The Mumbai attacks in November 2008, also known as 26/11, represent one of the most audacious acts of terrorism in recent history, involving multiple coordinated attacks across Mumbai, India's financial capital. Among the targets was the Nariman House, also known as the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center, which served as a peaceful hub for Jewish activities and hospitality in the city. The siege at the Chabad House was part of a broader assault that brought the city to a standstill for four days, resulting in widespread chaos, the deaths of 166 people, and injuries to more than 300.

Background:

On November 26, 2008, ten gunmen associated with the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba landed on the Mumbai shoreline in a small boat. They split into groups to carry out attacks on several high-profile locations, including luxury hotels, a railway station, a popular café, and the Nariman House. Their objectives were to kill, take hostages, and gain international media attention by targeting places frequented by Westerners and Jews, thereby projecting their ideological hatred and creating an atmosphere of fear and despair.

Details of the Attack at Nariman House:

The attackers stormed the Nariman House, taking Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, who ran the center, along with several other hostages. The siege lasted until November 28, when Indian security forces launched an operation to retake the building. The operation was challenging and involved navigating the complex layout of the building under fire from the militants, who had taken strategic positions with hostages.

Victims of the Attack:

The attack claimed the lives of six Jewish individuals, including:

- **Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg** and his wife, **Rivka Holtzberg**, the directors of the Chabad House. Their leadership and hospitality had made the center a welcoming place for Jews from all over the world visiting Mumbai.

- **Norma Rabinovich**, an Israeli citizen who was visiting the Chabad House at the time of the attack.

- **Yocheved Orpaz**, a visitor from Israel who had come to Mumbai to visit her daughter and grandchildren.

- **Bentzion Chroman** and **Leibish Teitelbaum**, two Jewish visitors from the United States and Israel, respectively, who were in Mumbai for religious purposes and staying at the Nariman House.

The aftermath of the attack left the Jewish community and the world in mourning, particularly poignant for the Holtzbergs' two-year-old son, Moshe, who was rescued by his nanny, Sandra Samuel, during the attack. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of soft targets to extremist violence and the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism. The Chabad House in Mumbai has since been renovated and continues to serve as a symbol of resilience against hatred and terrorism, honoring the memory of those who lost their lives in the attack.