MUMBAI: Nariman House, which was rebuilt by the Jewish Orthodox Chabad Lubavitch sect about four years ago and renamed Chabad House, and now ruined again by the terrorists will be rebuilt once again to its former glory and will continue to host visiting Jews from around the world.
Nariman House was severely damaged by the terrorists who also killed Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, his wife Rivka and three others and held the five-storied building to ransom for over two days before being killed by security personal.
Due to heavy gunbattle and extensive use of grenades and explosives, the entire interiors of each five floors have been badly damaged, though the pillars and the columns of the structure seem to be in good shape.
Speaking to Express, a senior official of the Israeli Consulate who did not want to officially link the Consulate with the Chabad activities, though accepting that it was a moral responsibility to look for their welfare, said that the people associated with the Chabad Lubavitch movement from across the globe were in favour of rebuilding the premises and continue the activities as before.
“All the close family members of those who were killed, including the Rabbi’s family members and the entire Chabad community from all over the world, have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their work in the city. As a matter of fact funds are also been raised to rebuild the premises as soon as possible,” the consulate official said.
According to him, the local municipal authorities had already conducted a structural audit of the premises and have certified that the basic structure of the building was very strong.
“We have also got a structural inspection done by a leading expert and they are of the opinion that the framework of the building remains very strong, though we will have to redo the interiors. Possibly the work for rebuilding the building will begin very shortly,” he added.
Rabbi Kotlarsky, vice- chairman of the International Conference of Chabad Lubavitch Emissaries, along with Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg and his wife Frida, accompanied by Rivka’s parents, and several of Chabad Jews had performed a purification ceremony at the Nariman House followed by a lighting ceremony known as the ‘menorah’ in Jewish faith.
At an earlier ceremony Rabbi Holtzberg, father of Rabbi Gavriel, had also lit a similar menorah installed at the Chabad centre at Nariman House and their close family members has gathered at the fifth floor terrace of the building.
