There are many conflicting reports regarding the wherabouts of the Mombai Shluchim. The Indian newspaper "Economic Times" is reporting that the worst has happened to Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, and his wife Rivka. The newspaper is considered credible by most, but we hope that the information is erroneous. In a phone conversation with a family member, he denied the reports, "there are all sorts of rumors circulating, if there's news the family would be the first to know" he informed Chabad.info. We have so far been unable to confirm the story, as there is no other source for this report.
The Economic Times:
Rabbi, wife killed in attack on Rabbi, wife killed in attack on Jewish centre
28 Nov 2008, 0219 hrs IST,
MUMBAI: Till Thursday morning, Nariman House and its occupants at Colaba were not exactly well known. But as Mumbaikars watched the night of horror unfold, little-known Nariman Bhavan was the scene of a raging gunbattle between terrorists and security personnel, thanks personnel, thanks to its Jewish occupants.
The building, along with the far better known Taj Palace and Oberoi hotels, found itself under siege. The terrorists took a young Israeli Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his young wife Rivka staying at Nariman Bhavan hostage. Both were reportedly killed. The terrorists, however, spared their two-year old son and a maid.
The building is well known as an address for Chabad — pronounced Habaad — a kind of rendezvous for Israeli tourists visiting Mumbai. Besides being a meeting point, it also serves as a tourist information centre and offers shelter to visiting Israelis.
For conservative Jews, it’s the only place in the vicinity that serves Kosher food. According to sources about six terrorists are still in the building, as the operation to flush them was still ongoing at the time this article was written.
The Israeli embassy in New Delhi refused to furnish details about the number of its citizens trapped inside Chabad House. It said it is waiting for the security operation to end. According to Chabad website, the group has 13 centres across India.
