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The Jews of India
consists of 3 groups:
The Cochin Jews, The
Baghdadis and Bene
Israel. The Cochin Jews
settled around Cochin
since 15th century. The
Baghdadis mainly from
Baghdad and Syria, came
in the 19th century and
settled in and around
Bombay and Calcutta,and
speak Arabic or Persian
and English. Presently,
only a small number of
Cochin and Baghdadi Jews
reside in India.
Bene Israel Jews are
believed to have come
from the ancient Kingdom
of Israel in 722 BCE,
although some believe
they came from the
Kingdom of Judah in 586
BCE, when Jerusalem was
taken by Babylonians. At
present, it is the Bene
Israel who predominate
the Jewish presence in
India. The story of the
Jews in India has been a
happy one where Jews
dwelt in complete
security and have been
accorded an honorable
place in the social
structure of the land of
India. The majority of
Indian Jews have
migrated to Israel.
Presently about 6000
remain and many of them
are highly assimilated
Bene Israel in Bombay.
Bombay, (presently known
as Mumbai) is the heart
of Indian Jewry. Bombay
is where EAST meets WEST
and is like a woman in a
jeweled evening gown
with a sari peeking out.
A Necklace of Seven
Islands, was once a tiny
fishing village, is now
the sophisticated
international business
and industrial center.
Bombay occupies a proud
chapter in Jewish
history and at its peak
by 1950, it supported a
Jewish community of
about 35,000. Though the
community has dwindled
to 3500 now, it does its
best to celebrate
rituals they remembered:
laws of Kashut,
circumcision, Shabbat
and reciting the Shema.
Indian Kosher Cuisine---Jews
settled in India adopted
and modified local
Indian and culinary
touches, often improving
upon them in the
process. Indian cuisine
is dominated by Mughlai
style created by Mughal
emperors with tandoori
food style using exotic
spices popular in North
India. At
Shalom Bombay,
we with our imagination
and experience have
created kosher culinary
delights, mouth watering
vegetarian and meat
preparations by using
non dairy products under
strict supervision of
the Orthodox Union.
We welcome you at
Shalom Bombay
to enjoy our food,
prepared to your
taste,mild, medium or
hot. |
