For Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, the death penalty to Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist in 26/11 attack, is a welcome step. But it 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 the phone from Israel. Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka were killed by two terrorists, who laid a three-day terror siege at the Chabad House from 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.
"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 their last," Rabbi Shimon said.
The Holtzbergs ran the Jewish outreach centre in Colaba in south Mumbai, which had an educational centre and a synagogue, offered drug prevention services and accomodation to 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, still bears the bullet marks -- a stark reminder of the hand grenades and rocket launchers that were exchanged in cross-firing during the 45 hour terror-siege.
"It is a very personal and emotional moment for all of us as we have lost Rabbi Gabi, Riviki (as they were fondly called), who were generous and loving people, and four other Jewish people," said Israeli Consul General Orna Sagiv.
"We have been closely following the trial from the beginning. We hope it (the death sentence) is executed at the earliest," Sagiv said.
Another local Jew, who did not wish to be named, said, "It is an emotional moment. I do not want to say anything further."
Samsung Mosses, a local Jew, said Kasab should have been given life imprisonment instead of capital punishment.
"I am against death sentence. He must have been awarded the life sentence because he had come here with a mission to kill people and get killed as well. In Israel, most of the convicts are given life term as it is the best punishment these people deserve," he said.
He, however, said since Kasab had been awarded the death sentence, "We just hope it won't take ten or 20 years to execute and happens quickly. By this, India will send a strong message to extremist groups."
Nariman House, a Jewish outreach centre run by the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement with an educational centre and a synagogue, offers drug prevention services and lodging facility to the members of the community. It is not functioning any more as the building suffered considerable damage during the terror attack, in which 166 people lost their lives.
