City’s Jew Lane, once home to entire community, has just one family now

Avijit Chatterjee / Oct 18, 2023, 08:56 IST

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City’s Jew Lane, once home to entire community, has just one family now

Pune: The war between Israel and Hamas has sent anxiety rippling through the dwindling community of Jews in Rasta Peth. Ten days ago, just after the Hamas attack, the members had assembled inside the Succath Shelomo Synagogue to pray for the safety of their kin.
Noel Mapgaonkar, who conducts the prayers in the synagogue, said only five or six people turned up last Friday. “More people come during festivals,” he added.
His parents and aunts have migrated to Israel. “All my family members are in Israel, but I have no plans of moving there. I am happy here,” he said. The larger picture is telling.
Decades ago, Jew Lane (Jews’ Street) was home to several families who could trace their roots to Israel. “Now, only one family lives in the lane and another across the road,” Yosef Nowgaonkar, secretary and treasurer of the 102-year-old Succath Shelomo Synagogue, said. The rest have moved elsewhere or migrated to Israel after selling their properties, and new buildings have come up. Once, it was a vibrant community of around 5,000 people in the city. Now, only 200 remain and they have moved to different parts of the city. “We are Bene Israel Jews, descendants of 14 people (seven men and seven women) who survived a shipwreck near Alibaug around 2,700 years ago,” he said.

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City's Jew Lane, once home to entire community, has just one family now
The Jewish community in Rasta Peth, Pune, is feeling anxious due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The community has dwindled over the years, with only around 200 members remaining. Many have migrated to Israel, but some, like Noel Mapgaonkar, are choosing to stay in Pune. The once vibrant Jew Lane now has only one family living there, with new buildings replacing the old Jewish homes. The Succath Shelomo Synagogue, however, remains active and offers prayers three times a day.

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Jewish communities around the world gathered for Shabbat services amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. Rabbis led prayers of peace and grief, emphasizing the trauma the attack has brought to the Jewish people. Despite the pain, congregations emphasized unity and the interconnectedness of all people. Security was heightened at many synagogues, and worshippers expressed their support for Israel through various means, including raising funds and collecting supplies. Jewish communities in Germany and Indonesia also increased security measures to ensure the safety of worshippers.

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The Jewish community in Thane, India, is holding special prayer sessions at their homes to pray for peace and safety in war-stricken Israel. They have chosen not to publicly react to the attacks, but instead, follow instructions from their religious leaders to pray for tranquillity. A special community prayer session was held at the Shaar Hashamaim-Gate of Heaven Synagogue, where around 30 members gathered to pray and show appreciation for soldiers. Thane has the second largest Jewish community in the metropolitan region and community members feel safe and supported by their non-Jewish friends.

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