New York – Mumbai Terror Victim’s Dad Lights Menorah at the Statue of Liberty [video]

New York – The grieving father of a Brooklyn-born rabbi slaughtered in Mumbai vowed yesterday to rebuild his son’s Jewish center that terrorists tried to destroy.

Nachman Holtzberg, 59, said the best way to heal his heartache is to ensure the work of his murdered son and daughter-in-law continues in the Indian city they loved.

“It will show those who want to destroy the house in India that we will continue to grow and to have strength,” said Holtzberg, sitting in his Crown Heights home next to a lone, plain menorah.
“We will fight the terrorists with light, goodness and kindness. And not violence,” he said.

Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg; his wife, Rivkah, and three guests were killed Nov. 28 after terrorists invaded the Chabad-Lubavitch Center they built in Mumbai. The couple’s 2-year-old son, Moshe, was rescued by his heroic nanny.
Nachman Holtzberg said he is determined either to rebuild the center or relocate it in Mumbai.

Last night, he participated in a menorah lighting ceremony at the foot of the Statue of Liberty to mark the third night of Chanukah.

“You don’t need to fight the darkness, you just need to bring light,” Holtzberg said.
“That is what my son did in India.”

Holtzberg and his family were scheduled to fly to Israel last night and then on to Mumbai, where they plan to hold another lighting ceremony before the last night of Chanukah.

Afterward, they’ll return to Israel to be reunited with Holtzberg’s grandson Moshe.

Nachman Holtzberg’s son Avraham said his family is looking forward to lighting his slain brother’s opulent menorah, which was broken in the attack and has since been repaired.
“This wasn’t something that just happened to my family,” Avraham Holtzberg said. “But to the whole world.”