WHO IS A BENE ISRAEL
Encouraged by doubts raised
on Bene Israel 's Jewishness
A Bene Israel from USA said : "I
was asked if the Bene Israelis were Jewish and if not, were they converts.
(May take a few minutes to load on slow speed networks)
Introduction:
The Bene Israel ("Children of Israel") is a community of Jews in India, believed to have been one of the Lost Tribes and descendants of ancestors who had settled there centuries ago. they had been isolated from the formal world Jewish groups. However they maintained their relegious customs and traditions passing them down from generation to generation. In the 19th century, after being discovered by a visiting British Rabbi, they were reunited and taught about Judaism. They tended to migrate from villages in the Konkan area to the nearby cities, mainly Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad. They gained positions with the British colonial authority.
In the early part of the twentieth century, many Bene Israel became active in the new film industry, as actresses and actors, producers and directors. After India gained its independence in 1947 and Israel was established in 1948, many Bene Israel emigrated to Israel.
The unique culture of the Bene ISrael is that they will blend into the surrounding culture while they maintain their uniqueness as Jews. Their last names of Jews who live in Maharashtrra were derived from the villages from where their ancestors came. For example people from Navgaon use the last namd Navgaonkar (Person from Navgaon). Similarly from BOrgaon came Borgaonkars, Chincholi came Chincholkar, from Diva came Divekars, Chordhe came Chordekar and so on. This is similar to the customs followed by the local Maharashrtrian community.
In mordern times as they have evolved and gotten closer to their Jewish roots, many have dropped their Indian lst anmaes and take on a grandfathers or ancestors name to creat their own last name . For example their new last names could be Raymond, Samson, Benjamin, etc.
Their foods, clothing and weddings have been influences by local culture which they add into their rituatls while following the core Jewsih traditions as prescribed in the Torah.
Google Maps of Bene Israel origin in Maharashtra
Here is the real deal about the Bene Israel Jews.
Location
: Navgaon
.
Event
:
The boat of fleeing Jewish families which capsized on the western shores
of India ’s state
of Maharashtra .
Result
:
Introducing the Bene Israel Community of India
The
traditions of the community trace their descent to Jews who escaped persecution
in Galilee in the 2nd century B.C.E.
Even though the Bene Israel resemble the local people in appearance and
customs, the Bene Israel, however, maintained the practices of Jewish kosher
dietary laws, circumcision and observation of Sabbath as a day of rest.
They passed down their beliefs and religious knowledge from generation
to generation, but did not have a Torah or a scholar. They had lost all
connections with main stream Judaism and were “discovered” in
later years.
The Bene Israel believe
that their forefathers arrived in India Land
of Israel to India Konkan .From
the ship survived 14 people survived. They swam towards land and
arrived at the village called Navgav. Most
of their belongings was lost at sea. The dead bodies of the others from
the ship were buried in the village. The survivors somehow managed to settle
in the village and started working in agriculture and oil producing which
later on became their main profession.
The major
Jewish concentration in India
Magen Hassidim Synagogue
The most popular events center in Mumbai
town
(I got married here, my son’s barmitzva
was done here)
Photo © Jono David, HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Knesseth Eliyahoo
Synagogue
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaar Hashamaim
Synagogue, Thane
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magen
David Synagogue, Byculla, Mumbai
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ohel-David
Synagogue, Pune
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magen
Abraham Synagogue - Ahmedabad - Gujarat
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judah Hyan
Hall Synagogue
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cochin
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo © Jono David, HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library
Beth El Synagogue, Revdanda
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo © Jono David, HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library
Magen Aboth
Synagogue, Alibaug
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo © Jono David, HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library
Beth El Synagogue, Calcutta
------------------------------------------------------
How
do Bene Israeli’s look like?
(to
view full size image, right clik on it and
chose “view image”)
I
am a Jew
(Don’t
get distracted by their weird last names)
A
Bene Israel Married couple
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
new generation Bene Israel
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultimately
only a Borgawker
can challenge our people about what is right
(Unmistakable
big noses – an identifiable Jewish requirement
)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I
am a Jew and so is my family …
Aptekar
(Something
we always do with our head against the wall )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And
so am I ..
(Original
a Kurulkar
– Now a Solomon)
Oh
well I better not say anything to make her mad – she really went to the
wrong city,
It
was supposed to be Hollywood , not Haifa
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And
don’t forget me … even if I look like a matzo ball
(I
am guessing an Aptekar)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
Bene Israel Jewish Family
Borgawker
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newly wed Bene Israel
(Up
to big time mischief in NY city )
Varsulkar
(Also
pronounced in slang as “(paisa) Vasool-kar”
(Please
fly Continental or British Airways … please please please)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More
of us …
Agarwarkar
– no
nonsense family
(Ignore
nose picking boy in top left rear )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AH
... some more of the Borgawker
clan,
(Ignore
wire in background – there is no safety/fire code violation – at lease
per Indian laws and as certified by electrical engineer in next photo )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shapurkar
(Also
can be loosely twisted to mean “shopping-kar” )
(A
distinguished Reliance (Reliable) Engineer – company can go down – but
he will keep going strong)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bollywood actor
: David Abraham Cheulkar
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bollywood
Dance Director – Herman ??????
(song video below)
(TRIVA FOR BENE ISRAEL
Hint – His grave is in the Mumbai Worli Cemetery
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOPHIA
SOLOMON
(WITH PERFORMANCE
VIDEOS)
http://b-inet.com/intellect/talent/sophia-solomon/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bene Israel
Chordekar
(I
may have very little hair, but I am still proud to say I am Jewish)
(Not
sure if their ancestors were ever accused of any stealing -
but I am not going to ask due to risk insulting them )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Borgawker
(Did
I mention, where there is a party. err... good catered kosher food, you
will find bene israel
even
though there are no available chairs to sit on )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birwadkar
(Only
a few, no …. only
1 Ben Israel Jew can boast to be Vice President of a multi national shipping
company.
(Also
please Fly Air India
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The
Bene Israel community follows all the Jewish Hallachas,
including the one about doing LEKAYIM
(many times), and like true Jews we argue and disagree with everything
before we kind of agree on some things.A
truly unmistakable Jewish trait.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chordekar, Borgawker,Pingle, Nagawker, Varsulkar
(We
tend to hang around in a group,
Lest
somebody questions us,
If
we are really Jewish or not 
)
I can sympathize with many folks while I struggle
with my own corporate politics which takes away all my peace of mind. However
this question is important enough to address. Thanks John for bring it
up to my attention.
You mentioned : "I was asked if the
Bene Israelis were Jewish and if not, were they converts."
I am trying to gather as many learned people as I could find in my mailing
list to bring out some points to establish the identity of the Bene Israel
Jews fromIndia Israel
We are one part of Ten
Lost Tribes
-
4.3 Bene
Israel of South Asia
-
From Wikipedia's
: Who
is a Jew?
In 1964 the Israeli Rabbinate declared that
the Bene Israel are "full Jews in every respect."The
Bene Israel claim a lineage to the Kohanim,
the Israelite priestly class, which claims descent from Aaron, the brother
of Moses. In 2002, a DNA test confirmed that the Bene Israel share the
same heredity as the Kohanim
At a personal level it is very difficult to find out what the modern
rabbinical schools are teaching their students. The old proverbial statement
is getting old : "I
did not know there were Jews in India
I usually answer this question by saying (no insults meant)
: Just because they castedCharlstonHeston
(a white man) in the movie "Ten commandments", does not mean that Moses
was really white. Think about people that lived in the middle east and
roamed in the desert (hot sun, warm weather).
Sure they could not be white, they were tan like me and they also looked more
simpler and down to earth. This was depicted correctly in another
animated movie "The price of Egypt
If
we spread the awareness today, our next generations will have a better
chance to be accepted without any such questioning.
I want to think this is not intentional,
it is just the lack of knowledge that needs to be imparted to fix this
problem.
Thank
You.
Dear learned folks, Please
give your input to educate in this matter.
Send
your comments to : sammybenjamin@gmail.com
Regards,
Sammy
KEEP READING
So who REALLY are
the Bene Israel?
Although I am skeptical about the Elijah’s chariot
on the rock story, many of the facts are true in this documentary–Quest
For The Lost Tribesby SimchaJacobovici.
However I am big believer of the prophet Elijah
and the ceremony so special and unique only to the Bene Israel called “Malida”
where we chant the praises of “EliyahuHannavi”.
This we will do whenever we feel something good has happened in our life,
or maybe we are undertaking a new accomplishment, or maybe we want to thank
God for all that we have or as little as for getting together as a community
and to pray for peace and good will with all our life’s challenges.
VIDEO 1
VIDEO 2
NEXT YEAR IN MUMBAI
VIDEO 3
One person’s story – trapped between Islam – Christianity and Judaism.
VIDEO 4
BENE ISRAEL PRAYER TUNES - AUDIO
MY QUESTION IS TO THE JEWS OF THE WORLD IS
:
WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU
TO ACCEPT US AS TRUE JEWS ?
WITH NO DISCRIMINATION.
WE ARE NOT JUST AN OBJECT
OF INTEREST.
WE NEVER QUESTIONED YOUR
JEWISH VALIDITY,
DID WE?
SO WHY DO YOU
??????
Send your comments to
: sammybenjamin@gmail.com
VIDEO 8
Stranger in my own land
VIDEO 9
Jaan Pehechan Ho
Filmed on Herman and dance directed by him
LATE ADDITION
Immigraton and its IMPACTS ON INDIAN JEWS
-
Seventy thousand Jews of Indian origin live in a country of seven million
-
Began migrating to
Israel
-
Migrated from Maharashtra, Gujarat,
Calcutta
in pluralistic neighbourhoods and
not encountered anti-Semitism-
Settled by the Israeli state in undeveloped towns or farming communities
-
Most are unable to break the barriers of class, colour
and status; but second and third generation are better off than first
-
Their cultural and community programmes
reflect a proud connection with
India
Photo courtesy: Bension Benjamin
MainaChawla
Singh (fourth from left) with three generations of a Bene Israeli family
at a Republic day reception in Herzliyya
Diaspora: Jews
Exodus Revisited
A diplomat’s wife traces the footsteps of Indian
Jews in Israel
Israel 
Why
are 70,000 Indian Jews missing in action, as it were, in a small country
of seven million? That’s a loaded question in need of an answer. And for
the first time an Indian academic has tried to understand the reasons for
this invisibility. MainaChawla
Singh, a reader of English from Delhi University ,
has recorded many heart-rending stories of Indian Jews who left the hustle
and bustle of Bombay ’s suburbs and
the noise of Calcutta
Her circumstances were special, no doubt, giving her the sort of
access that may not have come easily to others. She is the wife of Arun
Singh, who was India ’s
ambassador to Israel
Singh didn’t accompany her husband to Tel Aviv at first since she
was on double duty as a mother and teacher back in India Israel
on vacations and made a few friends at the Tel Aviv University Mediterranean ,
I met more and more people from the Indian Jewish community,” Singh recalled,
in a conversation with Outlook.
“I was quite overwhelmed by the affection and respect towards us
when we travelled to attend their community programmes
even though they had relinquished their Indian citizenship when they chose
to come to Israel
Singh soon realised those social conversations
with the stalwarts of the first generation were “full of fascinating detail”
and offered a win-dow to a new world. She began
researching and found that virtually everything written was about Indian
Jews—the exotic community in Cochin
or Pune or Calcutta Israel
Indian Jews began “aliya” or migration
to Israel Israel West
Asia or the Mizrahis who invariably
faced harder times than Ashkenazis or Jews
of European descent, who were the Israeli elite.
Poor schools and meagre opportunities
sealed their fate as they remained stuck in those moshavs
or farming communities. Discrimination and derogatory remarks about “dark”
skin or being from a “backward” country were common. The comparatively
gentle demeanour of these migrants, in
a country known for brusqueness, was seen as “submissiveness” and they
were dismissed as not capable of leadership. The Bene Israelis from Maharashtra ,
the largest group of Indian Jews, endured “serious rejection by many rabbinates”
who questioned their purity for years. They were deemed “too Indian” because
they had embraced certain Indian cultural traditions. Even after 40 years,
the memories and scars are fresh, as Singh’s book reveals.
Singh began systematic work in 2006, interviewing and collecting
personal narratives, travelling to the infertile
Negev region in the south where the early migrant Jews from India
For her research, Singh travelled
to the small towns of Ramla and Lod
where large numbers of Bene Israelis were settled. “One family led me to
another, from town to moshav to kibbutz.
I followed leads, called people and set up times to visit them in far-off
little sleepy towns like KiryatBialik
beyond Haifa and Dimona and Kiryat
Gat in the Negev desert,” she recalled.
Her enthusiasm was infectious and the community embraced her totally,
sharing rare photographs and rarer moments. Taking “speed notes” and eschewing
the use of a tape recorder lest it inhibit her older respondents, Singh
did some hundred interviews and attended about fifty community functions,
including loud Bollywood extravaganzas organised
by second and third generation Indian Israelis. Many of the Bene Israelis
still spoke Marathi and Hindi too. The book captures that flavour.
An efficient driver and Israel Israel Israel Israel
Continuing with her dual role, Singh now lives in Washington US
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262317
Email Communication and your Comments/Feedback
:
John Perry wrote
:
Subject:
FW: Bene Israel
Dear Rabbi,
This is further to the conversation we had today, wherein you had doubts
about the 'Jewishness' of the Bene Israelis.
Sending herewith an article from Wikipedia.
However, forget the portion of insulting a person who has served in
the Israeli Defense Forces, fought two wars, undertaken missions to Iran
(1979 to transport Iranian Jews to Eretz
Israel) and operated in the Middle East, what troubles me more that a person
of your stature and dignity is ignorant about the history of the world
Jewish community.
My community, numbering about 5,000 in India
When you find time, plsgoogle
on the history of Bene Israelis, we have about 60,000 in Israel
Hope this will add to your knowledge about "AamIsrael
John (Yohanan) Perry
Subject: Bene Israel
Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 19:23:13 -0400
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bene_Israel
Subject: RE: Doubt on
Bene Israel 's Jewishness
raised by rabbis in the USA
To: sammybenjamin@gmail.com
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 10:08 AM
Dear Sammy,
Yes, Our Indian skin color is definitely nearer to the middle
east skin color- the original Israeli color. That inter faith marriages
probably did not exist in India
By the same argument, this white skin of the European Jews, is it anywhere
near the mid-East color? Should we then conclude that they are not pure
Jews but only a mixed breed?
It is bad enough that some rabbis in Israel
Should we really need to prove ourselves to the authorities ever so
often?
Rizpah Corley
My response
:
DearRizpah,
NO you have no need to prove to anybody whether
you are Jewish or not, neither will you judge anybody whether they are
Jewish or not.
Let us all ask our God to tell us (our internal
souls) if we are Jewish or not. If the answer comes to you as YES, then
you are Jewish.
Then it is between you and our God what you
do, act, behave, follow the customs etc. because believe me, we are not
cheating anybody else by ourselves and our God if we pretend to be good
Jews and produce mere documentation that gives us the mere recognition
to be accepted as Jews in the land of Israel or in our synagogues.
Sincerely,
Sammy
Benjamin.
From: DanielBamnolkarSubject: Re: Doubt on
Bene Israel 's Jewishness
raised by rabbis in the USA
To: sammybenjamin@gmail.com
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 12:40 AM
This
comes up every now and then. Some smart person gets up from his sleep and
raises this problem.
This
is because...
1.)
We were isolated for long time.
2.)
Our skin color
3.)
Some one wants fame!
4.)
Our Indian family names.
Reason
we are this way
1.)
Our forefather "Abraham" came from today's Iraq
2.)
Cast system in India
3.)
Our ansestors adopted "oil-presser's" business,
that's why we were considered "Lower Cast" those days in India
4.)
Scientific DNA tests on Bene-Israel community was carried out by Dr. Perfet
(I hope name is correct) from UK India
5)
Family names are given to us by Britishers
to recognize one person to other. These are all names of villages our ancestor
settled in. "Kar" behind every family name meaning
"From".
American
society is different than this for many senturies.
They need to prove their puarity!
Daniel
Reuben Bamnolkar
---------------------------------
Saul Aptekar
send this out :
Sammy,
kindly read and check this
site:
http://www.indianjudaica.com/wp/?page_id=6
Thanks and Regards,
Saul S. Aptekar
-----------------------------------------------
-----
Forwarded Message ----
From:
Michael S. Bar-Ron
To: Saul Aptekar
Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 11:44:14 AM
Subject: CORRECTED VERSION: Re. Doubt on Bene Israel 'sJewishness
raised by rabbis in the USA
In
the Name of HaShem, God Eternal
Shalom
Saul,
Good
to hear from you, yedidi
-- how are you? You may forward this letter to others so long as
they are warned to read the entire letter carefully, so there will
not be any misunderstandings.
Please
spread the link to my web page: http://www.torathmoshe.com/projects/the-bene-yisrael-of-india/
Being
that those who are most likely to question the Jewishness
of the Bene Yisrael are Orthodox rabbis,
these sources are precious. Such rabbis who question your Jewishness
should be asked:
Are HaRavHaGaon
`OvadiahYosefshlit"a
(pillar of the HarediSefaradi
world) and HaRavHaGaonShmuelRozovsky
of blessed memory (former pillar of the Ashkenazi Lithuanian yeshivish
world), former Rosh Yeshivah of YeshivatPonevezh
and main teacher of the current Torah leader RavZalmanNechemiah
Goldberg shlit"a,
too reform or biased that we should not trust their expert opinion as to
who have full halakhic status as Jews?!
While
the kohen gene haplotype
is important evidence, the argument based on skin color is an ignorant
one. According to genetic research I've read, Ashkenazi Jewish genes
are generally tied to the Levant region (even closely related to Palestinians,
many of whom are descendants of ancient Jewish families that never left
the Land), while the genes of "tan" Sefaradim
are generally more tied to the Bavel region
(not to say we Sefaradim are any less Jewish
than anyone else). Many Ashkenazi Jews such as my mother (as a girl)
turn brown in Israel Poland Caucasus .
White skin is common among Bukharan Jews,
and red hair is common among Persian Jews. In
short, skin and hair color mean next to nothing in this regard.
We are Jews not because of our skin color, but because of our families,
our souls (if we are converts), and -- most importantly -- the way we live
our lives.
Ultimately,
even the genetic evidence will hold not water before Orthodox rabbis unless
and until you bring in the opinion of those considered to be the Haredi
giants of the generation, as I have done. Now that I have presented
the actual opinion
of such distinguished Haredi rabbis in
their own handwriting (which is more important for many than
the full acceptance of the Bene Yisrael
without conversion by the Israeli Rabbinate) for all
the world to see, the case should really be closed.
Bear in mind,
please, that I write the following as a long-time champion of the Jewishness
of the Bene Yisrael and as one married
into the community. I write out of love and the deepest respect for
the honorable Indian community, which should be regarded as Jewish beyond
any doubt. Moreover, I do so fully aware of the basic faith in God
and Torah in the heart of nearly every Bene Yisraeli
I've met in Israel and abroad -- however confused many are in regards to
Jewish law:
One
key problem is that anyone who has studied Bene Yisraeli
history knows that, unlike larger ethnic communities, the Indian Jewish
community was ignorant in most areas of Torah for many centuries.
This has created an impression that continues in part, quite frankly, because
of the way most Bene Yisrael continue to
live even in Israel -- how much more so in the lands of the Exile. No
number of letters from rabbis can fully change that impression of the Bene Yisrael
if the majority of the community chooses to live their lives as assimilated
Jews.
We must all be
reminded that being "officially Jewish" is not merely a status or rank
from which to reap benefits; it is a yoke and a challenge, and must be
lived accordingly. Should the BeneYisrael,
as a community, choose to live as learned, fully-observant Jews for a few
generations, no questions will be asked. Let's ever remember
the golden words of RavAdinSteinzaltz: A
more important question than if your grandparents were Jewish, is if your
grandchildren will be Jewish.
It
is not politically correct to say, but according to authentic Talmudic halakhah,
even a full convert from Zimbabwe Holy Temple
However,
even the prophet Hosea, in the very next chapter, prophecizes
that those who were called "lo `ammi" will be
one day be called "bene El Hhai"
-- children of the Living God. (Hosea
2:1) That will occur when the assimilated repent in full teshuvah,
choosing to live according to our eternal Covenant with the Almighty.
That is not only true for assimilated Jews among the Bene Yisrael,
but the assimilated members of every
honorable ethnic community of our nation. May the day come soon when
our nation stands united "as one man with one heart" to serve HaShem
with one consent, that we should merit to the full Redemption with a rebuilt Holy Temple
in Jerusalem
Your
friend,
Rabbi
Michael Shelomo Bar-Ron, Beth MidrashOhel
Moshe
Sammy
Benjamin wrote :
I
have to spend some time to read this carefully and understand what is being
said, some of it looks good, but there are some comments that are hard
to understand and needs deeper understanding. This will need more time
on my part. So I will re-visit it again soon and reply to it.
If
anybody else can do so in a diplomatic manner, then it will be appreciated.
I
have a feeling I am going to have to respond to this email after I spend
the time to understand and research what Rabbi Bar-Ron is stating.
-
Sammy.
From: Dhananjay Dixit
Subject: Hi from Pune
To: sammy benjamin
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010
Hello
My name is Dhananjay Dixit, based in Pune. While
reading about Chitpavan Brahmins got the reference to Bene Israeli people
in Wikipedia. I am not a Jew, so if my message to you offends you and you
community in any way, please ignore my mail.
Wikipedia writes about Bene Israeli people speaking
Judeo Marathi language, which is interesting, so my question to you is,
do you speak it? How is it different than regular Marathi?
Well this is just the beginning for my questions,
I do have other questions.
Thanks, Regards
Dhananjay Dixit
Sent from my iPad
Wi-Fi, 3G, 64Gb (WOW you got a cool phone
)
--------------------------------------
From: "Sammy Benjamin"
To: "Dhananjay Dixit
Hello Dhananjay,
Questions are always welcome as long as they are
not racial or attacking in nature and yours is not.
First we are happy and obliged by the protection
and religious freedom that we enjoyed in India under the Hindus specifically
for the Bene Israel community in Maharashtra who lived in peace and harmony
with their neighbor Maharashtrians. I have never in my 45 years heard of
any racial attack on Jews by any Hindu faction.
WHY ? Becasue Jews never annexed any land in India
as their own or never laid claim on any of it while we lived there
in peace and some of us continue to do so. Hence we were tolerated and
welcome to continue our traditions and religious beliefs which we staunchly
believe in. I give extra credit to the tolerance of other religions by
Hindus that had a big role to play in this.
To answer your main question, Marathi of Jews is
not very different from the Marathi that is spoken in Mumbai by Maharashtrians.
Me and you can get along with a conversation with the exception of a few
words here and there which I might pronounce differently and some unique
words that Jews formed that came from the Torah, from the hebrew language
or were slang words which are not found in the Marathi language.
So I would not call it a separate language as there
is not much to differentiate it as is written in Wikipedia. I will send
it to one of my trusted Indian Jew friend who will also double check my
statements and I will let you know is he tell me any differently.
I hope I have answered this question. You are welcome
to ask others.
Thank you for your interest about the Bene Israel
Jews.
Regards,
Sammy
_______________
From: John Perry
Subject: RE: John - Fw: Re: Hi from Pune
To: "sammy benjamin"
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010
Dear Sammy,
I completely agree with your views. It was the greatness
of Hindu religion and our attitude, which accepted the Maharashtrian way
as our own,
picked up Marathi as our own mother tongue and adopted
certain Hindu customs in marriages still maintaining our religion. In fact,
around
the fifties, we were also known as Maharashtrian
Jews.
As for Marathi, our ancestors made sure that the
children learnt the language well. In my family, though we were in English
medium schools,
our parents made sure that we read Marathi newspapers
every day, like Navshakti and Maratha, spoke Marathi at home etc.
In fact, some of the Bene Israelis excelled so much
in the language that they were top class actors of Marathi dramas like
Ellis Ramrajkar and
Aaron Joseph, whose programs were constantly held
at Shivaji Mandir, the home of Marathi theater, and their names constantly
mentioned
in Marathi newspapers.
Of course, we had certain words that were not commonly
used and some of our people could not pronounce the two 'naa's, the big
and small
'naa' well. FYI even after leaving India 41 years
back, when I go to India every year, I can speak Marathi as well as a Brahmin
from Pune.
Regards,
John
(Sammy, please feel free to forward this email to
your contacts.)
Documentary
Two Weddings In The Time Of The Brave
Director: IQBAL MALHOTRA
Comments :
This is a unique video of two cultures that share
the same roots. However their cultures have diverged into its own customs
which are portrayed in this documentary.
The Bene Israel wedding while mostly accurate misses
showing the breaking of the glass which is a important wedding custom.
My mother could recognize many folks from the Jewish community. I could
recognize Baruch (mama) and Sima (mami) who are related to me from my mother’s
side.
A Great sneak Preview into wedding ceremonies of
Indian Jews and Muslims.
- SAMMY BENJAMIN
http://www.b-inet.com/sammy/2weddings/
---------------------------------------------
From: Tibor Spitz
Subject: Re: B-INET: 2 WEDDINGS.
To: sammybenjamin@gmail.com
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 7:17 PM
Thanks for sharing with us. It was very touching
and lovely.
Love,
Noemi and tibor
---------------------------------------------
From: Ken Robbins @ Comcast
Subject: Re: B-INET: 2 WEDDINGS.
To: "Samuel Benjamin" <sammybenjamin2@gmail.com>
Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 6:52 AM
Dear Mr Benjamin
I really appreciated this e-mail. Ezra Moses sent
it as well. Where are you based? How did you know of your interest in Indian
Jews? I am working on a multi-volume study of Indian Jews and Jews in India
and interested in information and objects ffor my studies and collection.
With appreciation
Ken
-------------------------------------------------
From : Sammy Benjamin
To: "Ken Robbins"
Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 9:29 AM
Hello Ken,
Born into a Indian Jewish family, I grew up in Bombay,
India and migrated to USA in 1992. I still maintain my ties to my
family and small but prevalent Jewish community in Mumbai and surrounding
vicinity.
You will be interested in my pictorial web page
"Who Is A Bene Israel". It is not very in-depth but skims you across the
spectrum that the Bene Israel have to offer in the larger Jewish fabric
spread worldwide.
Bene Israel had their own challenges to establish
their identity and be recognized as true Jews as the European Jews have
claimed a dominance over forming rules about who they will consider as
truly Jewish. The bitterness lies in the fact that they question my Jewishness
but I never question theirs. This is still a source of discrimination against
the the Bene Israel specially those living abroad like in Israel
and USA. If anybody denies that this is not true then they only need to
speak with me as I am myself a victim of this passive treatment and also
know others in Israel who deal with this even today, not as much as my
uncles and aunts did when they immigrated to Israel in the 70's. I continue
to make efforts to end this discrimination but meet with silence as I cannot
reach anybody who will be open enough to deal with this sensitive matter.
For many years in the 90's I was an object of intrigue
to American Jews when I walked into synagogues and the most common question
was "We did not know there were Jews in India" and "How did Jews come about
to live in India?". While my experiences were only positive, other sources
tell me they were challenged to answer questions like "When did Indians
convert to Judaism and by whom?"
I have answered some of these questions in my web
page and it is an effort to spread awareness of the Bene Israel identity
and their transformation into a unique set of Jews who follow the same
religion but with a degree of Indian'ness, but yet adhering to the original
rules and scriptures.
While America categorized Jews into roughly 3 groups,
i.e. Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed, Bene Israel did not fit exactly
in any one particular pre-existing mold. I have learned we are some what
like Orthodox at least in desire to be Jewish and do prayers in traditional
Hebrew using the traditional books and customs. Hence we fall into a new
category called "Traditional Jews". In degree of adherence to Jewish laws
we fall in between Orthodox and Conservative, but tend to be closer to
Orthodox.
Hope this gives you a good background and you are
welcome to as any questions so we can continue this conversion.
WHO IS A BENE ISRAEL ?
http://www.b-inet.com/sammy/who-is-a-bene-israel/
Regards,
Sammy
---------------------------------------------------
Dear Sammy,
I enjoed the mail very much...thanx.
--------------------------------------------------
I encourage you to visit my “Who
is aJew” discourse and reply to my 3 basic
questions in determining who is a Jew.
Also send your honest opinions even
if you don’t know much about this matter, but would like to share what
you know from your own points of view and what you mind tells you is right
or wrong.
My own
: “Who is a Jew” discourse 
It
is INDISPUTABLE that we are children of Avraham, Isshak
and Yakov. It is written ALL over in our
holy scriptures.
Then why am I told that
a Jew can only be Jewish if his mother is Jewish.
Why are we afraid that we will FIND
THE TRUTH?
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(In return for using there internet image J)
http://www.shalombombay.com/JewsOfIndiaNYC.htm
India
Magen
Hassidim photo
A Jewish package tour in India
Hot economy
keeping Jews in India
Married
couple
A new Bene Israel Rabbi
Directed by Mathias Mangin, Jonas Parienté
Reference :
http://adaniel.tripod.com/beneisrael.htm
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=350492
”
My statements are true to my knowledge and very heartfelt. They are clean
and frank like a little child who speaks his mind and does not bar anything.
This trait is what gets me in trouble all the time. I feel sometimes that
God is the one who wills that I do this as I would never have the courage
to so on my own accord.”
SHALOM
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Location
: Navgaon
.
Event
:
The boat of fleeing Jewish families which capsized on the western shores
of India ’s state
of Maharashtra .
Result
:
Introducing the Bene Israel Community of India
The
traditions of the community trace their descent to Jews who escaped persecution
in Galilee in the 2nd century B.C.E.
Even though the Bene Israel resemble the local people in appearance and
customs, the Bene Israel, however, maintained the practices of Jewish kosher
dietary laws, circumcision and observation of Sabbath as a day of rest.
They passed down their beliefs and religious knowledge from generation
to generation, but did not have a Torah or a scholar. They had lost all
connections with main stream Judaism and were “discovered” in
later years.
The Bene Israel believe
that their forefathers arrived in India Land
of Israel to India Konkan .From
the ship survived 14 people survived. They swam towards land and
arrived at the village called Navgav. Most
of their belongings was lost at sea. The dead bodies of the others from
the ship were buried in the village. The survivors somehow managed to settle
in the village and started working in agriculture and oil producing which
later on became their main profession.
The major
Jewish concentration in India
Magen Hassidim Synagogue
The most popular events center in Mumbai
town
(I got married here, my son’s barmitzva
was done here)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Knesseth Eliyahoo
Synagogue
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaar Hashamaim
Synagogue, Thane
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magen
David Synagogue, Byculla, Mumbai
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ohel-David
Synagogue, Pune
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magen
Abraham Synagogue - Ahmedabad - Gujarat
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judah Hyan
Hall Synagogue
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cochin
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beth El Synagogue, Revdanda
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magen Aboth
Synagogue, Alibaug
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beth El Synagogue, Calcutta
------------------------------------------------------
How
do Bene Israeli’s look like?
(to
view full size image, right clik on it and
chose “view image”)
I
am a Jew
(Don’t
get distracted by their weird last names)
A
Bene Israel Married couple
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
new generation Bene Israel
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultimately
only a Borgawker
can challenge our people about what is right
(Unmistakable
big noses – an identifiable Jewish requirement)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I
am a Jew and so is my family …
Aptekar
(Something
we always do with our head against the wall )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And
so am I ..
(Original
a Kurulkar
– Now a Solomon)
Oh
well I better not say anything to make her mad – she really went to the
wrong city,
It
was supposed to be Hollywood , not Haifa
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And
don’t forget me … even if I look like a matzo ball
(I
am guessing an Aptekar)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
Bene Israel Jewish Family
Borgawker
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newly wed Bene Israel
(Up
to big time mischief in NY city )
Varsulkar
(Also
pronounced in slang as “(paisa) Vasool-kar”
(Please
fly Continental or British Airways … please please please)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More
of us …
Agarwarkar
– no
nonsense family
(Ignore
nose picking boy in top left rear )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AH
... some more of the Borgawker
clan,
(Ignore
wire in background – there is no safety/fire code violation – at lease
per Indian laws and as certified by electrical engineer in next photo )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shapurkar
(Also
can be loosely twisted to mean “shopping-kar” )
(A
distinguished Reliance (Reliable) Engineer – company can go down – but
he will keep going strong)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bollywood actor
: David Abraham Cheulkar
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bollywood
Dance Director – Herman ??????
(song video below)
(TRIVA FOR BENE ISRAEL
Hint – His grave is in the Mumbai Worli Cemetery
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOPHIA
SOLOMON
(WITH PERFORMANCE
VIDEOS)
http://b-inet.com/intellect/talent/sophia-solomon/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bene Israel
Chordekar
(I
may have very little hair, but I am still proud to say I am Jewish)
(Not
sure if their ancestors were ever accused of any stealing -
but I am not going to ask due to risk insulting them )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Borgawker
(Did
I mention, where there is a party. err... good catered kosher food, you
will find bene israel
even
though there are no available chairs to sit on )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birwadkar
(Only
a few, no …. only
1 Ben Israel Jew can boast to be Vice President of a multi national shipping
company.
(Also
please Fly Air India
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The
Bene Israel community follows all the Jewish Hallachas,
including the one about doing LEKAYIM
(many times), and like true Jews we argue and disagree with everything
before we kind of agree on some things.A
truly unmistakable Jewish trait.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chordekar, Borgawker,Pingle, Nagawker, Varsulkar
(We
tend to hang around in a group,
Lest
somebody questions us,
If
we are really Jewish or not )
I want to think this is not intentional, it is just the lack of knowledge that needs to be imparted to fix this problem.
Thank You.
Dear learned folks, Please
give your input to educate in this matter.
Send your comments to : sammybenjamin@gmail.com
Regards,
Sammy
KEEP READING
So who REALLY are
the Bene Israel?
VIDEO 1
VIDEO 2
NEXT YEAR IN MUMBAI
VIDEO 3
One person’s story – trapped between Islam – Christianity and Judaism.
VIDEO 4
MY QUESTION IS TO THE JEWS OF THE WORLD IS :
WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU
TO ACCEPT US AS TRUE JEWS ?
WITH NO DISCRIMINATION.
WE ARE NOT JUST AN OBJECT
OF INTEREST.
WE NEVER QUESTIONED YOUR
JEWISH VALIDITY,
DID WE?
SO WHY DO YOU
??????
Send your comments to
: sammybenjamin@gmail.com
VIDEO 8
Stranger in my own land
VIDEO 9
Jaan Pehechan Ho
Filmed on Herman and dance directed by him
LATE ADDITION
Immigraton and its IMPACTS ON INDIAN JEWS
in pluralistic neighbourhoods and not encountered anti-Semitism
Photo courtesy: Bension Benjamin
|
|
|
|
Why
are 70,000 Indian Jews missing in action, as it were, in a small country
of seven million? That’s a loaded question in need of an answer. And for
the first time an Indian academic has tried to understand the reasons for
this invisibility. MainaChawla
Singh, a reader of English from Dear Rabbi,
This is further to the conversation we had today, wherein you had doubts about the 'Jewishness' of the Bene Israelis.
Sending herewith an article from Wikipedia.
However, forget the portion of insulting a person who has served in the Israeli Defense Forces, fought two wars, undertaken missions to Iran (1979 to transport Iranian Jews to Eretz Israel) and operated in the Middle East, what troubles me more that a person of your stature and dignity is ignorant about the history of the world Jewish community.
My community, numbering about 5,000 in
When you find time, plsgoogle
on the history of Bene Israelis, we have about 60,000 in
Hope this will add to your knowledge about "Aam
John (Yohanan) Perry
To: sammybenjamin@gmail.com
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 10:08 AM
Yes, Our Indian skin color is definitely nearer to the middle east skin color- the original Israeli color. That inter faith marriages probably did not exist in
To: sammybenjamin@gmail.com
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 12:40 AM
This is because...
1.) We were isolated for long time.
2.) Our skin color
3.) Some one wants fame!
4.) Our Indian family names.
Reason we are this way
1.)
Our forefather "Abraham" came from today's
2.)
Cast system in
3.)
Our ansestors adopted "oil-presser's" business,
that's why we were considered "Lower Cast" those days in
4.)
Scientific DNA tests on Bene-Israel community was carried out by Dr. Perfet
(I hope name is correct) from
5) Family names are given to us by Britishers to recognize one person to other. These are all names of villages our ancestor settled in. "Kar" behind every family name meaning "From".
American society is different than this for many senturies. They need to prove their puarity!
Daniel Reuben Bamnolkar
---------------------------------
http://www.indianjudaica.com/wp/?page_id=6
-----------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. Bar-Ron
To: Saul Aptekar
Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 11:44:14 AM
Subject: CORRECTED VERSION: Re. Doubt on Bene
Two Weddings In The Time Of The Brave
Director: IQBAL MALHOTRA
Also send your honest opinions even
if you don’t know much about this matter, but would like to share what
you know from your own points of view and what you mind tells you is right
or wrong.
Then why am I told that
a Jew can only be Jewish if his mother is Jewish.
Why are we afraid that we will FIND THE TRUTH?
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(In return for using there internet image J)
http://www.shalombombay.com/JewsOfIndiaNYC.htm
India
A Jewish package tour in India
Hot economy
keeping Jews in India
A new Bene Israel Rabbi
Directed by Mathias Mangin, Jonas Parienté
Reference :
http://adaniel.tripod.com/beneisrael.htm
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=350492
SHALOM
_____________________________________________________________________________________
THIS PRESENTATION HOSTED ON MY DOMAIN @ 1and1.COM
PLANS STARTS AT only $3.99
GET YOUR OWN INTERNET DOMAIN, START YOU BUSINESS,
MAKE YOUR WEB SITE OR BACKUP YOUR FILES
$40 for a whole year of calling, $20 next
year