Mumbai, May 07: For Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, the death penalty to Ajmal Kasab is a welcome step but rues the verdict cannot help in bringing back his daughter and son-in-law, who lost their lives in the 26/11 attacks.
“It feels good that the court has awarded death sentence to the terrorist. But it does not comfort us because Gabi and Rivki cannot come back,” Rabbi Shimon told PTI over phone from Israel.
Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka were killed by two terrorists who laid a three-day terror siege at the Chabad House starting November 26, 2008. The couple was survived by their three-old boy Moshe, who now lives with his maternal grandparents.
A special court sent Kasab to the gallows for conspiracy, murder, waging war against the nation and committing terror acts.
“The terrorists created a war-like situation for three days and were here to kill people. So the sentence of executing one of the terrorists is always welcome,” he said.
The incident, however, has not changed their opinion of India.
“We will definitely come back to Mumbai once Moshe is old enough. We would like to show him the place that his parents had so fondly built. Unfortunately it was the same place where they breathed last,” Rabbi Shimon said.
The Holtzberg-ran the Jewish outreach centre in Colaba in south Mumbai which had an educational centre and a synagogue, offered drug prevention services and stay to the people of their faith.
Moshe, who is now looked after by Indian nanny Sandra Samuel, often misses his parents and the city, Rabbi Shimon said, adding, “Moshe is fine and is now attending kindergarten classes.”
Chabad House, also known as Nariman House, one of the terror onslaught sites on November 26, still has the bullet marks, reminding the hand grenades and rocket launchers that were exchanged in cross-firing during the 45 hour terror siege pulverized the Jewish community across the world.
-PTI