Israeli entourage to hold Festival of Lights in Mumbai

Reports from Israel Diamond Industry inform that it held a moving memorial ceremony on Wednesday, December 10, at the Israel Diamond Exchange (ISDE) commemorating the victims of the Mumbai terror attack, which also saw the loss of Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg and his wife Rikvi. India’s Ambassador to Israel His Excellency Navtej Singh Sarna, attended the ceremony along with ISDE executive board, hundreds of diamantaires, and Rivki’s father, Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg.

Mr. Sarna mentioned; “I am deeply moved by the solidarity that I feel here in our hour of grief. The Jewish and Indian peoples share a strong and ancient bond. All of the terror victims shared one common trait – they were all innocent bystanders, like the Holtzbergs. Let us unite and fight terrorism together.”

ISDE President Avi Paz opened the ceremony with remarks as: “The Jewish people is no stranger to suffering and we know terror-related agony only too well – this is why we identify so deeply today with the Indian people. The young couple at Chabad House in Mumbai worked diligently on behalf of Israel’s diamantaires and any Jew who entered its gates. I am convinced that when it comes to their good deeds, we now see only the tip of the iceberg.”

Rabbi Rosenberg warmly praised the Indian nanny, Sandra, who saved the life of his two-year-old grandson, Moishe, and added that salvation often comes from the very depths of despair. Rabbi Rosenberg announced a special event scheduled for the last day of the Chanukah festival: A special flight will bring an Israeli entourage to Mumbai, where they will participate in a procession from the Gate of India to the rubble of Chabad House in the city. There the eighth candle of the Festival of Lights will be lit. Turning to the diamantaires surrounding him, he called: “My dear brothers, please return to Chabad House in Mumbai.”

Among the other speakers were the manager of the Israeli branch of the State Bank of Israel, Ms. Sasikala Varadachari, Rabbi Hagai Halevi, Honorary Secretary of the Israel Diamond Exchange, and a friend of the Holtzberg family, Samuel Marshal.