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India has, historically, been a refuge and sheltered people of all religions, creeds and beliefs – Zoroastrians, Jews, Sufis, and more recently Bahais - all were granted protection and security when they sought it. They were accepted into the fold of the mainstream society, given land and equal opportunity to excel in their profession of choice – and remain Indians. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism are religions of the land – all were born in India. The central Asian invaders brought Islam. The colonial powers brought Christianity. India remained a large-hearted host to all, enriched its cultural heritage – and became a truly secular nation. People from all communities rose to become eminent citizens of the land. In the first of our series on ‘Spirit of India’ – we feature the story of the Jewish Community of India.

Some Eminent Jews of India

 (Late) Mrs Hannah Sen, was the President of All India Women’s Conference and also the first lady director, Lady Irwin College for Women, Delhi

 (Late) Mr Ezra Kolet did pioneering work for the Government in the shipping industry. 

Mr J. M. Benjamin, former Chief Architect to the Government of India, and former secretary, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, continues to strive to make Delhi a beautiful and habitable place.

Maj. Gen. Samson who was awarded the Padma Bhushan, and a few other Jews reached prominence in the Indian Armed Forces. 
General Jacobs became the Governor of Goa. An erstwhile Chief of the Naval Staff was also a Jew.

Poet Nissim Ezeickel, and cartoonist Abu Abraham 

Dr. Erulkar was the personal physician/friend of Mahatma Gandhi. His father, also a doctor, Abraham Erulkar, donated land for the synagogue in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Dr. Erulkar's daughter became the 1st lady of Cyprus, married to the President of Cyprus.

Jews of India - the Cochin Jews

"Cochin is a city whose indigenous inhabitants have welcomed, befriended and protected Jews for centuries."

 
Jew Town, Cochin.

                                         
Raja Parumal of Cochin gave land next to his palace for the construction of a synagogue - just 30 yards away from his temple. L-R: View of synagogue from the palace; the King's temple with the synagogue in the background.

The Jews could not have survived under Portuguese rule (1502-1663) had it not been for Parumal. In 1565 he gave them a strip of land next to his palace and in 1568 permitted them to build a synagogue not 30 yards from his temple. He appointed a hereditary mudaliar (chief) from among the Jews and invested the position with special privileges and jurisdiction in all internal matters in the Jewish community. This office continued in force under subsequent Rajas and even under Dutch and British rule. The Hallegua family, which still holds the title, continues to be influential in Cochin.

Jews of India - the Bene Israel

The Jews of India are not one singular community. Among themselves they are divided into different communities. Each community has its own culture, background and origin. Each community claims its arrival in India in different ways and it is not always clear how they really came to India. The three main Jewish communities of India are: Bene Israel who believe themselves to be the descendants of the original settlers who came to India as early as 2,000 years ago; Cochin Jews of southern India, who were centred in Kerala; and the Iraqi Jews, called Baghdadis, who began settling in India at the end of the 18th century, mainly in Bombay and Calcutta (Kolkata). There were Ashkenazi Jews and also a community in Manipur, east India, which claims Israeli origin – speculated to be one of the lost tribes - and call themselves Bne Menashe. Each group has active synagogues.

Yemenite cantor with one of Bene Israel blowing the shefar

The Bene Israel ("Sons of Israel") claim to be descendants of Jews who escaped persecution in Galilee in the 2nd century BCE. They settled down primarily in Bombay, Calcutta, Old Delhi, and Ahmedabad and their native language became Marathi. The Bene Israel seem in appearance like the non-Jewish Maratha people, which indicates intermarriage between Jews and Indians. However, the Bene Israel maintained the practices and rituals of Judaism.

They were distinguished from other caste telis (oil pressers) and called Shanivari telis, because of their observation of Sabbath on Saturdays (Shanivar). The Bene Israel community grew and became a guild of oil pressers. They left their first village, Navgaon, and dispersed to other villages and towns along the coast of Konkan, becoming the oil producers and oil pressers of their respective villages. Gradually they derived their surnames from the villages they settled down in - Rohekar; Penkar; Palkar; Ashtamkar originated from the villages of Roha, Pen, Pali or Ashtam respectively.

In the early 17th century, the Bene Israel came in contact with Jews from Cochin who brought them into the mainstream of modern Judaism.The Bene Israel began to move to Bombay in the late 18th century and built their first synagogue, Shaare Rahamim [Gates of Mercy], in 1796. In time, the Bene Israel in Bombay became, demographically, a strong community. In the early 19th century, the Bene Israel numbered approximately 6,000, by 1948 their numbers had grown to 30,000 – today there are only about 5000 in India – the majority having emigrated to Israel and some to Australia and England. Many of its members were employed in government service, and a considerable number of others distinguished themselves as officers in the Indian army. In the 1950's and 1960's, when the majority of Indian Jews immigrated to Israel, a significant number of the Bene Israel remained in India. Among the well-known members of this community in modern day Mumbai is the poet Nissim Ezekiel.

Baghdadi/Iraqi Jews & Manipur Jews

The Baghdadi Jews first arrived from Iraq, Syria, and Iran around 1796, fleeing persecution in their native lands and settled mainly in the port cities of Bombay, Calcutta and Rangoon. They retained their language, Arabic, and a separate cultural identity. Mostly traders and financiers, their contribution to the industrial growth of Bombay is well documented. The most prominent Baghdadi Jew was Sir David Sassoon who established the Indian House of Sassoon in 1832 and paved the way for the arrival of many other Iraqi Jews in India. Sir David Sassoon was also a well-known philanthropist. 

 Eminent in Bombay (now Mumbai) - David Sassoon himself had to flee Baghdad in 1826 from the oppression of the Governor and Wali of Baghdad. Starting cautiously, the Sassoon family business gained ground and strength. With increasing wealth, the Sassoons gave huge sums to both Jewish and public institutions. The community was set on a firm foundation by the house of David Sassoon in the second half of the nineteenth century, and by his grandson Jacob Eliyahu Sassoon in the early twentieth century

"The synagogues built by the Baghdadis still survive. David Sassoon built the Magen David Synagogue in 1861 in Byculla, where the family first lived. This was then the best location in Bombay before other areas were developed. The large synagogue was set in extensive grounds, which were to prove very valuable. Built in the spacious style of Victorian architecture, it was fronted by pillars and a clock tower. David Sassoon also built an elementary school on one side in the same large compound to provide an education for the community's children in Torah and proper behaviour. This was later expanded into a high school by his grandson Jacob Sassoon, and renamed "The Sir Jacob Sassoon Free High School". The synagogue and school grounds became in effect a community centre for the Jewish community of Byculla, where young and old would meet together in the evenings." - Rachel Manasseh

"The Ohel-David Synagogue was built by David Sassoon in 1863 in Poona, where he had his resort home. The synagogue is a well-known landmark in Poona, of impressive architecture in spacious grounds in a central location in Poona cantonment. David Sassoon's Poona home, where he died in 1864 much mourned by Jews and Indians alike, was across the street from the synagogue. His sons buried him in the synagogue grounds in a fine mausoleum. The synagogue and mausoleum were visited by the President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussein, at a special Memorial Service on 10 December 1968, on the occasion of the Centenary celebration of the Sassoon General Hospitals in Poona established by the Sassoons." - Rachel Manasseh

David Sassoon's grandson, Jacob Sassoon, built the Kneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue in the Fort in 1884, in memory of his father Eliyahoo Sassoon (founder of E.D. sassoon and Company). While very few Baghdadis now remain in Bombay and Poona, the synagogue buildings are well maintained and services continue to be held.

The Calcutta Story

Shalon Cohen, an ambitious young merchant, was one of the first settlers to arrive in Calcutta (now Kolkata), from his native Aleppo, in 1798. Calcutta was a flourishing centre of trade and commerce at the time. Early Jewish settlers in Calcutta were traders who established trading links from London to Shanghai - dealing in indigo, cotton, yarn, silk, Veniceware, precious stones, gold leaf, ivory and coffee. Calcutta Jewish community was set up by Shalon Cohen and consolidated by his nephew/son-in-law Moses Duck Cohen, who is remembered for his dedicated service to the community. "He played a leading role in framing the first constitution of the community (29 August 1825) and in establishing the first formal synagogue, Neveh Shalome (Abode of Peace) in 1826, as well as first purpose built synagogue, Bethel in Pollock Street, where it still stands." Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the wealthier members of the community began to adopt western dress and etiquette. The first generations of Calcutta Jews spoke Judeo-Arabic at home, but by the 1890s English was widely spoken. They also moved to select residential area South of Park Street and took a prominent part in Calcutta’s public life.

The community increased from 15 in 1799 to 200 in 1825, and in 1860 they numbered 600 and rose to 2000 by the end of the century. "Japanese invasion of Burma (Myanmar) led to an influx of Jews fleeing from that country raising the Jewish population of Calcutta to an all-time high of about 5000 in early 1940." 

David Joseph Ezra is associated with some of the city’s most imposing buildings – Esplanade mansions, Ezra mansions and Chowringhee mansions as well as Ezra street. David Joseph Ezra made his fortune from prime real estate.

Elia David Ezra, son of David Joseph Ezra built the city’s most magnificent synagogue - the Magen David Synagogue.

D.J Cohen and Reverend E.M.D Cohen played a more direct part in civic work and social uplift. Under Reverend E.M.D Cohen’s proprietorship the Hebrew newspaper Pariah had a circulation of 500 copies a week in 1880s.

Calcutta Jews left for Israel, England and the US, and today only a few remain in this bustling city.

Of the five synagogues, only two remain open for a population of about 60 Jews: Neveh Shalome Synagogue established in 1825, the first Synagogue in Calcutta and rebuilt in 1911, and the Magen David Synagogue, built by Mr. Elias David Joseph Ezra to perpetuate the memory of his father, Mr. David Joseph Ezra who died in 1882. This is the largest Synagogue in the East and is magnificent in architecture and design. There are still about 60 Jews in Calcutta and all are over 65 years of age. Each week on Erev Shabbat, prayer services are held, alternating between the Synagogues.