National
Netanyahu visits Chabad House, announces ‘Living Memorial’ plans (Lead)
Mumbai, Jan 18 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday visited the Chabad House here along with Moshe Holtzberg, who as a two-year-old was orphaned in the carnage there during the 2008 terror attack, and announced plans to make it a “Living Memorial”.
Sporting the ‘Kippah,’, the trademark Jewish small brimless cloth cap, Netanyahu was warmly welcomed by the present Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky, his wife Chaya Kozlovsky, co-directors of Chabad House, and other officials, in the afternoon where he came to pay homage to the victims of the terror strikes.
The bespectacled Moshe, now 11, also sporting the ‘Kippah’ and a dark suit, had an emotional ‘reunion’ with the Israel Prime Minister, as his Indian saviour nanny Sandra Samuel and grandparents flanked them in a small room in the Chabad House, in Nariman House, Colaba.
Natanyahu warmly held onto both Moshe and Samuel, flanked on his left and right side respectively, as they posed for the paparazzi.
Moshe’s paternal grandparents – Nachman Holtzberg and Frieda Holtzberg, and maternal grandparents – Shimon Rosenberg and and Yehudit Rosenberg, besides his uncle Moshe Holtzberg smiled as the young Moshe read out a brief welcome speech for the PM.
At the solemn event, Netanyahu was seen constantly smiling, and speaking to little Moshe, most of times with his arms around the boy’s shoulder.
He also spoke freely and listened attentively to Moshe’s nanny Samuel, standing beside him, and he put his arms around her shoulder too.
This is the first-ever visit by any high ranking Israeli dignitary to Chabad House, which reopened after repairs in 2014, and Netanyahu and Moshe announced plans to convert a part of the Nariman House (where Chabad House is situated) into “Living Memorial”.
The proposed Living Memorial is likely to include rooms on the fifth floor of the building, where Moshe and his parents used to live, and a small terrace garden, while the fourth floor would be converted into a museum.
Prior to his arrival in Chabad House, Netanyahu paid homage to the memorial of 26/11 victims in the Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, which was one of the targeted sites, and where the visiting delegation is staying. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present alongside.
The Chabad House was one of the targeted sites of the brutal 26/11, 2008 Mumbai terror strikes in which the two-year-old Moshe’s young parents – Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka were gunned down.
Seven others, mostly Israeli nationals, were also killed as Pakistani gunmen opened indiscriminate fire and laid siege to the Chabad House for more than 40 hours.
Later, Samuel and the baby Moshe were taken to Israel where they have been living since the past 10 years, before coming to India for their first visit to Chabad House since the tragedy this year.
The 2008 terror attack lasted for 60 hours and left a total of 166 dead in different parts of south Mumbai, besides nine Pakistani terrorists who were killed and one – Ajmal Kasab – was captured alive, tried and hanged.
Announced in July last year, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Israel, Netanyahu’s visit to the Chabad House came on the final day of his six-day visit to India. He returns to Israel on early Friday morning.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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