Share
Email
PrintMumbai synagogue celebrates 150th
(JTA) -- A synagogue in Mumbai, India, celebrated its 150th anniversary.
The Magen David Synagogue in Byculla was built in 1861 by David Sassoon, who was the treasurer of Baghdad between 1817 and 1829 and the leader of the Jewish community in Bombay after Baghdadi Jews emigrated there.
Foreign dignitaries from Israel, France, the United States, Canada, Poland and Italy attended Tuesday's celebration at the synagogue. Indian President Pratibha Patil, who was scheduled to keynote the event, did not attend.
Also known as the Sassoon Synagogue, it now has difficulty getting a minyan together for Shabbat and holidays, its chairman, Solomon Sopher, told Indian media. Approximately 4,000 Jews are living in India, mostly in Mumbai.
Don't miss out! Get the JTA Daily Briefing delivered FREE to your inbox!
Click to login and write a letter to the editor.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Featured Content
Need to know? Get JTA's free e-newsletters!
- Mandel returns funds under investigation
- Obama’s same-sex marriage nod echoes historic Catholic-Jewish debate
- Survey: Israel losing ground with Germans
- Israeli Arab guilty of murder in Michigan
- Israel’s Arava firm finances $204 million for solar projects
- Israel will solve African migrant problem, Netanyahu assures
- Senate distinguishes between Palestinian refugees and descendants
- Elliott Abrams named to religious freedom commission
