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Indian nanny of Jewish kid may get top Israeli honour

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  • The Indian nanny who rescued Jewish toddler Moshe Holtzberg from the clutches of terrorists during the Mumbai attacks, may be conferred a top Israeli honour usually reserved for saviours of Jews from Holocaust.

    Moshe, the orphaned son of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, reached in Jerusalem in a special Israel Air Force aircraft on Monday night which also brought the governess, Sandra Samuel.

    The Jewish couple were killed during the terror siege of Nariman House where they ran a cultural and outreach centre for the ultra-orthodox Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

    Samuel, lauded a hero by the Chabad movement and Moshe's family for saving the child, could be conferred the "Righteous Gentile" award that could facilitate her stay in Israel, media reports said.

    The special honour is usually reserved for those who risked their lives to save Jews from the Holocaust. Samuel, 44, had worked at the Chabad centre for about five years and started caring for Moshe who had become "extremely connected to him".

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    As terrorists stormed the Chabad centre last week, Samuel locked herself in a room with another staff member.

    The following morning, she heard Moshe calling her name and went to look for him. She found Moshe, his pants covered in blood, crying beside his motionless parents.

    The Indian nanny told reporters that she grabbed the child and ran outside. Terrorists continued the siege of Nariman House for the next two days, killing several hostages before being gunned down.

    The Israeli Foreign Ministry is said to be considering granting Samuel the status of "Righteous Gentile", BBC reported.

    Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also told the cabinet on Sunday that her Ministry was working to grant Samuel a residency permit so she could live in Israel.

    Livni's statement followed a request from Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Aharonov, the chairman of Jewish sect Chabad Lubavitch, to clear the way for Samuel's immigration.

    An Interior Ministry spokeswoman told 'The Jerusalem Post' that no formal request had been made yet for her to receive either permanent or temporary residency in Israel.

    However, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit was willing to find a solution that would help her to stay here, at least for the short-term, she said.

    God Bless you MosheBy: Suman | 02-Dec-2008 Reply | Forward I have a 13 month old boy and seeing Moshe on TV crying for his mother really tore at my heart... God Bless u little Moshe.. Wish you all the best and only good things from now on for you...
    SaviBy: What awesome people! | 02-Dec-2008 Reply | Forward Israel is a great nation and if we are as smart as we think we are, we should take Israel's support in dealing with dangerous terrorism that has become the norm in our country. Israel created a country after losing 6 million to holocaust and they know the value of each citizen. Our country does not recognise this and our politicians have played people to get votes and its has brought to this state. In our country only politicians are valued and a guy like the Kerala CM are a dime a dozen. Shameful!
    Country of cattles !By: aa | 02-Dec-2008 Reply | Forward For India, its people are cattles in the Vote bank who can be milked to dry whenever necessary !
    useless insensitive politiciansBy: charit | 02-Dec-2008 Reply | Forward why cant we act live israel....for country sake rise above being marathi and non marathi..for once unite like one india ....we lost 200 and look at israel they send 40 commandos for their5-6 persons.....shame on our leaders....look at shivraj patil, aemy chief they have no concern for this country....
    great response from israelBy: laxman | 02-Dec-2008 Reply | Forward I have a son of one and half year old and this story made me cry. Great response from Israel goverment in granting the residency for Samuel for saving and looking after the little boy
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