NEVATIM, AN idyllic moshav (cooperative agricultural settlement) dominated by Cochin Jews located on Israel’s border with Gaza, was recently called the “living bridge between the two most ancient civilisations’’ by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The first Indian Jewish Heritage Centre in Israel is coming up in Nevatim, which is expected to be a meeting point for Indian Jews in Israel, numbering around a lakh. Indian Jews comprise diverse communities such as the Arabic speaking Baghdadi Jews with roots in Mumbai and Kolkata, Cochin Jews from Kerala, Bene Israel from Maharashtra and B’nei Menashe from Manipur and Mizoram.
Established in 1946 along with 10 other villages in the Negev desert as part of an initiative to create a barrier separating Israel from Egypt and Gaza, Nevatim continues to play a pivotal role following the recent upsurge in violence. As the conflict intensifies, trapped inside the moshav are families of Cochin Jews even as they pray for peace at their beautiful synagogue, adorned with relics from their hometown, located in a green compound where neem, tulsi and ashwagandha grow.
“We are peaceful, hard-working people who built this amazing country. We want to live in safety and peace,” says Dr Nehemia Sahaf, chairman of the Cochin Heritage Centre in Nevatim. “When the [October 7] attacks started, we were in the synagogue for Saturday prayers. It was very difficult to tell people to stop praying and go home to the shelter,” he says. The gatherings have since extended to daily prayers for peace. “Our streets are empty of civilians. The only vehicles moving around belong to security and emergency services.”
Avner Isaac, chairman of the Indian Jewish Heritage Centre, says his dream is to see Jews of Indian origin embrace values of acceptance and peaceful coexistence with neighbours of different origins and religions. The Bene Israelis, the largest group of Indian Jews, are martial men, and their ancestors were part of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s army. “If India is our motherland, Israel is our fatherland,” says Avner. “I came to Israel when I was nine months old. So, all my memories of India are as an adult. As I grew up, I realised that Jews were able to live freely in India without [fearing] anti-Semitism. They have always lived there in peace and harmony with their neighbours. The only time they faced any threat was during the 2008 Mumbai attacks on the Chabad house and other locations.’’
Avner’s father, David Isaac, 91, went to a school in Sassoon docks in Mumbai in the 1940s. It was at the bustling, picturesque dock established by Jewish industrialist Sir Albert Sassoon where he learnt the tools and the trade to become an engineer on merchant ships, setting sail to faraway shores in 1963. As he sits in a bomb shelter today, with sirens going off every few hours, David is, thankfully, saved the trouble of understanding that he is in the midst of a war.
Avner Isaac, chairman of the Indian Jewish Heritage Centre, Nevatim, and Marian Sofaer, who refurbishes old synagogues.
The Jewish population in India has shrunk over the years with most of them emigrating to Israel. But in wars and in facing terror, Jews in India and in Israel have always joined hands. Marian Sofaer, whose mother emigrated to Israel when she was 12, is proud of her links in both countries. She is married to Abraham David Sofaer, an American attorney born in Mumbai. “We found our roots together. I feel we must educate our youth about our diverse heritage,’’ said Marian, who refurbishes old synagogues to put them on the world map.
The deep cultural embrace is fulfilling for many. Ruth Greenfield, 62, daughter of the famous architect Joshua Moses Benjamin, credits her father for instilling in her the values of contributing to the welfare of the community. Benjamin, chief architect of the government of India in the late 19th century, was a key pillar of the Indian Jewish community. He designed the Parliament Annexe building and many other important buildings like the Delhi High Court and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. He also designed several embassy and consulate buildings for India. Ruth has memories of visitors walking into their home in Delhi every day. The Jewish community in Delhi was vibrant those days, she says, and Jewish people from across India used to visit Benjamin.
Such bonds are strong even today. Isaac Thangjom, project director of Degel Menashe, an organisation that works for the B’nei Menashe community in Israel, is passionate about India and visits his hometown Imphal often. “Identity forms a very important part of every person. We want to inculcate a sense of pride in our younger generation and an insight and understanding of who they are,’’ he says.
Nearly 5,000 B’nei Menashe Jews in India were planning to make their journey to Israel when the conflict broke out on October 7. Their plans may be on hold at the moment, but the pursuit of peace by Jews of Indian origin continues. In Nevatim, they are joined by their Israeli friends. Ofra Bar Gil grew up in a community surrounded by Indian Jews and got deeply influenced by the ideals of peace and coexistence. “I am an ayurvedic practitioner. To learn more from India is my mission,” she says, waiting for Nevatim to open its gates once again to peace.