Our Visit to India 2016 NCL Cruise from Dubai
Mumbai
Mumbai General Information and Mumbai Port
Jewish Chronicles of India
The Shaar Harahamim Synagogue also known as Gate of Mercy Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Mumbai. The synagogue was built in 1796 by Samaji Hasaji Divekar (known as Samuel Ezekiel), a Bene Israeli. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the area was inhabited by a small but thriving Jewish community. Despite a fall in numbers, the synagogue still maintains active services. It serves a congregation of about a hundred members daily. According to historical accounts, Samuel Divekar and his brother Issac, were officers in the British East Indian army. During the Anglo-Mysore Wars, they were captured by Mysore king Tipu Sultan. They were about to be condemned to death, when Tipu Sultan’s mother intervened, telling him Bene Israel 'caste' was written in the Koran (Jews were God’s chosen people.) Tipu, a devout Muslim spared the two brothers and later exchanged them for a prisoner swap with the British. The two brothers returned to the British enclave of Bombay (Mumbai) and built the synagogue in thanksgiving.
Jacob Sassoon School Magen David Synagogue
David Sassoon (1792-1864), founder of the Sassoon dynasty in India, escaped from persecution of the Turkish Pashas and fled to India in 1828. David Sassoon and his family of eight children established an international empire of trade and commerce. The establishment of many educational, religious and charitable institutions by David Sasoon and his sons benefited the city of Mumbai and the Pune Jewish community. In 1861, Sassoon built in Mumbai, the Magen David Synagogue and some of the most important cultural and civic institutions, including Hospital, Orphanages, Libraries, Museums, Docks, Schools and charitable organizations.
The Magen David Synagogue is used for daily morning services and Sabbath services. This is the largest Synagogue of the “Bagdadi” Jewish Community of India which is open to all regardless whether the attendees are Bene-Israel, Cochini’s or Bagdadi Jews and foreigners. In the Synagogue’s compound are two Jewish Schools run by the Sir Jacob Sassoon High School Trust where Jewish children were educated. With the declining enrollment of Jewish students the schools are open to all communities. Since the population around the synagogue are Muslims, almost 98% of the students are Muslims. Lady Rachel Free Dispensary in the compound, also run by the Trust, is a doctor employed to administer to the poor and needy Jews who require medical aid.
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