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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Nanny who saved Israeli boy during Mumbai attack honored in Israel



Jerusalem (CNN) -- The Indian nanny who saved the life of an Israeli boy during the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 has been granted honorary citizenship and temporary residency in Israel.

At a ceremony Monday, the Israeli interior ministry in Jerusalem handed Sandra Samuel her identity card.

"I hope I will honor the citizenship and love Israel. I would give my heart and soul for Israel," she said.

Samuel has been caring for the boy, Moishe Holtzberg, since his parents died in the attack on the Jewish cultural center, Chabad House. They were among six people who were killed there when terrorists struck several sites around the financial hub of India

All together, the three-day siege in November 2008 killed more than 160 people.

During the raids, 10 men attacked buildings including the luxury Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and Oberoi-Trident hotels, the city's Victoria Terminus train station, and Chabad House.

The only surviving gunman, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani, was convicted of murder, conspiracy, and waging war .

Moishe's father, Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, and his pregnant wife ran the Mumbai headquarters of the Chabad community -- a Hasidic Jewish movement.

Samuel found Moishe standing between the bodies of his slain parents after the attack.

She returned to Israel and has been caring for the boy, helping his grandparents as raise him.

"Sandra Samuel stepped into the fire and abyss and did not think of herself," said Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, Moishe's grandfather, at the ceremony. "She saved Moishe from the fire and we as Jews must thank and respect her."

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