The wounds are still fresh, the bullet marks are still there but it’s time for a fresh start for Mumbai’s Jewish community. The Chabad House centre in downtown Colaba, better known as Nariman House, opened on Tuesday, nearly six years after the 26/11 tragedy.
Six of its occupants including Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his five-month pregnant wife Rivka had died when terrorists attacked the building on that fateful night.
Their son Moshe Holtzberg, who was 2-years-old then, was saved by his Indian nanny. Now 8 years old, Moshe lives in Afula, Israel.
The five-storey Nariman House will cater to the needs of visitors and the local Jewish community. A synagogue, kosher kitchen are part of the new set up.
The top two floors of the building house a memorial dedicated to the victims of the attack. The bullet marks have been left intact on the walls, keeping the memories of the attack alive.
The redevelopment of Nariman House had come into dispute in 2010 after the family of the deceased alleged embezzlement of funds on the part of some officials of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
However, the matter was later settled amicably by the brother of Rabbi Gavriel.
The Mumbai terror attacks had begun on November 26, 2008 when 10 armed terrorists from Pakistan landed on Mumbai’s shore and went on a killing spree. Besides the Nariman House, they targeted the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi Trident and the Chatraparti Shivaji Terminus among other places. 164 people were killed and at least 308 more were left wounded.
