Family and friends came together Wednesday night to pray for the safe return of a Brooklyn rabbi and his wife, who were taken hostage by terrorists in Mumbai, India.

Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka are believed to be held by gunmen who attacked the headquarters of the Chabad Lubavitch house. The Holtzbergs moved to India five years ago to run the ultra-orthodox Jewish organization.

The couple?s 2-year-old son had been rescued from the offices of Chabad Lubavitch by a cook, Sandra Samuel, who said the boy?s pants were soaked in blood, but he appeared to be unharmed.

Samuel says as she ran out with the boy in her arms, she saw the Holtzbergs and two other unidentified guests lying on the floor, apparently "unconscious."

It has been reported Thursday afternoon that eight hostages have been released from the headquarters of the Jewish outreach group, but it is yet to be determined whether Holtzberg and his wife are among those freed.

AP wire services contributed tothis article.