Moshe teaches me Hebrew, says nanny

Baby Moshe's Indian nanny, Sandra Samuel, who braved bullets to save the two-year-old while his parents were shot dead in Chabad House in the 26/11 terror siege, can finally rest easy.

Almost a month after interior minister of Israel, Eli Yishai, accorded temporary citizenship to Sandra, she was on Monday conferred the honorary Israeli citizenship in Jerusalem. "This is a humanitarian move necessary for anyone who saves a Jewish life," Yishai was quoted as saying.

The 46-year-old widow worked for Rabbi Gavriel and his wife Rivka Holtzberg while they ran the Chabad services from Nariman House, Mumbai. In 2008, while the terrorists targeted Moshe's parents and four Jewish guests, Samuel, who was hiding in the kitchen below, came out to rescue Moshe on hearing his cries.

Talking to DNA soon after the confirmation of her citizenship, Samuel said, "I am very proud and happy. Now I will have no problem in visiting Israel. I will try to love this country as much as I love India."

Moshe, who lives with his grandparents in Afula, will turn four soon. He now attends a religious school and studies in a class equivalent to Upper KG, Samuel informed. "He is big and beautiful and teaches me Hebrew. He goes to school and considers his Sava (granny) as his emma (mother)," she said.

The citizenship issue was taken up after Rivka Holtzberg's parents approached the Israel government for the same. "We are very thankful to the government of Israel. She is a brave woman who had the heart to save the baby. She is like family. We can never forget what she has done for us," said Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, Rivka Holzberg's father.

Samuel is now employed by Moshe's grandparents and visits India often, to visit her lone son.