Jewish orphan finds new life with Indian savior
Jewish orphan finds new life with Indian savior
- Jewish boy now in Israel with Indian nanny
- Moshe Holtzberg found amid the bodies of his parents
- Nanny says she will stay in Israel as long as he needs her
- Samuel: Moshe "is like a normal kid"
Tel Aviv, Israel (CNN) -- In a scene his parents would have been heartened to see, family and friends recently thronged around young Moshe Holtzberg as men in black suits and black hats took turns cutting locks of hair from the boy's head on a stage in a rented party tent outside Tel Aviv, Israel.
The celebration marked Moshe's third birthday and in Hasidic Judaism tradition he received a haircut to symbolize his readiness to begin his religious education.
Standing not 10 feet away and watching closely was Sandra Samuel, the Indian nanny who one year ago saved Moshe's life.
Samuel was working as a nanny for Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg when the Jewish Chabad Center they ran in Mumbai, India, came under attack by terrorists.
Samuel survived the attack and rescued Moshe who she found crying, standing between the bodies of his parents.
Since that fateful day she has not left Moshe's side. Samuel accompanied him to Israel where, with her help, he is now being taken care of by his grandparents and extended family.
A year on Sandra said the memories of Mumbai and Moshe's parents still haunt her. Holding back tears, she said, "I feel happy for the baby, but I am very sad, more than sad, I think."
"He has adjusted very very well and is like a normal kid. He goes to school, he plays, he jumps. He has a lot of friends. His life is normal," she said.
Moshe's paternal grandfather Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg said Samuel has been like a surrogate mother. "She knows everything about him, all the natural things because she has known (him) since he was a small child. Things are getting better and better."
Holtzberg added that the entire family rallied together to help Moshe adapt to life without his parents and believes his son would be pleased. "I'm sure that my son would be here now and looking at how I take care of him. He would be happy."
Samuel, a mother of two grown children, said she was trying to spend less time with Moshe so he could better adapt to his family and sees herself returning home to India within two years -- though she said she would stay in Israel for as long as Moshe needed her.
Samuel said her message was simple: "To carry on life. Be strong and that's it. Put everything in God's hands."
Luc and Emily my reason for breathing!' About 35 and over with small children:This group is for Mommies wanting to make new friends with other People are asking me about the race problem.... I know of no race problem. The great problem that confronts the American people to-day is a national problem -- whether this great nation of ours is great enough to live up to its own convictions, carry out its own declaration of independence, and execute the provisions of its own constitution. (1893)Fredrick Douglass
That's awesome thanks for sharing that.
Join us on
Current Events & Hot Topics
Group Mod
What a great thing for this woman to do.. thanks for posting..
Join us on
Current Events & Hot Topics
Group Mod
How odd. I was just thinking about this the other day, and wondering what had happened to the little boy.
Anyway, it's wonderful that she is so dedicated to him, and sensitive to his needs. I feel so badly about what happened, and when she describes the scene with Moshe between the bodies of his parents, crying- my heart just hurts. That must be a very difficult memory to live with.
Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
Should P. Diddy's son return $54,000 college scholarship?
- emilysmom1966
on Nov. 25, 2009 at 11:55 PM