A day after a terror attack on an Israeli embassy car here, security was Tuesday beefed up at Chabad House in Paharganj, which is a meeting spot for Jews, and the resident rabbi restricted the entry to only Israeli-origin people.
Policemen checked the bags and passports of the people at the entrance, ascertaining that they were Israeli nationals before letting them in.
Michael Goldman from Tel Aviv said it was sad and he was moving out of the city earlier than planned.
"I'm planning to leave Delhi in a couple of days and head northwards to the mountains," Goldman told IANS.
The car carrying the wife of an Israeli diplomat was damaged in an explosion Monday afternoon when a biker planted an explosive on the rear of the car and sped off. The woman, her driver and two people in a nearby car were injured.
Said 22-year-old Israeli backpacker Avi Loewe about the restricted entry to Chabad House: "I'm glad no one was killed. The security will be eased after a couple of days when the situation normalises."
Israelis, who arrive in India in large numbers, as backpackers and tourists, come to Delhi's Chabad House for celebrating special occasions such as Passover.
"Otherwise, they come to the Chabad House to pray, share a weekend meal or socialise," said Thomas Wilhelmsen, a Swiss resident who has been living in the capital for the past three months now.
Chabad Houses serve as Jewish community centres across the world and provide educational and social activities. Such centres aim at providing a cosy and informal place to learn about and observe Judaism.
With headquarters in New York, Chabad Houses are established all over the world. For Israeli travellers, it is a home away from home.
