Mumbai Chabad house, closed after 2008 terror attack, to reopen

Six years after murders of emissaries and visitors, original building to receive guests and resume activities, says movement

By JTA 26 August 2014, 1:14 am

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The Nariman House in Mumbai, a few weeks after the 2008 terror attacks (photo credit: CC BY Nichalp/Wikipedia)

The reconstructed Chabad house in Mumbai, which closed after a terror attack six years ago, is set to reopen.

Nariman House, the six-story home of Chabad-Lubavitch of Mumbai, will be rededicated Tuesday.

A series of attacks in the Indian city in November 2008 by members of a Pakistan-based terror group left 166 people dead, including six at the Mumbai Chabad house, which was targeted along with luxury hotels, a train station and a popular cafe.

Chabad emissaries Gabriel and Rivky Holtzberg were killed in the center along with four visitors. Their son Moshe, then 2 years old, escaped and now lives in Israel with his grandparents. His Indian babysitter, who risked her life to save him during the attack, also relocated to Israel.

Since the attack, Chabad in Mumbai has continued its activities in temporary locations throughout the city directed by Rabbi Yisroel Kozlovsky and his wife, Chaya.

Mumbai's Chabad House, where Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, 29, his wife, Rivka, and four other hostages were killed by Islamist terrorists in November 2008. The couple's young son survived the attack, thanks to his Indian nanny. (photo credit: Serge Attal/Flash90) — Mumbai’s Chabad House, where Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, 29, his wife, Rivka, and four other hostages were killed by Islamist terrorists in November 2008. The couple’s young son survived the attack, thanks to his Indian nanny. (photo credit: Serge Attal/Flash90)

“We’re not moving into a new building; we are returning to our original building, and we will be continuing all of the activities that took place here, and hopefully, grow even more,” Kozlovsky told Chabad.org. “We remember what happened, but we are working for the future.”

During the reopening, Chabad will unveil plans for a $2.5 million Jewish museum that will occupy the fourth and fifth floors of the building.

Some 25 Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis from across Asia, including locations such as Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong, will meet at the newly renovated center following the reopening for the Asian regional gathering of Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis.