Mumbai Historic Synagogue Restored to Original Grandeur
NEWS DESK | Mumbai’s Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue is one of only a handful of synagogues in the city, and the revival of the 19th century building has been welcomed by the Jewish community, which once thrived in India's financial capital. Our Rebecca Bundhun has the story.
Story:
The reopening of the 135-year-old synagogue follows almost two years of restoration.
Historically, the building is a center of Jewish culture in Mumbai. But it fell into disrepair as India's Jewish population has dwindled.
'There were trees that were growing out of exterior facade, out of the lime plaster, and there was a lot of water seepage because the building had faced over 130 severe monsoons. A lot of the Burma teak rafters had decayed and the building was in structural distress,' the project's architect Abha Narain Lambah described.
Help rallied from India and beyond.
UNESCO's World Monuments Fund drew up the conservation plan for the synagogue and worked on reviving the stained-glass windows,
while the philanthropic arm of Indian steel conglomerate JSW Group shouldered most of the cost.
The rejuvenation included major structural repairs, and uncovering some of the synagogue's original religious symbols, which had been obscured by layers of paint.
The building dates back to 1884. It was built by the Sassoon family, well-known philanthropists of Baghdadi Jewish descent, in what was then known as Bombay.
A direct descendant of the family, Ya'aqob Menashe flew in from New York to see the restored synagogue.
'It's a monument to the Jewish people in India. The fact that it has now been redone— in fact the colors are the original colors — it's a rebirth of how it was then and it looks absolutely glorious. I think it's given the entire Jewish community a real boost here in India,' Rabbi Menashe said.
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Traditions preserved, heritage restored: the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, Mumbai
Constructed in 1884, the Keneseth Synagogue is the second oldest Sephardic synagogue in Mumbai. Since then, it has been a place of solace for and a symbol of the Jewish community, who have called Mumbai a home away from home. We are immensely proud to have played a part in the restoration of this marvelous building and reinstating it to its former glory.
Keneseth Eli Yahoo Synagogue, Mumbai, India
The blue and white coated Iraqi synagogue down a side street in Kala Ghoda is stunning. I photographed it on a Friday afternoon, just before the Sabbath, and was greeted by the kindly caretaker, who himself belonged to another synagogue in Mumbai. It was built in 1884 by Jacob Sassoon, the grandson of David Sassoon. The arches, columns, stained glass windows and high women's gallery are beautifully proportioned.
See individual (better quality) photos for sale on
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Mumbai's freshly renovated blue Synagogue might not be blue anymore - but it tells a story of communal harmony. Kevin Kenneth Lee gets you an inside look!
Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue: a marvelous testimony of a glorious past
Monuments seeped in heritage are what make up Mumbai's rich legacy. We are proud to have successfully restored one of Mumbai's oldest structures and testament of its diverse past - the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue at Kalaghoda.
New Look of the 134-year-old Synagogue in Mumbai
Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue opens for visitors after restoration
Mumbai, Feb 08 (ANI): Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue opened for visitors at Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda after going under restoration. The synagogue has been restored beautifully with original colour scheme of 19th century. Governor of Maharashtra Vidyasagar Rao inaugurated the synagogue. The synagogue is one among the most prominent worship places for Baghdadi and Bene Israeli Jewish community. The restoration was done in a span of one year and cost Rs 4.5 Crore. The credit goes to Conservation Architect AN Lambah.
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Keneseth Eliyahoo (Blue) synagogue Mumbai India February 2019 (3)
Keneseth Eliyahoo (Blue) synagogue Mumbai India February 2019 (2)
Keneseth Eliyahoo (Blue) synagogue Mumbai India February 2019 (4)
Keneseth Eliyahoo (Blue) synagogue Mumbai India February 2019 (1)
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Solomon Sopher Chairman speaks at the restoration of Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue at Kala Ghoda Fort
Jews gather for reopening of Mumbai's elegant synagogue after renovation
Jews gather for reopening of Mumbai's elegant synagogue after renovation
Synagogue - Mumbai - Event #BetterEveryday
The Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, Mumbai, hosted a scintillating evening as it received the
UNESCO, Asia-Pacific Award of Merit, presented by Dr Richard A. Engelhardt. It also held the 1st of a series of Concerts of Peace by Magsaysay awardee TM Krishna- ( Better Everyday )
The covers are off: Inside Kala Ghoda's restored 'blue' synagogue
The Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, a significant place of worship for Mumbai’s Baghdadi and Bene Israeli Jewish communities, was facing imminent demolition until a conservation team headed by restoration architect Abha Narain Lambah, came to its rescue last year. The project costing Rs 5 crore restored life back into the iconic 'blue' Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, built in 1884. The painstaking efforts by the architects has brought forth the original elements of the synagogue which is now open to non-Jewish community, but upon ID verification since it is under a terror threat. Watch the video to find out about the hidden gems of the historic structure.
See How Generations of Muslims Helped Take Care of a Jewish Synagogue in India | Short Film Showcase
Muslims have been the caretakers of the Magen David Synagogue in Kolkata, India for generations.
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More than half a century ago the pews of Kolkata’s stately synagogues were filled with members of a thriving Indian Jewish community. Today, the congregations are dwindling but dedicated Muslim caretakers tend to the three active synagogues in the city. One patriarch has been in the role for 60 years and works alongside his two sons. Atlas Obscura and filmmaker Ana Gonzalez share the history of Kolkata's Magen David Synagogue in this poignant short.
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See How Generations of Muslims Helped Take Care of a Jewish Synagogue in India | Short Film Showcase
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Benny Friedman Singing at Knesset Eliyahu Synagogue in Mumbai - Jewish Music
Benny singing Ani Maamin at a memorial at the Knesset Eliyahu Synagogue in Mumbai. This was from the day before the big memorial which will be held at the Chabad Center at the Nariman House. Jewish Music Video taken by Chabad.org see photos here
BFT Designer Ashwin Mallya shares insights on the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue Project!
Our designer Ashwin Mallya gives you an insight into his experience working on the Keneseth Eliyahoo, the challenges that BFT faced while laying out the tiles, and why this has been a unique project for BFT! Watch this video to know more...
Mumbai's 135-year-old blue synagogue restored
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