Fifth graders thank Indian nanny for saving Moshe

Fifth grade students of an American Jewish school have written individual letters to Sandra Samuel, the Indian nanny who risked her own life to save two year old Moshe Holtzberg from terrorists, during the siege of Nariman House in Mumbai about two weeks ago.

"Dear Sandra, Thank you for saving Moshe," wrote Daniel Smith, a fifth-grader at Solomon Schecter Day School of Nassau County, in appreciation of the exemplary courage shown by the nanny.

Smith was joined by his fifth grade classmate, Jennifer Lipman, the school Principal, Dr Cindy Dolgin, and Judaic Studies teacher, Lizet Romano, who initiated the project, in handing over the letters to the Israeli Consulate to transfer it to Samuel, currently in Israel with the two-year-old toddler.

"Everyone at my school thinks you are a hero. Thank you for all you've done," wrote Lipman.

The initiative recognises Samuel's heroic act on the Jewish traditional belief that says, "one who saves one person saves an entire nation."

The students assured the Indian nanny that "her good deed did not go unnoticed in their community."

The boy's parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, were both killed in the attack on Nariman House.

The Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County, located in Jericho, New York, is a Jewish Day Elementary School affiliated with the Conservative Movement and provides a dual curriculum in Judaic and secular education.

Israel is mulling over bestowing the highest honour for non-Jews, 'the righteous gentile', on Samuel that would enable her to stay in Jerusalem for long.