Top

India Copy

LEARN ABOUT THE JEWS OF INDIA!

The first Jews to arrive in India are said to have come from the “Ten Lost Tribes” of Israel which scattered following the Assyrian conquest of Israel. For centuries, Jews from Europe traveled to India for trading purposes, but the first record of a permanent Jewish community there dates back to the 11th century. Historically, the country’s Jewish population has been divided into three distinct groups: the Baghdadi Jews, the Cochin Jews, and the Bene Israel, respectively. Jews from Persia and Afghanistan settled in northern India while Bene Israel and Baghdadi Jews settled in Bombay.

The Bene Israel first made contact with their coreligionists when Iraqi Jews came upon them in India. They claimed to be descended from Galilean Jews and were observant of some Jewish customs, though they had no rabbis or religious leaders. In 1964, the Israeli rabbinate confirmed that the Bene Israel were, in fact, Jewish and many of them have since moved to Israel.

As of 1996, India was home to a Jewish community numbering 5,000 to 7,000. Today, the Indian Jewish community is served by the Mumbai-based Council of Indian Jewry, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which runs four Chabad Houses in the country.

PLACES OF INTEREST

  • Jerusalem Gate Cemetery
    Nevedar Navagaon, Maharashtra 402201, India
  • Chennamangalam Synagogue
    Village of Chennamangalam, Kerala
  • Mala Synagogue
    SH51, Mala, Kerala 680732, India
  • Parur Synagogue
    Ernakulam, North Paravur, Kerala 683513
  • Beth El Ashtami Synagogue
    Village of Ashtami
    Roha Tehsil
    Raigad District, Konkan Region, Maharashtra
    Visits available only with advance reservation

  • Ambepur Synagogue
    Raigad District, Konkan Region, Maharashtra
    Visits available only with advance reservation

  • Kadavumbagam Ernakulam Synagogue
    Blossoms, Market Rd, Shenoys, Kochi, Kerala 682031
  • Beth El Rewdanda Synagogue
    Wadi Mohalla, Revdanda
    Maharashtra 402202 
  • Beth Haelohim Synagogue
    Raigad District/Konkan Region
    Pen, Maharashtra

  • Hessed El Synagogue
    Chavorpar Alley
    Poyand, Raigad District
    Konkan Region, Maharashtra
     
  • Keneseth Israel Synagogue
    Talley Ghosaley
    Mangaon Tehsil
    Raigad District, Konkan Region
    Maharashtra


  • Orle Israel Synagogue
    Zurul Peth (Lane)
    Tehsil (municipality) of Nandgoan Murad
    Raigad District, Konkan Region
    Maharashtra, INDIA
  • Shaar Hathephilah Synagogue
    Mhasla, Raigad District
    Konkan Region, Maharashtra

SYNAGOGUES

  • Paradesi Synagogue
    Orthodox
    Synagogue Ln, Jew Town
    Kappalandimukku, Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala 682002, India
  • Magen Abraham Synagogue
    Bawa Latif St, Dhalgarwad
    Khadia, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001, India
  • Ohel David Synagogue
    Opp. Nehru Memorial Hall
    Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Rd, Camp, Pune, Maharashtra 411001, India
  • Bene Ephraim Synagogue
    1, Synagogue Street
    Machilipatnam 521 001, Andhra Pradesh
    Sadok Yacobi at yacobi@rediffmail.com
  • Bene Yacob Synagogue
    Village of Kotta Reddi Palem near Chebrole
    Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh
    Sadok Yacobi at yacobi@rediffmail.com
  • Gujurat – Magen Abraham Synagogue
    Bawa Latif Street
    Dhalgarwad, Khadia
    Bukhara Mohalla, near Kamasa Gate
    Ahmedabad, Gujurat
  • Magen David Synagogue
    Orthodox Sephardi
    Police Colony, New Nagpada, Byculla
    Mumbai, Maharashtra 400008
  • Beth El Panvel Synagogue
    Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Mominpada
    Old Panvel, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
    (0091) 22.745.1014
  • Etz Haeem Prayer Hall
    19, Umarkhadi, 2nd Cross Lane
    Balu Changu Patil Marg
    Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue
    Orthodox
    55, Dr. V.B. Gandhi Marg, Fort
    Mumbai, Maharashtra 400023

  • Magen Hassidim Synagogue
    Morland Rd, Agripada, Mumbai
    Maharashtra 400011
  • Shaar Harahamim Synagogue
    Samuel St, Khand Bazar, Vadgadi
    Masjid Bandar West, Masjid Bandar
    Mumbai, Maharashtra 400003

  • Kurla Prayer Hall
    275, S. G. Barve Marg (also known as C. S. T. Road)
    Opposite Buddha Colony
    Kurla West, Maharashtra
  • Magen Aboth Synagogue
    Alibag
    Raigad District, Konkan Region
    Maharashtra
  • Shaar Rason Synagogue
    90, Tantanpura Street
    Mandvi, Mumbai, Maharashtra

  • Succath Shelomo Synagogue
    93, Jewish Lane, Rasta Peth
    Pune, Maharashtra 411011

  • Tiphereth Israel Synagogue
    92, K K Road, Vaishali Nagar
    Kasturba Quarters, Jacob Circle
    Mumbai, Maharashtra 400011

  • Judah Hyam Hall
    2, Humayun Road
    New Delhi 110003
    Ezekiel Malekar, eze_malekar@yahoo.co.in

  • Beth El Synagogue
    26, Pollock St, Chitpur, Barabazar Market
    Kolkata, West Bengal 700001

  • Neveh Shalom Synagogue
    9A, Indra Kumar Karnani St, China Bazar
    Kolkata, West Bengal 700001
  • Shaar Rason Prayer Hall
    90, Tantanpura Street
    Mandvi, Mumbai, Maharashtra
    Judah Samuel, judah2001@yahoo.com 

PLACES TO EAT

  • Chabad India
    Nariman House, Azad Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005, India

RESOURCES

  • Council of Indian Jewry
    Telephone: 91 22 27 16 28

Guide Info

Daniel David

Mumbai, India

+91-900-455-9216, Whatsapp available

daniel.pezarker@gmail.com

Contact David

Discover Mumbai together with a member of the local Indian Jewish community. Visit to the 2,000 years old Jewish cemetery, meet some locals and discover the unique Jewish heritage.

0