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Last update - 09:06 28/11/2008
'I just grabbed the baby and ran,' says Mumbai Chabad employee
By Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondent

for the last five years.
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The boy, whom she identified as Moshe Holtzberg, the son of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, was unharmed - but his blood-soaked pants spoke of the horrors inside. Holzberg is the main representative at Chabad house.

Samuel, who was looking after the boy at a nearby police station, said that as she ran out, she saw four people lying on the floor, apparently unconscious.

Chabad spokesman Moni Ender in Israel said there were eight Israelis inside the house, including Rabbi Holtzberg and his wife.

Dozens of Indian commandoes have surrounded the five-story building, where heavy curtains hung behind windows broken by gunfire. Outside the center, thousands of people stood in the narrow alleyways watching the standoff.

Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin, a spokesman for the Lubavitch movement in New York, said the gunmen seized a police vehicle, which allowed them access to the area around the Chabad house, which serves as an educational center, a synagogue and offers drug prevention services.

Samuel said she and Zakir Hussein, 22, the center's caretaker, locked themselves in their first floor room when they saw a gunman running up the stairs.

"Israelis and Jews, wherever they are, are under threat," said Ehud Raz, chief security officer at the Israeli consulate in Mumbai. "They are a target."

"Neighbors had tried to protect the house as armed gunmen seized it Wednesday night. They clashed with the gunmen and throwing rocks at them in an effort to drive the militants away," said Puran Doshi, a businessman who lives nearby.

"The crowd eventually retreated under fire from the assailants, who also threw several hand grenades," he said.

"They shot indiscriminately into the crowd," Doshi said.

Sanjay Bhasme, 40, who lives in the building behind Chabad house, said he notified the police after the shooting began about 9:45 p.m., but they took more than 30 minutes to arrive - and only after he'd repeatedly telephoned for help.

"My mind is on pause," said Joel Kurulkar, 24, a member of Mumbai's small Jewish community who was waiting outside. "I just want Rabbi to be safe, I just want the Rabbi and his wife to come out."


'Pray for our family hostage in Mumbai,' Afula family urges

Anxiously awaiting news of their daughter's fate in Mumbai, the Rosenberg family was ensconced in prayer at their home in Afula on Thursday. Rivki, 28, and her husband, Gavriel Holtzberg, 30, a Chabad emissary in Mumbai, are one of a number of Israelis being held hostage by armed terrorists who have stormed into the Chabad house in the city.

The family has received reports indicating that the terrorists have released their two-year-old son, Moshe Tzvi, and their caretaker. Rivki's father, Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, said the family has been stationed in India these last five years as Chabad representatives. Prior to their Mumbai posting, they had spent time in Thailand.

"We speak with them every day and [Wednesday] morning was no different," the rabbi said. "Everything was alright. In the evening, I gave a lesson in Kabbala and just after 9:00 P.M. I got a call tellng us to listen to news of terrorists attacking in Mumbai. We tried to get in touch but all the systems went down and later we heard that the terrorists stormed the building and they were being held hostage."

Related articles:
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      1.   Our prayers are with you 11:43  |  Indian jew 27/11/08
      2.   SHAME! India was the safes for our People 12:44  |  Avi 27/11/08
      3.   Clearly this is justified action by the downtrodden 16:44  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 27/11/08
      4.   Pray for them 16:57  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 27/11/08
      5.   All our prayers are for their wellbeing! 17:04  |  Jewish State 27/11/08
      6.   "terrorists have released their two-year-old son" 17:40  |  Joel 27/11/08
      7.   Wow! Sandra Samuel Is A Real Hero 17:49  |  Jeff Northridge 27/11/08
      8.   no matter how you say it 17:58  |  Big Sur 27/11/08
      9.   How to apologize for this one? 18:51  |  FOX 27/11/08
      10.   god willing 19:57  |  jawan 27/11/08
      11.   What kind of Indian government is it that fails to provide securi 20:26  |  security minded 27/11/08
      12.   Being held hostage 21:20  |  Elisheva 27/11/08
      13.   #3 sHALOM dOC, TOO BAD i COULD NOT BREAK SOMETHING... 21:51  |  BIG SUR 27/11/08
      14.   DOC , good observations . 22:33  |  TOMY 27/11/08
      15.   Be strong 23:09  |  South African Jewry 27/11/08
      16.   A Jewish Boy Can Survive 23:16  |  Big Sur 27/11/08
      17.   Bless you Sandra Samual 23:21  |  Benjamina 27/11/08
      18.   Congratulations to Sandra Samuel 23:30  |  Murray of Montreal 27/11/08
      19.   Sandra Samuel 01:37  |  Isaac Balbin 28/11/08
      20.   WE PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY 01:45  |  American Hindu 28/11/08
      21.   stop those who cause pain 03:08  |  ru 28/11/08
      22.   terrorists 11:16  |  marcella wachtel 28/11/08
      23.   Inidan Christian 15:48  |  MANOHAR.K.V 28/11/08
      24.   Chriatian prayers 16:02  |  MANOHAR.K.V 28/11/08
      25.   wanting to make contribution for Moshe and Nanny 00:07  |  Tania Feierman 30/11/08
      26.   Terrible tragedy and loss of Rabbi and Mrs. Holtzberg 17:15  |  jmishner 30/11/08
      27.   Biblical tragedy 17:17  |  Janet Mishner 30/11/08
      28.   Sandra Samuel for Bravery award 12:04  |  leven5 03/12/08
      29.   I want to donate money to Baby Moshe 18:24  |  Carol 03/12/08
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