History of Jews Bene Israel community Culture & Jews Synagogues Temple in Mumbai , Hindustan ( Bharat / India)

History of Jews Bene Israel community Culture & Jews Synagogues Temple in Mumbai , Hindustan(Bharat / India)

History of Jews Bene Israel community Culture & Jews Synagogues Temple in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) always had the large Jewish population and during the 1940s it reached its peak with a figure of almost 30,000. Today the Mumbai Jews number about 3,500 and the houses a total of 9 synagogues. Out of the nine, six are in the down town Mumbai area while the remaining three are in the outskirts of the city.

The first group of Jews arrived in the Cochin region of Kerala long before the birth of Christ and came to be known as the Cochin Jews.

Next came the Bene Israel (literally meaning the Children of Israel) Jews, who were considered as descended of the lost tribes of Israel. They arrived more than three centuries ago and settled along the west cost of India.

At the end of the 19th century came the Baghdadi Jews, as the name suggests, are of Iraqi origin. They were a flourishing business community and settled in business centres like Calcutta (Also see: Kolkata Jews) and Bombay.

In Bombay they flourished under the leadership of David Sassoon, a prominent Baghdadi Jew, who settled in Bombay in 1832.

The Baghdadi Jews, while retaining their Iraqi Jewish culture, also went on to establish themselves as wealthy businessmen and philanthropists in Mumbai.

Soon their business flourished and the Bagdadi Jews of Mumbai started settling in the posh Byculla area of south Mumbai.

The four out of the six Jews synagogues temple of downtown Mumbai belongs to the Bene Israel community while the remaining two belongs to the Bagdadi Jews. Most the downtown Mumbai Synagogues temple are basic places of worship and lack the grandeur of Kolkata’s magnificent synagogues of Magen David and Beth El.

Calcutta (Kolkata) has always been a melting pot of various cultures & religions. Jews were one of the last communities to arrive in Calcutta (Kolkata) but within a short span of time they made their presence felt by controlling a large section of the trade in Calcutta (Kolkata).

As the Jews community in Kolkata (Calcutta) grew in number and power they started building Synagogues. The first Synagogue Neveh Shalome Synagogue came up in 1831 (it was rebuilt in 1910) followed by Beth El Synagogue (1856), Magen David Synagogue (1884), Magen Aboth Synagogue (1897) and Shaare Rasoon Synagogue (1933).

The independence of Hindustan in 1947 and the birth of the Jewish state of Israel in 1948 marked the decline of Jewish population in Calcutta (Kolkata). Today (2012) there are about 30 Jews are left in the city.

But two synagogues, Beth El & Magen David, of Calcutta (Kolakta) still stands. Declared as protected monuments they are looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The synagogue was built in 1884 by Jacob Elias Sassoon and his brothers in memory of their father Elias David Sassoon, (Elias is same as Eliyahoo) who was the son of David Sassoon.

David Sassoon was a Bagdadi Jew who settled in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1832 and was a successful businessman and manufacturer.

It was designed by the British architectural firm Gostling & Morris. The exteriors are a combination of blue and white and it is known as Mumbai’s Blue Synagogue. The synagogue is a combination of Neo-Classical and Gothic-Victorian architecture. The exterior faced contains corinthian columns and triangular pediments.

The present building of the synagogue dates back to 1860. Due to shortage of space the old building had to be replaced with a new bigger building. The synagogue was renamed Shaar Harahanin Synagogue during the centenary celebration in 1896.

The two-storey synagogue is located in a very congested area of south Mumbai and two marble plaques on the walls and a couple of stars of David on the walls and gate are the only signs of a synagogue. The interiors have grey marble floor and large windows. The plans are same as other synagogues with a central pavilion and first floor ladies balcony.

The synagogue has a single floor and the entrance is through the women’s gallery. The wooden central pavilion is fitted with brass ornamentation. The corners of the pavilion are fitted with miniature menorah. The bright yellow painted walls and the chandelier light creates a golden glow interior.

As the community grew they wanted their own synagogue and in 1861 Magen David the first Bagdadi Jew Synagogue came up in Mumbai (then Bombay). It was funded by David Sassoon, a Bagdadi Jew who settled in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1832.

Unlike the three previous Bene Israel Synagogues of Mumbai, which were built in middle eastern style along with local elements, Magen David was built in European style. Magen David had a steeple housing a clock, something unusual for a synagogue.

The interior of the synagogue is a double-height sanctuary with women’s gallery wrapping around three sides of the upper floor. The central pavilion is fitted with decorative brass railing. The four corners of the central platform is fitted with brass light stands, each containing 4 lights. In the 2010s the exterior and interior of the Magen David Synagogue have been painted blue and white. The interior are fitted with white florescent white light and creates a feast for the eyes with the blue – white backdrop.

Later Benjamin Samson Dandoolkar, one of the community members established a prayer hall which came to be known as Dandoolkar’s Prayer Hall. But soon it was short of place and in 1934 the community came up with the present prayer hall and named it Magen Hasidim Synagogue.

The two story structure has a vaulted ceiling, a recessed entry porch with a low set of steps. The centre has a Hebrew inscription of the ten commandments.The interiors are more lively with a decorative wooden central platform. The women’s gallery is on the first floor balcony. Decorative chandeliers lit up the interior with the large windows allowing the natural light to filter in.

Tiphereth Israel Synagogue

Jacob Circle

Tiphereth Israel Synagogue or Tifereth Israel Synagogue (literally meaning the Glory of Israel) located near the Jacob Circle is the third Bene Israel Synagogue in Mumbai.

It started in 1886 as the Jacob Circle Prayer Hall and in 1896 it was renamed as Tephereth Israel Synagogue.

In 1924 the community moved to a larger space due to the efforts of community member Aaron Benjamin Kandlekar. In Kandlekar’s honor for his generosity, the synagogue also became known as Kandlekaranchi Masjid or Kandlekar’s Synagogue. Today the Kandlekar family takes an active part in the running of the synagogue.

Over the years the synagogue has undergone several renovation with the last major one coming as late as 2000. The synagogue is located on the ground floor with the ladies gallery on the northern side. Hanging brass and glass lanterns, ceiling fans, decorative metal window grilles and wall scones are part of the grand interior. The central pavilion is surrounded by wood and brass balustrade, with brass lamp shades on four corners.