Bene Israeli Jews of Alibag
In the Alibaug area and Raigad district, about 19 different dynasties ruled in history. Some of these dynasties were from India and some were from abroad. Apart from these dynasties, some other foreign citizens also settled here. One of the most important of them was the Jews, i.e. Bene Israel.
Alibaug and Jews, i.e. Bene Israel, have an unbreakable bond. The proof of this is found in the name Alibaug itself. A Jewish man named Elisha/Eliza had his own gardens in the present Alibaug area. The gardens were coconut palm gardens and farmland. The name Alibaug gradually became popular as the gardens of these Elijah and Ali. This area was inhabited by fishermen and other communities since ancient times, but these Jews also started living along with them.
We may wonder, then, how the Jewish people and Alibaug came to be related? For that, we have to look a little into ancient history, that is, into the past.
History –
This history is told through the mouths of Indian Jewish historian Esther David and other scholars and local Jews. According to them, Jews came to this region 2000 years ago to escape persecution by the Roman Empire. The original Jews of Jerusalem/Jerusalem reached different parts of the world in many boats from there. Some of these ships came to India, some went to Kerala, and some crashed on the shores of the village of Navgaon in the Alibaug area. Seven couples survived and their descendants live in this area today. Later, the community expanded in many villages in Alibaug and the surrounding areas. These people took up the profession of working in the fields and extracting oil here. Since Saturday was their day of rest, they were also called Shaniwar Teli.
This community adapted well to the local people. They adopted many of the local customs and blended into the Indian society. India was the only country where they did not face any problems. They adopted the local food and dress. Their surnames are also unique. They add the name of the village where they lived after their names. For example, Penkar, Avas Kar, Talkar, Ziradkar, Nagaonkar etc. The Jews came here from Israel and gradually started forgetting their Hebrew language, but they did not forget their Shabbat Shlom. The prayer places of this community are still there in Alibaug, Revdanda and other places. Which they call mosque or synagogue. They also have a cemetery, one such cemetery is in the village of Navgaon near Alibaug.
Many of the Jewish community here have now migrated to their own countries, due to which the number here has decreased significantly. However, many Israelis still come here to see the traces of their ancestors’ residence. Many historians and tourists also come to these places and meet the local people. There is also Israel Ali in Alibaug, where many Jewish families used to live. But now these families have decreased.
References –
Sangeeta Kalaskar – Indologist & Historian , Mr. Sunil Pradhan & Team AlibagOnline
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