JERUSALEM — Israel granted honorary citizenship Monday to an Indian woman who braved gunfire to save an Israeli boy from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed both of his parents.
Sandra Samuel rescued 2-year-old Moshe Holtzberg from a Jewish center targeted by Islamic militants. She found him by his parents' bodies and rushed him to safety.
Samuel has been caring for him in Israel since then. He is in the custody of his extended family.
Spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said Interior Minister Eli Yishai personally presented the certificate in recognition of Samuel's bravery. She was also granted permanent residency status.
At a news conference, Samuel showed her new Israeli identification card to reporters as she held Moshe in her arms.
"(Moshe) teaches me Hebrew, and if I don't pronounce it properly, he keeps on repeating it, that I say it properly. He is a teacher now for me," Samuel told Israeli Channel 2 TV.
She told Army Radio she is "happy and very honored."
Samuel, a widow, gave up her life in India and left her two sons to move to Israel.
In all, 166 people were killed in the Mumbai attacks.
Oh that's so cool, I wanna save someone today!
Originally posted by ditzy:Oh that's so cool, I wanna save someone today!
Dont anyhow wish afterwards you save someone in Kuala Lumpur then how?
Originally posted by Shorter ninja:
Dont anyhow wish afterwards you save someone in Kuala Lumpur then how?
I'll try to be in Finland when I do that.
Why go through so much stress for citizenship?
Come to Singapore.
You just need to show your face.
Originally posted by charlize:Why go through so much stress for citizenship?
Come to Singapore.
You just need to show your face.
Sg citizenship is cheapskate. In Israel, as long as you are holding their citizenship. They treat you as precious and take good care of you.
You think She want our citizenship?
You pay what you get (Quote from our MM Lee)
Originally posted by zenden9:
Sg citizenship is cheapskate. In Israel, as long as you are holding their citizenship. They treat you as precious and take good care of you.You think She want our citizenship?
You pay what you get (Quote from our MM Lee)
You need to sing more "Count on Me, Singapore" songs.
Bravery is one thing but how can she left her 2 sons behind in India. Where is her responsibility as a mother?
Originally posted by BJK:Bravery is one thing but how can she left her 2 sons behind in India. Where is her responsibility as a mother?
.....shouldn't judge her in pronto, most likely her two sons had already grown up and can take care of themselves
Originally posted by zenden9:
Sg citizenship is cheapskate. In Israel, as long as you are holding their citizenship. They treat you as precious and take good care of you.You think She want our citizenship?
You pay what you get (Quote from our MM Lee)
.....how do you know she wouldn't want Sg citizenship? Bring her to Little India and Mustafar... try our famous fish head curry, roti prata and mee goreng....She'll beg for our citizenship!