FEATURED ARTICLES
The Legacy of David Sassoon
Building a
Community Bridge
by Shalva Weil
In 1832, David Sassoon (1792-1864)
and his family arrived in Bombay
(today Mumbai) after fleeing the
persecutions of the ruler of Baghdad,
Daud Pasha. This wealthy merchantman,
who founded a dynasty known as the
“Rothschilds of the East”, was also
named the Prince of the Exilarch.
David Sassoon began his sojourn in
Bombay at 9 Tamarind Street (today
non-existent)
[...] [read online...]
Lo Mein to Laksa:
Spice & Kosher
Exotic Cuisine of the
Cochin Jews
Submitted by: Bala Menon
These recipes are all from Spice & Kosher: Exotic Cuisine of the Cochin Jews by Essie Sassoon, Bala Menon
and Kenny Salem. Spice & Kosher is not a mere cookbook. It tells the story of the Jews of Cochin, walks
through their history and captures their unique culture through their food.
“It is often said that our foods link our present lives with that of our ancestors, and it is not easy to explain why
the smells of childhood last a lifetime…”[...] [read online...]
This Year in India
Celebration of Passover in the
Bene Israel Tradition
by Nissim Moses
The Bene Israel community
originated in Maharashtra
in India. According to their
tradition, they arrived on
the Konkan Coast, south of presentday
Mumbai, in approximately 175
BCE. Some date this back to an even
earlier date.
Like other diaspora Jews, the Bene Israel
celebrated the festival of Passover for
eight days, with two Seder nights. In the
second part of the twentieth century, it
became common practice to perform the
first Seder with family and to organize a
communal Seder for the second night.
[…] [read online...]
Cover Story:
The Art of Identity
Weaving Indian Jewish Narratives
In Conversation with Siona Benjamin
by Erica Lyons
The FACES jump from their
frames, dance across the walls
of the Flomenhaft Gallery. Life
flows from the canvases, their
stories swirl around them. It is clear that
these are not mere pictures of people but
the stories of generations, of families and
of the Jewish people.
I had last spoken with Siona Benjamin
following her return from India before
her Fulbright project research for Faces:
Weaving Indian Jewish Narratives had
taken form. She had explained her
vision for the project to me and shared
her photographs of the people that
would soon become the subjects of her
art. While her passion[…] [read online...]
Best of Asian Jewish Life
A Lesson on Strength in Small Numbers
by Leah Robinson
Seven months ago I left Los
Angeles and the comforts
of home to serve with the
American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee (JDC) as a JDC
Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps
(JSC) fellow in Mumbai, India. I have
now been home three weeks and it
feels […] [read online...]