying with him since the first picture of him emerged. My heart is broken, and my mind is consumed. I only hope Ha-Shem accepts all my tears and tefillos on behalf of all the kedoshim, and sends Moshiach speedily, to redeem us from this terrible golus.
15
Dec 01, 2008 at 12:00 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ I now realize how bad it is to have internet especially blackberry. I have followed this story minute by minute since thursday and I am emotional wiped out from the whole thing. I know the family is really suffering and we should be at one with them, but I am a complete idiot for over internet newsing myself. I can't sleep and feel sick. I am doing nobody a favor with all the details I have in my head. For me this is worse than 9-11 because I didn't have internet then. Anybody feel the same ? ”
Your reaction reminds one of the story about the rich man who avoided giving charity or otherwise helping poor people. When asked why, he replied that he pities poor people so much that he gets sick, so whenever he sees a poor person, he runs the other way!!!
16
Dec 01, 2008 at 12:00 PM WakeUp Says:
The name "Moshe" was first given in the Torah... because he was PULLED and saved from the Water... By a non-jewish woman...
Well now the name shows this again...
He was PULLED and saved ...From the YM"S!.. By a non-jewish woman...
17
Dec 01, 2008 at 11:55 AM bigwheeel Says:
“ wow what a story a goyte should save a yiddish kid like that..i sill cant belive this whole india story...i hope im just dreaming and i wake up soon.. ”
This is not [pre-war] poland! The Indian (or hindu) population are a different breed! They have not been inculcated through the Millennia(e) with hatred against the Jews, as have the poles, by the catholic church!!!
18
Dec 01, 2008 at 12:27 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I now realize how bad it is to have internet especially blackberry. I have followed this story minute by minute since thursday and I am emotional wiped out from the whole thing. I know the family is really suffering and we should be at one with them, but I am a complete idiot for over internet newsing myself. I can't sleep and feel sick. I am doing nobody a favor with all the details I have in my head. For me this is worse than 9-11 because I didn't have internet then. Anybody feel the same ? ”
I certainly do. Even without a blackberry i cannot come to myself and could not sleep at night.
19
Dec 01, 2008 at 01:10 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Referring to a good person as a non-Jew, as in "can you believe a non-Jew would do such a good thing?" is pure am haratzus. Un-thinking Yidden who are surprised when aino Yehudim are heroic fail to understand that the jams we get in as an "am" are of our own doing. We DON'T have the zchusim -- and it's the Aibishter using the aino Yehudim to potch us or not potch us. (Precisely Yitzchok's brocha to his sons, that when one's up the other's down.)
Furthermore, if you look at others without seeing their tzelem Elokim and the neshama that the Aibishter gave to mankind, your vision is corrupted and you are an embarrassment to am Yisroel. ”
neshama maybe everyone has but tzelem elokim i think only a jew has.and when people use the word goyta it people who I THINK only see and think about themself.
20
Dec 01, 2008 at 12:58 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Referring to a good person as a non-Jew, as in "can you believe a non-Jew would do such a good thing?" is pure am haratzus. Un-thinking Yidden who are surprised when aino Yehudim are heroic fail to understand that the jams we get in as an "am" are of our own doing. We DON'T have the zchusim -- and it's the Aibishter using the aino Yehudim to potch us or not potch us. (Precisely Yitzchok's brocha to his sons, that when one's up the other's down.)
Furthermore, if you look at others without seeing their tzelem Elokim and the neshama that the Aibishter gave to mankind, your vision is corrupted and you are an embarrassment to am Yisroel. ”
Lighten up. I don't think anything terrible was meant. Take it in the spirit that it was given...
21
Dec 01, 2008 at 01:30 PM anonymous Says:
i have not slept in days-every time i see moshele;s picture i begin to cry--
22
Dec 01, 2008 at 01:51 PM Charlie Hall Says:
“ This is not [pre-war] poland! The Indian (or hindu) population are a different breed! They have not been inculcated through the Millennia(e) with hatred against the Jews, as have the poles, by the catholic church!!! ”
Jews have lived in India for over 2000 years and have never been persecuted. Whether the country was ruled by Hindus, Buddhists, or Muslims, there was never any persecution. (The only exception was from Christians, in particular the early Portuguese colonists. But Indian Christians have also been good to Jews.)
23
Dec 01, 2008 at 03:12 PM Anonymous Says:
“ The name "Moshe" was first given in the Torah... because he was PULLED and saved from the Water... By a non-jewish woman...
Well now the name shows this again...
He was PULLED and saved ...From the YM"S!.. By a non-jewish woman...
”
may he grow up to be a leader just like moshe rabeinu, to the geula
24
Dec 01, 2008 at 06:59 PM Anonymous Says:
“ The name "Moshe" was first given in the Torah... because he was PULLED and saved from the Water... By a non-jewish woman...
Well now the name shows this again...
He was PULLED and saved ...From the YM"S!.. By a non-jewish woman...
”
#8, I totally relate. But it's such a pull to keep checking "on the family..."
25
Dec 01, 2008 at 11:19 PM Anonymous Says:
I don't know if we can keep up with all this, the tears from this pure neshomele that keeps on calling for mommy, is tearing every single person on this earth apart, Ribono shel olam, AD MUSAI?