New Mumbai Chabad House to memorialize Holtzbergs

(JTA) — Tentative plans for a new Chabad House in Mumbai feature a memorial to the emissary couple slain in the 2008 attacks in the Indian city.

The plans for the new Nariman House, on the site of the previous Chabad House, are pending consultations with security experts, according to an announcement Tuesday by the Chabad organization.

For security reasons, the Chabad House in Mumbai has been operating since the attacks from an undisclosed location under the direction of the new permanent Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries there, Rabbi Chanoch and Leah Gechtman.

Under the new plan, the fifth floor will have a memorial to the slain Chabad House directors, Rabbi Gabriel and Rivky Holtzberg, in what was their personal residence.

The Holtzbergs were killed in the center along with four visitors in the November 2008 attacks on several Mumbai sites, including luxury hotels, a train station and a popular cafe. More than 170 people were killed in the attacks.

"The terrorists may have murdered Gabi and Rivky, but they will not be able to end their work or their legacy — we won’t allow it," said Chabad Rabbi Yosef Kantor, the Chabad official responsible for the rebuilding effort in Mumbai. "That’s why we are currently putting together the plan for this Chabad House, which includes making sure that when their son, Moshe, comes of age, this place will be here for him should he wish to follow in the footsteps of his parents."

Moshe, then 2, was taken out of the house by his Indian nanny. Both are now living in Israel.

The fourth floor of the new Nariman House will contain a memorial to victims of terror.

Its first floor will feature a kosher kitchen for preparing food for tourists and for delivery to local needy people. The second floor will contain a synagogue for prayer and study; the third floor will serve as space for Chabad functions.