Every year, Jews from around the world migrate to Israel, a process known as aliyah, a Hebrew word meaning “ascent.” But for the Bnei Menashe community of India, who believe they are descendents of one of the 10 lost tribes of ancient Israel, the road has been long and fraught with difficulty. While almost 2,000…
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Article: India’s Jews
There’s no question that India’s secularism is under strain. Militant Hinduism remains as much a potent force as extremist Islam. The ongoing bloodletting in Kashmir is an open sore, and the periodic spasms of communal violence in Gujarat, combined with memories of the Mumbai bombings of 2006, have led to undeniable tensions. Just have a…
Article: White Jews of India?!?
I just got back from India two weeks ago. INDIA! For those of you who have not been following the blog, I just finished staffing a gap-year program called Kivunim: New Directions. Kivunim seeks to explore Jewish history, and to that end travels to over 10 different countries to learn about different communities in the…
Article: Rare Jewish-Indian Haggadah found in Salford
Dr Wise said the Haggadah gives an insight into the community’s life A rare Jewish text, published for the “Black Jews of India” in the 19th Century, has been discovered in a garage sale in Salford. The 137-year-old Poona Haggadah, used by the Bene Israel community at Passover, was found by University of Manchester historian,…
Jews street Mattanchery Cochin
There is a painting of the two-thousand-year-old Mattanchery Jews Street in Cochin, which is in the Indian state of Kerala, Street with few people out in the sun. It’s just like any other street in India, no matter where it is in the country. Source: https://www.indianartideas.in/artwork/jews-street-mattanchery-cochin/8467
Documentary pays homage to Jews victimised during World War II
A lot of people need to think about what happened to the Jews by the Nazis, which is why it’s important to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. To remember how many Jews and other people were killed by the Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler, a day called International Holocaust Remembrance Day was…
Discovering the Passover Traditions of India’s Largest Jewish Community
Take some of the blood, and hit it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses where they’ll eat it. In Exodus 12:7, God tells Moses that he has to do something This is what my mom remembers from when she was young. When she went to see her…
Indian comedian charged with insulting Hindu deities after right-wing group crashes show
This is what happened: A group of right-wing Hindus stormed the show and confronted the comedian about jokes he allegedly made about Hindu deities. The Indian government has charged the comedian with “hurting religious feelings.” After a stand-up show in the Indian state of Gujarat, Munawar Faruqui and four other people were arrested by the…
A hidden Synagogue In Mumbai Tells The Tale Of How Bene Israeli Jews Found A Home In India
In the past, India has been a safe place for people of all religions to live. Across the world, Jews found safety in India. Synagogues they have built all over the country show that they have a history together. Bombay has a lot of hidden gems, but one of them stands out above the rest….
a vintage jewish cookbook from calcutta, india
This cookbook piqued my interest, and I thought you might be interested. Calcutta, India, released it in 1922. This book was given to me by my father-in-law, a Calcutta Jew. Calcutta’s Jewish community has a rich and colorful history. They’ve lived there for well over 200 years… Barry scanned and emailed me a copy of…