Sandra Samuel: Difference between revisions

'''Sandra Samuel''' (born {{circa|1964}}) is an Indian [[nanny]] who gained international recognition for rescuing a two-year-old [[Jews|Jewish]] boy named Moshe Holtzberg in [[Mumbai]], [[India]], during the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nanny credited with tot's daring rescue - CNN.com|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/02/moshe.mumbai/index.html|access-date=2021-07-14|website=edition.cnn.com}}</ref> Samuel was employed as a caretaker at a [[Chabad house|Jewish outreach centre]] known as the [[Nariman House]], which was targeted by [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] (LeT), an [[Islamic terrorism|Islamic terrorist]] organization based in [[Pakistan]]; both of Holtzberg's parents were killed by LeT militants during the attack on the building.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Esther Crispe|first=Sara|date=30 November 2008|title=Sandra Samuel: A Heroine in Mumbai|url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/775350/jewish/Sandra-Samuel-A-Heroine-in-Mumbai.htm|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2021|website=[[Chabad.org]]}}</ref> Following the incident, Samuel relocated to [[Israel]] with Holtzberg and was honourably granted full [[Israeli citizenship law|Israeli citizenship]] in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Nov 26|first1=PTI / Updated|last2=2018|last3=Ist|first3=08:47|title=Moshe's nanny: Sandra Samuels wants 26/11 'scars' wiped from Nariman House - Remembering Mumbai Terror attacks|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/26-11-lest-we-forget/moshes-nanny-sandra-samuel-wants-26/11-scars-wiped-from-nariman-house/articleshow/66803387.cms|access-date=2021-07-14|website=Mumbai Mirror|language=en}}</ref> Samuel resides in [[West Jerusalem]] and works at the local centre of [[ALEH]], an Israeli foundation that provides rehabilitation services for [[Disability|disabled]] children and adults.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oster|first=Marcy|title=Decade after Mumbai massacre, murdered Chabad couple's son flourishes in Israel|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/decade-after-mumbai-massacre-murdered-chabad-couples-son-flourishes-in-israel/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

On 4 December 2008, Samuel gave an interview with [[CNN]] in which she said she sees no heroism in her actions and that she wishes she could have been able to help more people, especially Moshe's parents. She also stated that she still has nightmares about the attacks. Currently, Samuel is living in Israel where she remains the caregiver for Moshe, who she says is learning to play again although he likes to have her close by. Samuel told an interviewer, "They said it is important I am here [in Israel]. Me, I just take care of the baby." When asked about her plans for the future, Samuel said she would stay in Israel for as long as Moshe needs her.<ref name=CNN>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/04/nanny.mumbai.interview/index.html In her own words, nanny's brave escape in Mumbai], CNN, 4 December 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/12052008/news/worldnews/i_just_took_kid__ran_142806.htm 'I Just Took Kid and Ran' – Hero Nanny Relives Mumbai Escape] by Cathy Burke, [[New York Post]], 5 December 2008.</ref> She stated that "No one knows how much Moshe saw, or how much he knows. His back is bruised where terrorists hit him. Now I want to see that this baby who has been given in my care, he grows big, brave like his [dad]."<ref>[http://wcbstv.com/local/mumbai.moshe.holtzberg.2.880923.html Nanny Saves Jewish Toddler From Mumbai Attacks]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} by Kristine Johnson, Wcbstv.com, 6 December 2008.</ref> Samuel says she wants to be with Moshe until he "grows big" and that "By God's grace I hope I am there to see it. That's it. All my blessings to my Moshe baby."<ref>[http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-57175.html Nanny of Israeli boy recalls horror of Mumbai terror attack], Newkerala.com, 6 December 2008.</ref>

[[Category:Israeli people of Indian-Jewish descent]]