August 15, 2021 to August 16, 2021 The Indian Jewish diaspora in Israel came together to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with the launch of the Indian Jewish Artefacts Exhibition at ICC Tel Aviv in association with the Indian Jewish Heritage Center (IJHC), Israel on the special occasion of India’s Independence Day, which marks the beginning of…
More than half a century ago, the magnificent synagogues of Kolkata were packed with members of a vibrant Indian Jewish community. The congregations are no longer present—less than two dozen remain—but the mosques are still maintained by numerous generations of Muslim families. In 1798, a Syrian jewel salesman named Shalom Cohen became the first Jew…
When we think of the subcontinent, we think of the Mughal invasions of 1526 and the partition dates of 1947. The subcontinent’s destiny and final division would be shaped by the Durrani regimes, Mughal emperors, British rule, and the violent politics of partition during this huge period of history. The Jewish community of the subcontinent,…
Thousands of previously God-fearing Christians are switching to Judaism in the Indian state of Mizoram. They claim they are related to one of Israel’s twelve lost tribes.
Samson’s solo presentation follows him from the shattered streets of Mumbai to the twisted streets of San Francisco, capturing his Indian Jewish upbringing, becoming an American citizen, and adopting an Afghan child. His show has been featured on NBC, CBS, NPR, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Abhay N. is the opening act. Mahatma Moses, also…
According to the Times of India, an Israeli-British writer obtained a deportation order from a municipal court in Kochi, India, and aims to challenge the matter to India’s Supreme Court. Susan Nathan, 62, was born in England and moved to Israel in 1999. Her book “The Other Side of Israel,” published in 2004, studied the…
It may seem hard to believe, but the most ardent audiences and lovers of classical Indian music nowadays may be found in the tiny state of Israel, which is located outside of India (population some 8 million, far less than the size of one of the major Indian cities). To some part, this odd fact…
This study examines novelist Esther David’s restorative fictional creations, The Book of Esther (2000) and The Book of Rachel (2001), through partial historical recovery (2006). David, a renowned writer from India’s Bene Israel Jewish community, utilizes fiction to redefine Indian Jews’ link to a past that is Jewish, Indian, and global, as well as ancient,…
Anish Kapoor, a well-known Indian-origin British sculptor, was declared the recipient of Israel’s coveted $1 million Genesis Prize on Monday for his commitment to Jewish ideals. As the recipient of this year’s Genesis prize, called the Jewish Nobel, Mr. Kapoor (62) spoke out against “abhorrent government practices” toward refugees. Mr. Kapoor joins Itzhak Perlman, former…
The story of the Cochini Jews has been told and replayed so many times that it has been reduced to anecdotal, tourist-friendly clichés. Documentary: Rohan Sabharwal’s film on the Cochini Jews looks at the group from the perspective of individuals However, Mumbai-based Punjabi director Rohan Sabharwal was not interested in this story. “How far can…