The First Heritage Center for Indian Jews in the World

preserving the heritage
The main intention of the Indian Jewish Heritage Center is to preserve the rich heritage of the Indian Jews and all the Jewish communities of India
Join the effort
Our Mission

Driving long-term growth and value creation

    In the past few years we have been busy planning a heritage center in Moshav Nevatim in the Negev
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Museum

will preserve the rich and unique 2000 -year old heritage of the Indian Jews. The Bene Israel, Cochini, Baghdadi, and Bnei Menashe communities each have their own unique customs and traditions.

Spiritual Center

A Center for meditation, yoga and a place to study holistic ways of life. This will include the existing the beautiful historic synagogue at Nevatim

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An Auditorium

with 300 seats. It will serve as a multi purpose hall for heritage programs, art and cultural programs for students from local schools, functions for the Israeli army positioned in neigboring bases and conventions

Arboretum

This area will integrate trees from India, including medicinal plants and trees common in India. The recycled water from the reservoir will be used to water this garden, which, which in turn will bring in birds and wildlife, cool the area and of course increase rainfall in the area.

 Where Indian Jews from the diaspora will help to bring peace, tolerance, tranquility and a healthy way of living to the people of Israel and the world.

why a heritage center

Preserving The Heritage

It is in the Negev that the creativity and pioneer vigor of Israel shall be tested.” — David Ben-Gurion

JNF has helped Israel for the past 120 years. In recent years, JNF has contributed towards building a reservoir on the border of Nevatim of recycled waste water from the surrounding areas. This has transformed the harsh desert conditions of Nevatim and its surrounds to become lush, aided the environment and facilitated agriculture. 

However, the south of Israel still remains weak financially, economically, socially and culturally. Our upcoming heritage center will help change that situation by attracting tourism and education to the area. A much–needed arboretum to help educate the youth about eastern horticulture, help the environment and raise the standard of living in Israel’s south/here.

 

Our Mission

is to Preserve the Heritage of all the Jewish Communities of India

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Community Collaboration

The Indian Jewish Heritage Center and Nevatim museum joined hands in 2018 to incorporate all the Indian Jewish Communities – The Bene Israel, Cochini, Baghdadi, Burmese, Goa, and Bnei Menashe.

The Location

Moshav Nevatim was established in 1946 as one of the 11 settlements in the Negev. Nevatim was re-established in 1954 by Cochin Jews who had immigrated from Kochi, India and made Aliyah.

Phase One:

By 2023 - Raise $1M US, funds required to complete our Auditorium & Multi-Purpose Room including Stage, lighting, acoustics and seating.

Phase Two:

2024-2026 -

A Culinary Center

which will serve a range of delectable Indian foods as well as a place to teach  and learn about the distinctive foods of the four different Indian Jewish communities. The Center will introduce the different vegan options available in India to offer a balanced diet to reduce animal consumption.

An Art center

for children of all ages. The Center will display Indian crafts and handicrafts. It will help attract families with children and students from the nearby schools to show them the exquisite crafts from India.

A Library

for information about Indian Jews. Students from the nearby Ben-Gurion University can advantage of the library facilities and conduct research about the history and heritage of Indian Jews.

A Memorial Center

for Indian Jewish soldiers who have lost their lives in the wars of Israel. This information will be preserved at the museum.

A Trade center

this will be a meeting point for Indian and Israeli companies and entrepreneurs for collaboration.

Our Team

Working with a common vision

Avner Isaac

Chairman of Indian Jewish heritage center

Dr Nehemya Shachaf

Chairman of Cochin Jewish heritage center
Meet the full team
ALL INDIAN JEWS under one roof

Connecting and educating people globally

Donate to help Israel. Donate to the Indian Jewish Heritage Center now.

 

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Your valuable donation will help build this center in  Nevatim. Nevatim is not far from the border of Gaza. The situation in the south is more challenging than other parts of the country. The people of the south deserve a healthy and happy lifestyle. Their children and families deserve a better standard of life. We need to confront the root of the financial problems that are faced by the disadvantaged people, who lack knowledge, and give them tools to support and meet the financial needs of their households. 

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ADDRESS

  • D.N HaNegev Moshav Nevatim 85540
  • indianjewishcenter@gmail.com
  • 972-8-6238-299

QUICK LINKS

Maghen David Synagogue: History; contributors: Deepanjan Ghosh and Rangan Datta

A history of the Maghen David Synagogue follows, written by bloggers Deepanjan Ghosh and Rangan Datta.

Maghen David Synagogue, Canning Street 

Deepanjan Ghosh

“Are you sure that’s a Synagogue?” Jewish Israeli tourist Or Tovi sounded skeptical as we crossed the road. “It has a clock tower; I think it’s a Church. I have never seen a Synagogue which looks like this”. But once he set foot inside, his skepticism changed to open-mouthed awe. “I have never seen a Synagogue so beautiful. There is nothing like this in Israel.” Such is the magic of Calcutta’s Maghen David, the grandest Synagogue in the East.

Judaism was probably the first foreign religion to arrive in India. The first Jews came to Cochin more than 500 years before the birth of Christ. By contrast, the first Muslims came almost a thousand years later. The majority of Jews in India settled around the ports of Bombay, Cochin and Calcutta. The majority of Calcutta’s Jews came from Baghdad, but there were some who came from Aleppo in Syria, and from the Isfahan region of Iran. There was even a small Bene Israel community in Calcutta at one point. The first Jew to settle in Calcutta, in 1798, was Shalom Aharon Obadiah ha-Cohen. Born in Aleppo in 1762, Cohen had arrived in Surat and 1792, and moved to Calcutta from there. Shalom Aharon Obadiah ha-Cohen was a jeweler, and in 1816 he became the court jeweler of the Muslim ruler Ghāzī al-Dīn Ḥayḍar and his son at Lucknow. He was eventually joined in Calcutta by members of his family, and as more and more Jews moved to the city, by the early 1800’s Calcutta had a thriving Jewish community. While there numbers may have diminished dramatically over the years, their legacy, in terms of Calcutta’s built heritage, lives on.

Now, while most books or sites will tell you that Calcutta had two or perhaps three Synagogues, she infact had five, of which three survive. The first of these was the Neveh Shalom, dating back to 1831, and rebuilt in 1911. Next came Beth El in 1856. This was followed by the Maghen David in 1884, the Beth Ha Knesset on Blackburn lane in 1897 (which later became the Maghen Aboth) and finally the Sha’are Rason in 1933. Aline M. Cohen, General Secretary of Jewish Community Affairs in Calcutta says, “the site where Neveh Shalom and Maghen David now stand, a fairly large plot of land, was bought at some point of time and there was house on it, and that house was being used as a Beth Knesset”. This peculiarity is something I was completely unaware of. As it turns out, one does not need a Synagogue to be built to worship. Any large hall may be used for the purpose. In Hebrew the term Beth Knesset or Beth Ha Knesset simply means house of assembly. So, while this house on the property on the corner of Brabourne Road and Canning Street was not a purpose built Synagogue, it was being used as one, and this came to be known as the Neveh Shalom. “Now as the community grew, and Beth El was established, people realized that Beth El was not large enough for the entire congregation. They decided to demolish this building and build a large Synagogue in its place”. This new Synagogue came to be known as the Maghen David, which means the shield or star, of David.

Built on a grand scale in 1884 at the sole expense of Elias David Joseph Ezra, Maghen David took the place of the old Neveh Shalom. Externally, it is in the Calcutta Renaissance style. The clock tower is 42 metres high and the clock used to chime with 5 peals every quarter hour. But it is the interior that stuns visitors. The floor has black and white checkered tiles in some places and colourful mosaic in others. There is a large stained glass rose window right above the door. In the centre of the hall is the pulpit, where the Rabbi would be, and this is one crucial difference between a Church and a Synagogue. At one end of the hall, where one would find an altar had it been a Church, is a raised platform, with a half dome and three curtained doors. Behind the doors, are Torah scrolls; holy artifacts, they are not for public display. The Beth El and the Maghen David at one point had a fine collection of Torah scrolls, but as the community left the city, the scrolls travelled with them, mostly to Israel. Some have gone to the UK and USA. Only 4 remain in Calcutta now, two each in Maghen David and Beth El.

The half dome I was talking about earlier is dark blue in colour and has golden stars painted on it, perhaps to imitate the heavens. Wooden stairs on the left and right of the door lead visitors up to a gallery, with seating arrangements for the ladies of the congregation. Originally lit by gas, the Synagogue now has electric lights, and a most excellent set of chandeliers. As you walk around, if you are observant, you will find that much of the glass used in the lampshades comes from Belgium. This was my first encounter with “Belgian glass”, which in any Bengali family, is the stuff of legends. For those interested in photography, ask the caretakers to turn on all the lights for you. It creates a most attractive warm hue that makes for fantastic photographs. On your way in, our out, do note the many plaques next to the door. One of them is to a Calcutta Jewish RAF pilot, named Sonny Solomon. Killed in action during WWII, his grave may still be located in France.

Those caretakers are another other oddity unique to Calcutta’s Synagogues; they are all Muslim. While in the Middle East Muslims and Jews aren’t what one would call on good terms, here in Calcutta, the relationship has been smooth and unproblematic. India, and especially Calcutta, is a place where the Jews, throughout their long sojourn, have never experienced anti-Semitism. They have also never had a Rabbi except for a short period in the 50’s. Prayers were led by learned men, known as “Hacham”. The only exception was when Ezekiel Musleah, a Calcutta born Jew, travelled to the USA and became an ordained Rabbi in 1952. He came back to Calcutta to serve the congregants of Maghen David for the next 12 years.

Few people are aware that the Maghen David narrowly escaped demolition during the construction of the Howrah Bridge. Now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance, Maghen David is shockingly well maintained. Especially when seen in the context of the general state of most of Calcutta’s heritage structures. A visit to the Maghen David requires permission from Aline M. Cohen, but it is simple to obtain. Call her at her office at the Jewish Girls School, or send her an email at amc1946@yahoo.com. This article would not have been possible without her help, or the help of Jael Silliman and her most excellent website, www.jewishcalcutta.in. I am deeply indebted to them both. I would also like to acknowledge the help provided by blogger Rangan Datta in arranging the meeting with Mrs. Cohen and being a constant source of information and inspiration. Check out his brilliant blog here. The photographs accompanying this article were shot as part of a tour with Vibgyor: Frames of Bengal. Check out their Facebook page here.

 

The Jewish community in Calcutta, once numbering 6000 is now down to about 20. Indeed, it has become a struggle for them to find the “Minyan”, the quorum of ten adult males required to conduct service in a Synagogue. When they did manage, on the occasion of Simhat Torah in 2013, it made the news. In another decade, the Jews of Calcutta will be only a memory. All that will be left of them are the streets named after them, the hospitals and schools built with their effort and their money, and their three magnificent Synagogues.

 

 

Synagogues of Calcutta: Maghen David Synagogue and Beth-El Synagogue

 Rangan Datta

Magen David Synagogue

Built in 1884 the Magen David, or the Shield of David, Synagogue is located at the junction of Brabourne Road and Cannig Street (Biplabi Rashbehari Road). It is located on one of the busiest crossing of Calcutta (Kolkata) and its 140 feet high clock tower still dominates the Calcutta (Kolkata) skyline. Sadly not many Calcuttans are aware of its existence and it is often mistaken as a church.

The Maghen David Synagogue is approached through a arched door, containing the hexagonal “Star of David” and Hebrew inscription. The two side walls contains memorial plaques dedicated to the well known Jews of Calcutta (Kolkata).

Although the services of the Magen David Synagogue have long stopped but the interior are astonishingly well maintained. The chequered marble floor, gleaming chandeliers, stained glass windows create a stunning atmosphere.

The altar of the Magen David Synagogue is crowned with a Apse (Half Dome) studded with stars. It represents the heaven. The large plaque in the middle contain the “Ten Commandments.”

It also contains several other Hebrew inscription along with several other items of Jewish Iconography, including the seven branched lamp stand of Menorah.

Beth-El Synagogue: Amphorae in the cellar

The synagogue had a special license to make wine for ritual purposes. Kosher wine was made in the premises of the Beth El synagogue. The residue of the wine was made into vinegar which was also sold to Jewish community members. The wine was stored in the cellar and then bottled and bought by Jewish families for “Kidush.” These are some of the vats that were used to store the wine.

Beth-El Synagogue: Photographs

Maghen David Synagogue Photographs – Simchath Torah, 1944 /

These photographs of the Maghen David Synagogue, taken during the Simchath Torah celebration of 1944, have been procured by Illana Sondak. She chanced upon them while visiting her cousin Debbie in Mexico. The photographs were part of an album which belonged to Debbie’s father, Lenny Leight who was an an American soldier based in India during World War II and married Illana’s aunt Ramoo Luddy during the war.
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Beth-El Synagogue: History; contributor: Rangan Datta

Synagogues of Calcutta: Maghen David Synagogue and Beth-El Synagogue

Rangan Datta

Beth-El Synagogue

Beth El Synagogue was set up in 1856 and literally means the House of God. It is located stones throw away from the Magen David Synagogue and is located just of the Brabourne Road, on Pollock Street.  Surrounded by shops selling electrical goods the Beth El Synagogue is located in one of the busiest localities of Calcutta (Kolkata).  Although the words “Beth El Synagogue” are written at the entrance but the thousand of people walking past it everyday is unaware of its exsistence.

The Beth El Synagogue is a approached by a flight of marble stairs toped with an arched stained glass and finally crowned with a clock (not visible in the photo). The pale yellow faced of the Bethel Synagogue is complete with Jewish iconography of the hexagonal “Star of David” and the seven pointed candle stand of “Menorah.”

Although the services of the Beth El Synagogue have long stopped but the interior are astonishingly well maintained. The chequered marble floor, gleaming chandeliers, stained glass windows create a stunning atmosphere.

The hall is surrounded by balconies, reserved for women, on three sides.

At the centre of the hall lies the raised platform, from where the Rabbi (Jewish Prist) carried out his services.

At the end of the hall lies the alter crowned with the Apse (Half Dome).

The apse represents the heaven and is painted with the star studded sky. It also contains Hebrew inscriptions, including the “Ten Commandments.”

The stained glasses are the one of the finest attraction of the Beth El Synagogue. The most attractive of the stained glass lies atop the main arched entrance of the Beth El Synagogue. The beautiful arched shaped stained glass is best viewed from the balcony opposite the alter.

The full article can be found here https://rangandatta.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/synagogues-of-calcutta-kolkata/

The Beth-El Synagogue, contributed to the full religious life of the Jewish Community in Calcutta since it possessed a mikveh, which is unfortunately no longer in use.

Prayer Halls

There was a prayer hall that was opened in 1897 by Hacham Twena, a religious teacher, at his home in Blackburn Lane. The prayer hall was called Beth-ha-kneset. It served the community till 1942 when it went into debt. The B.N Elias family took it over, liquidated the debts and pledged to build a proper synagogue called the Maghen Aboth and Yeshibothth in its place. However, services were soon discontinued when the new management committee decided to build a home for the aged of the community. This decision was not realized.

The Sha’areh Rasone, a prayer hall in Sudder Street was formed in 1933 by Mr. A Levroy for those Jewish community members living in South Calcutta. It was patronized by more well-to-do Jews living in South Calcutta who attended daily services. When the Hacham of the synagogue, Abraham Silas left for the UK, the shul closed down.