Rabbi Chanoch and Leiky Gechman will soon arrive in Mumbai to take charge of the Mumbai Chabad House, said a source.
Over a year and a half after it convulsed in violence, a new rabbi and his wife will soon arrive in the city to take charge of the Mumbai Chabad House, a target of the 26/11 attacks.
"A new rabbi and his wife have been appointed. Rabbi Chanoch and Leiky Gechman will arrive in Mumbai to take charge of the Mumbai Chabad House," a source from the Chabad House told PTI in Mumbai on condition of anonymity.
The source also did not divulge when the new couple will assume charge of the establishment which has moved to a new "undisclosed" premises from Nariman House in Colaba.
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice-chairman of the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, announced their appointment in Washington on Wednesday.
Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka were killed by two terrorists who seized Nariman House for nearly three days before being felled themselves by NSG commandos.
There were media reports that no couple was coming forward to head the establishment in Mumbai.
"But now, there's a rabbi who just got his visa on Friday and will be going there in a few weeks to continue their work and revive Chabad activities in Mumbai," the Chabad's website quoted Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky.
The Holtzbergs ran the Jewish outreach centre in Colaba, south Mumbai which had an educational centre and a synagogue, offered drug prevention services and stay for the people of their faith.
Gechman had first come to Mumbai in 2006 to assist the Holtzbergs after the birth of their son Moshe, the website said. The couple has visited the city several times since then.
The new rabbi who was in shock when he heard about the terror attack, after his appointment, said, "I enjoyed it very much. I would learn with any Jew who came in, whatever they wanted to learn."
He further said, "There is endless work here. There is always something going on. And more importantly, people really believe in this city. The place with a lot of energy, full of life."
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