A Muslim but not an Arab country, Pakistan was never technically at war with the Jewish state. The plight of Jews who have fled is not strictly within the scope of this blog.
However, Pakistan has never been at peace with Israel either. Despite the warm handshake between foreign ministers Silvan Shalom and Kurshid Mahmoud Kashuri, the prospect of recognition is some way off. In spite of its nominal anti-terror stance, hostility towards the Jews is virulent. To be a Jew is to be a scapegoat - as unnerving an experience in Pakistan as it was in an Arab country or Iran.
"As the situation of the Jews among Pakistan's many millions of Muslims became increasingly precarious, most chose to leave.
"In 1956, after the Sinai campaign, there were demonstrations outside the synagogue and it was damaged. Most of the remaining Jews left then, and most of them went to Bombay," said Katz. "The last caretaker of the [Magen Shalom] synagogue, a Muslim, rescued artifacts from the synagogue – the bima, the ark, things like that – but he doesn't know what to do with them. They're sitting in his backyard, I think."
Judaism is one the oldest and the greatest faiths in history and it was sad to know that we don’t have any historical synagogue in Pakistan any more. I think it is a shame that we did not protect our homelands cultural heritage. I have also come to know there was a synagogue in Peshawar too, I visit Peshawar often and would love too see this historical synagogue. I hope I will be able to find it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in your search. Please do let me know, Omar, if you find it!
ReplyDeleteIts sad to know that Pakistanis are destroying their own heritage as well the Jews and making, us well educated, Pakistanis look bad. I am a Muslim myself and I personally find it awkward that my "home" country is stereotyping people from all faiths including its own Muslims, Jews and others. I only hope this will stop and people will come to respect each other instead of persecuting each other. Will we ever learn from our past...?
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way is this Blogger Jewish?, I would love to learn about the Jewish faith.
Hi Stimshieme
ReplyDeleteI agree with you!
I found this site on Judaism you might find informative
http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm
I can't believe how much Pakistanis made Jews uncomfortable and insecure here. I agree with stimshieme in how the actions of a couple of amateur terrorists can make the rest of the country (including the educated and tolerant individuals) look bad. I personally go to a Convent School in Karachi with Hindus, Parsis and Christians and don't know why these people can't be nice at least to these minority groups.
ReplyDeleteEven though the jews had lived in pakistan they are not of pakistani origin. Most of them came during the time of the british colonial era.
ReplyDeleteWhat does 'of Pakistani origin' mean? It is true that the Jews were brought in to what is now Pakistan by the British, but they mostly originated elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Zes Alex and im from Karachi, my friend is a Jew..
ReplyDeleteOne of my friend follows Judaism and he is very rich
ReplyDeletePakistanis should never be hostile with any religion or people living in Pakistan. They are all Pakistanis. Those who wish to save, can save this Jewish Grave Yard in Karachi. Please check this article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dawn.com/2007/05/06/local11.htm
Dear Farooq
ReplyDeleteThanks for drawing my attention to the article in Dawn. I'll post it soon
bataween
Hi
ReplyDeletePlease check Front News at Dawn
www.dawn.com/2007/05/15.
Reagrding Jewish GraveYard.
JewRaj
Hi Jewraj
ReplyDeleteIs this the article you meant? Posted here last week
http://jewishrefugees.blogspot.com/2007/05/jewish-cemetery-in-karachi-needs.html
Yes
ReplyDeleteThis is samearticle same as link you have provided.
Thanks
I was reading in wikipedia about Pakistani jews, well they were pakistani because pakistan was created in 1947 and who so ever was living there at that time became Pakistani.
ReplyDeleteNow question about where there are still some jews there, according to wikipeida there are still hundereds of jews with there tribe name changed to Parsi, living in Pakistan.
:)
Am in aprocess to document the history of jewry in Pakistan, please do share if any family knew em.
ReplyDeletepeace,
Shams Kazmi
(shamskazmi@hotmail.com)
These links should help. Jews in Pakistan have been living on this land for thousands of years! Infact, they were the first monothesitic people to live on the land we call Pakistan!
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_Jews
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukharan_Jews
I feel so embarassed at what these retards have done, they are still Pakistani why the hell are we persecuting them. These radical fools have ruined! Jews are more then welcome to come and live in Pakistan, these mullahs will see their demise soon! Islam is not what these mullahs say!
It is sad wat has happened to the jews in Pakistan i must agree but we have to face the facts as well meaning the events taking place all around agianst them specialy in the middle east which is right next door could have been really bad for them we can not change the past but as pakistani's and as humans i always think that there are good and bad in each group of people sorry to say but the jews dont really have the best rep in the world specialy close to our world but yes they are human and if they are not trying to husrt anyone or our country in anyway then they should be allowed to live there as well just like the hundu's and christins or others times have changed and so should we mashallah we are known the world now finally lets act in the right manner peace and love to everyone.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad to learn of the way our Jewish brothers were treated in Pakistan. Our nation fell under the spell of radical Arab nationalism, and our people failed to make a distinction between Jew and Zionist. I hope one day Pakistan and Israel will establish relations, and Pakistani Jews can visit Pakistan and reconnect with their heritage. Shalom!
ReplyDeleteI am with the Pakistan Israel Peace Forum, of which you probably have heard of (www.pakistanisraelpeace.org). We may be making an appearance in the State-Runed PTV's Worldview from Islamabad hosted by Ahmed Quraishi.
ReplyDeleteArticles like yours helps strengthen our cause of diplomatic relations between Israel and Pakistan.
Dear Munzir
ReplyDeleteI am delighted to learn of your organisation and wish it well. Glad that this blog is helping build bridges
Bataween
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFellow Pakistanis, I have only one motto as far as my country is concerned, Pakistanis are Pakistanis, be they Christian, Muslim or Jew. Or be they Pathan, Baluchi, Punjabi or Urdu Speaking, why should we hate jews just because the Arab hate them, apart from the UAE who has invested heavily in Pakistan what has the rest of the Arab world done for us
ReplyDelete? I have been living in the UAE for the last 22 years amd I assure you the most arabs are the most racist and ignorant people in the world, they treat pakistanis with utmost malice and disrespect, the Jews have never harmed us, and I also find it sad at how the Jews were treated in Karachi, had they stayed our economy would probably be so much better.
Fellow Pakistanis, I have only one motto as far as my country is concerned, Pakistanis are Pakistanis, be they Christian, Muslim or Jew. Or be they Pathan, Baluchi, Punjabi or Urdu Speaking, why should we hate jews just because the Arab hate them, apart from the UAE who has invested heavily in Pakistan what has the rest of the Arab world done for us
ReplyDelete? I have been living in the UAE for the last 22 years amd I assure you the most arabs are the most racist and ignorant people in the world, they treat pakistanis with utmost malice and disrespect, the Jews have never harmed us, and I also find it sad at how the Jews were treated in Karachi, had they stayed our economy would probably be so much better.
As a Pakistani, it saddens me to hear that our Jewish compatriots felt the need to emigrate from our beloved homeland. I want to take this time to apologize for this past misdeed carried out by my countrymen. In general, I have found that Pakistani's and Israeli's(jews) have so much in common and get a long great. Also, we are the only two countries in the world made on the basis of faith and share many of the same endemic problems in making such a state(eg, language, culture, hostile neighboors etc..) If any of them(i.e. Pakistani Jews) are reading this, please dont feel threatened anymore, Pakistan is rightly your home, It would be an honour for me to welcome you back to Pakistan and welcome you as our neighboor, friend and family. If anyone has a problem with that they will have to go through me and my family first! Judging by the response(s) I have seen by other Pakistani's here, there are many others who feel the same way as I do. Pakistan is your home, and you'll always be welcomed here.
ReplyDeletePakistani government will welcome us too? Do they issue us our Jewish I'd cards?
DeleteGosh, you people sound way too nattionalists,its funny how you mention Islam as a peacefull religion and at the same time you cry about being Pakistanis.Islam is a religion that sees no boundries, we are all muslim and this nationalism is not in accordance to Islam although we would love our birth place and thats quite natural but that does not mean we go on and on about being Pakistani.So look at the bigger picture my freinds,its the religion we should have as basis of our hospitable feelings not the nationalism.As for the Jews in Pakistan,everyone regardless of their religions should be allowed to carry on with their lives anywhere but having said that,bear in mind that majority of a mass in any society tends to be emotional and extremist in their thoughts although they dont express is publicly,so anything that happens to muslims in Palestine in specific and all around the world in general,our muslim brothers would blame the Jews,you cannot just overlook the fact that what goes around comes around.But then again,it does not mean that we take revenge of all the misiries that muslims are going through from the civilian Jews but at the same it having pakistaniisrael peace forum is not a solution too,either way would flair up the feelings of Muslims or Jews.So instead of showing your emotional sympathies on forums like this, you should educate Muslims about the true essence of Islam,which also includes helping out Muslims in troubles and finding a way to end the major conflicts affecting Muslims.Its as simple as that,just convey the right message to Muslims and Nonmuslims about Islam and at the same time speak out load to Israel to protest against its actions that not only victimizing Muslim but its own Jews nationals around the globe.Remember my freinds,Countries could be destroyed but our true religion of islam CANNOT.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Karachi after India's partition and one of my first friends in class in the late 40s/early 50s was a Jewish girl, Rebecca Daniel. Another childhood friend was Deborah Daniel who had a beautiful voice and sang in programs from Radio Pakistan. Debbie and her sister were frequent visitors to my house, as kids, and my fairly orthodox Muslim parents were very fond of them.
ReplyDeleteLater, when I joined the Mershant Navy (in the late 50s) I had Jewish colleagues - one, Sassoon (who became a Master Mariner a year beforeme), had relatives who were in senior positions in the Port offices. No one, until idiotic religious frenzy started taking serious root here, ever discriminated against them openly - although I am sure that, as a minority, they must have faced problems we were unaware of.
Sadly, they all migrated to safer lands (some to Israel) because of the shamefully increasing intolerance here. It would be wonderful if some of us could get back in touch again, perhaps through this blog.
Thanks for your touching and eloquent comment. It has happened that this blog has brought long-lost friends together.It might happen again!
ReplyDeleteBest
Bataween
I am from Guyana, of East Indian/Jewish descent, and religiously a practicing Jew - but I am proud of my Indian heritage. I am honored to see the wonderful, tolerant, accepting attitudes of all the Pakistanis on this site for Jews and Israel in particular. Pakistan and India are two different countries, and I am sorry to admit that I do not have any strong ties with India, since my ancestors left over 200 years ago - but no matter, Indians of India and Pakistan are the same people ethnically, culturally, ethically, morally. Be proud of your heritage and show the world that the people of these two wonderful countries have much to contribute in terms of peace, love and brotherly love between all man; because that is what the proud culture of your region is really about. Don't let the biasness and problems of the Middle East seep into Pakistan and make it just another radical Islamic state. I know Islam can be practiced as a religion of peace - don't let these crazy mullahs brainwash you!
ReplyDeleteI being a Muslim from Pakistan feel sorry to say that Pakistan is not a good place for minorities at all and it's all due to the fact that governement does not feel that it's important to eliminate this small group of retarded junkies who are misleading the youth there . Not only jews and christians but also Muslims from other lesser populated sects e.g. Ahmadiyya , Shiite , Ismaili etc etc are not totally safe in Pakistan . In Pakistan it is considered as a big crime if you by mistake go to the mosque of the sect that you don't belong to . I thank my dear God that these religious retards are not able to make a goverenement there atleast otherwise God knows how many days Pakistan is going to survive,once governed by them.
ReplyDeletethe only picture of the karachi synagogue i remember seeing is in the book published in 1976 to mark jinnahs birth centenary. can anyone please post more information about this temple and the one in peshawar. and what of the jewish graveyard in karachi? being from the karachi it would be great to be able to see it....but i have not been able to find any trace of it yet......as a nation we in pakistan have always denied our rich pre-islamic heritage and are destroying it at an alarming rate....there is still time to preserve our hindu and buddhist beginings...but im afraid we are destined to loose all signs of a pakistani-jewish history....what else can we make of this sad state of affairs were the few jews left in karachi want to pass of as parsees......
ReplyDeleteWe dont have to see wether we are Pakistani or not. We also dont have to abserve that which country is supporting us. Arabs , what ever they are no matter how much racist they are but one thing I have learned there is that never abuse other religions. I have also spent my whole life in Saudi Arabia , although other religions cannot pray openly but they donote forbade to do ones act. The problem with Pakistan is that Few extreamist take advantage of illiterate peoples mind. I accept Israel's cruelty is increasing day by day in palestine but in return we should not behave like them. We should have provided security jews in Karachi so that we could have shown and ashamed them that how we respect other religions. How our Prophet (SAW) tld us not to disturb prayers of other religions. The one who burned the Synagog are the biggest dirt spot on muslims. and other countries misbehaving with Pakistanis especially in Arabs is an indirect return of what we do in our country. I hope I could meet more jews in Karachi and show them the real picture of islam how it manages peace with other religions.
ReplyDeleteI am a Pakistani jew who lives in the USA and I do visit my family in Pakistan often. My family is fine and we have no problems from our neighbors and other Pakistanis. Most of my relatives are in Karachi but we live in Islamabad. We have relatives living in other parts of the country too. No, we are not all rich and have to earn a living like any other middle class Pakistanis.
ReplyDeleteThanks you for your kind remarks here.
MAK
Thanks for your comment - how many Jewish families like yours are there still in Pakistan?
ReplyDeleteBataween
Jews of Peshawar
ReplyDeleteThere is always speculation about the Jews of Peshawar. The material available on net is totally base less and wrong. If we traced back the history of Jews I n Peshawar we found that after the Soviet revolution in 1907 the Jews of central Asian states are migrated to Peshawar .when they came to Peshawar they settled in the famous Gorgatry building .In which they stayed till 1910. In Peshawar the famous setti families are doing business with the central Asia so some of the Jew may knew members of that family. The setti family allowed some of the Jews family to reside in there house in mohallah settyan moh kawhsheke bazaar Kallan . These Jews are of the two type one are very rich and the other are very poor and are street venders .who sell home made pudding, kinddy and other edible items. But the rich are doing their business of clothes selling in the Hastings memorial which now called choke yadgar. It is stated that at that time when the migrated from central Asian states the setti family are doing business in cites of the central Asian state like Bukra Taskant etc. because of that they approached to them particularly the honorary magistrate setti Karam Ilahi setti Kareem Baksh setti Abdul Gafoorr . They happily settled them in their hoses moh kawshki opposite the mosque .one family of Benjamin mairaif is settled in moh kudadad . This man is doing business of clothes in Peshawar. He has two sons Hanail Benjamin and Yushfa Benjamin and two doughtier Sara and Mazol. They are from different mothers so they quarreled with each other all the time. The eldest one Hanial Benjamin is living in other vicinity called mundi berre inside yaka toot gate. He through two time acid on his younger brother which caused his one eye fully damaged. Benjamin Mairaif has property also in mambay and Quatta. Some other Jews who are residing in Peshawar are Yuna Dadvouf Abdullah Abdul Kareem both of them are doing business of fur. Another Benjamin is also here I n Peshawar who sells chaddar (a peace of clothes traditional used by Puktoons). Two other brothers are David god and Sulman god sons of Naseer god are also doing fur business. The Jew of Peshawar city kept long beard wears loses trousers wearing traditional Jew cape on their head. Their woman are completely covered themselves in black burqa .they speaks Hebrew and Persian .after the creation of Israel some more Jew are also come from Afghanistan to Peshawar. Some prominent figure of Peshawar city have assured the than government of Pakistan that they will go back to Afghanistan. But, they don’t do that and instated of going back they migrated to Israeli via Peshawar. in the result is that their Pakistani sureties are facings court and put themselves in jeopardy one of these Jew is Seven god son of Naseer god who came to Peshawar in June 1949 .In Peshawar they don’t have any synagogue they observed their religion and don’t do any work on Saturday .They have a peace of land for their graveyard which one of the Jew David marziouf bought from a member of kawja family in 1932. But today this land is under cultivations and no sign of any grave is there. This land is transfers back to one of the member of that family through a court decree in 1973.In the walled city of Peshawar in almost in every street on every second house there is David star but they are no concern with Jew because these buildings are made by Hindus and this is a local traditional Peshawari style of windows. Written by humayun_m_pk@yahoo.com
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Jews of Peshawar
ReplyDeleteThere is always speculation about the Jews of Peshawar. The material available on net is totally base less and wrong. If we traced back the history of Jews I n Peshawar we found that after the Soviet revolution in 1907 the Jews of central Asian states are migrated to Peshawar .when they came to Peshawar they settled in the famous Gorgatry building .In which they stayed till 1910. In Peshawar the famous setti families are doing business with the central Asia so some of the Jew may knew members of that family. The setti family allowed some of the Jews family to reside in there house in mohallah settyan moh kawhsheke bazaar Kallan . These Jews are of the two type one are very rich and the other are very poor and are street venders .who sell home made pudding, kinddy and other edible items. But the rich are doing their business of clothes selling in the Hastings memorial which now called choke yadgar. It is stated that at that time when the migrated from central Asian states the setti family are doing business in cites of the central Asian state like Bukra Taskant etc. because of that they approached to them particularly the honorary magistrate setti Karam Ilahi setti Kareem Baksh setti Abdul Gafoorr . They happily settled them in their hoses moh kawshki opposite the mosque .one family of Benjamin mairaif is settled in moh kudadad . This man is doing business of clothes in Peshawar. He has two sons Hanail Benjamin and Yushfa Benjamin and two doughtier Sara and Mazol. They are from different mothers so they quarreled with each other all the time. The eldest one Hanial Benjamin is living in other vicinity called mundi berre inside yaka toot gate. He through two time acid on his younger brother which caused his one eye fully damaged. Benjamin Mairaif has property also in mambay and Quatta. Some other Jews who are residing in Peshawar are Yuna Dadvouf Abdullah Abdul Kareem both of them are doing business of fur. Another Benjamin is also here I n Peshawar who sells chaddar (a peace of clothes traditional used by Puktoons). Two other brothers are David god and Sulman god sons of Naseer god are also doing fur business. The Jew of Peshawar city kept long beard wears loses trousers wearing traditional Jew cape on their head. Their woman are completely covered themselves in black burqa .they speaks Hebrew and Persian .after the creation of Israel some more Jew are also come from Afghanistan to Peshawar. Some prominent figure of Peshawar city have assured the than government of Pakistan that they will go back to Afghanistan. But, they don’t do that and instated of going back they migrated to Israeli via Peshawar. in the result is that their Pakistani sureties are facings court and put themselves in jeopardy one of these Jew is Seven god son of Naseer god who came to Peshawar in June 1949 .In Peshawar they don’t have any synagogue they observed their religion and don’t do any work on Saturday .They have a peace of land for their graveyard which one of the Jew David marziouf bought from a member of kawja family in 1932. But today this land is under cultivations and no sign of any grave is there. This land is transfers back to one of the member of that family through a court decree in 1973.In the walled city of Peshawar in almost in every street on every second house there is David star but they are no concern with Jew because these buildings are made by Hindus and this is a local traditional Peshawari style of windows.on one of the site is saying that these jews are migrated by force from peshawar in some one grand father arrange this exdouse isnot true . the pshawari are very friendly to them not harm any one of them during thier stay at peshawar. they opt for migration to isrial by themselves not force by Pakistani govt. Written by humayun_m_pk@yahoo.com
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well,,,one of da best example of jewish people still livin in pakistan are the famous pakistani singers;BENJAMIN SISTERS' i hope u people have heard of dem ,,dey wre very famous on PTV during 90z....anyways im not sure dey r still in pakistan or dey left like all of us....i am a pakistani jew dentist livin in canada...
ReplyDeleteIn this forum, someone asked 'who is a Jew'? Preceding to the word 'Jew' is the word 'Hebrew'. A Jew or Hebrew is one who believes in the covenant that God made with their patriach Abraham that He God will bless all mankind throught the Jews.
ReplyDeleteThe Jews have a special task, just the same way that a tribe from 'Borneo' has a special task from God.
Those Jews who followed 'Yeshua'(Jesus) are called the "Nazernes' or Nasrani. There are 6 million Nasranis who originated from Kerala, INdia. I am a Nasrani.
Hey, just for editing purposes,
ReplyDeleteIt's Kasuri, not Kashuri. Though I think Uncle Khurshid would get a kick out of being called "the kosher one". loool.
also, my family is from pakistan, and we're all avid zionist muslims, with strong connections with our local jewish community. if there's anything we can do to help pakistan's jews (and if any of the girls are single ;-)), email: hamzakahn@gmail.com
sad that you should use this forum for such lowgrade humour ...
ReplyDeleteI am a jew living in United states and my ancestor origin goes back to Peshawar. I am eager to visit Karachi/peshawar. Is it safe for Jews to return back to Pak?. Atleast to visit the places and see the remaining synagogue in Peshawar?.
ReplyDeleteHello Michael
ReplyDeleteIf I were you I would take advice from the US state department.
How interesting that your origins are from Karachi/ Peshawar. I would be very interested to learn more about how and why they left. Do you know of any Jews still living there?
Bataween
weren't the benjamin sisters christian?
ReplyDeleteAs a child I lived with hindus, in my college years, my very close friends were christians parsis, may be jewish.
ReplyDeleteAs muslims when we migrate to different countries, we are okay with different religions, but when it comes to Pakistan we hate each other, don't even talk about accepting other religions.
Secondly migrants like me, want full rights and equality in different societies, but when it comes to our own country, we are complete fanatics" do not want to give any rights to no one, may be chop off the head if you diagree.
I hope one day Pakistan can turn into peace loving and hospitable country for all.
I am a jew living in canada originally from karachi , i still have a list of my family members who were there .........
ReplyDeleteDo you know any Ben Israel families those who moved to Hyderabad from Karachi during sixties? Im looking for my relatives I'm Bene Israel Marathi speaking.
DeleteDear friends i glad to read your knowledge sharing comments ,im a pakistani my self and im really sorry to say that our country is worst in terms of treatment to other faiths.
ReplyDeletewe must remember that jews faith is the base of christianity and islam and jews are the Gods people to them he provided food from heavens.
In pakistan we learn that jews disobyed the God and we must hate them! What a stupid notion?
Do we obey God?
what are we muslims killing ,cheating,homosexulity,roobing opperessing the poor and filling pockets is this is God commandments for the muslims?
Ask our self and look into the Holy books what is jew?
Unfortunately pakistan is worst country for other faiths and i must addmit that my heart and sympathy with jews no matter where they live i must respect them and love them as long life permit me.
With all my sympathy and love for the Gods people may those who called tribe of Israel!!!
Eli
Pakistan has never been at with war Israel. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be establishing bilateral relations with Israel. Unlike Iran or Arab countries, ruled by despotic Sheikhs and Kings, Pakistan is a democracy.
ReplyDeleteBoth our nations are democracies, Israel an old one, Pakistan a rather newer one. We ought to establish formal relations. I hear that Pakistan used to be home to a vibrant Jewish Community, many of whose members contributed so much towards the development of our republic in its early days.
I hope our democratic government restores the historic Synagouges to their original state. After all, these are our historical national assets!
I was actually writing an essay for a local newspaper regarding the need for establishing bilateral relations with Israel. My search on Jewish Communities in Pakistan brought me to your blog.
ReplyDeleteThere are still many historic symbols here that remind us of a once prominent Jewish Community. I remember from my college days, my college's building constructed during British Raj in mid 1800s had a Star of David on one of its towers! Then, I always wondered how it came to be there. Later, I learnt that Jews were prominent here in all walks of life.
I'm in my mid 20s. I like many from my young generation sincerely hope that democracy takes root, so that extremists never get the chance to rise again in our country. Let me tell you that as Moslems, we have no grudges whatsoever against our Jewish fellows. In fact the Jews and Moslems lived like brothers in Pakistan. It was only in the 1960s that religious extremist motivated by Arab frenzy started making life difficult for our Jewish compatriots. But these religious extremists made life miserable for tolerant Pakistani Moslems as well. Today, we in our country are striving to get rid of religious extremism, once and for all!
I really hope that one day we will invite our Jewish compatriots back to their homes and synagouges in Pakistan. They were an integral part of our society and we really miss them!
Greetings from Pakistan.
Hassan
Greeting to all of you
ReplyDeleteI am a researcher , living in Karachi , never came across any Jew but want to write my PhD thesis on Theodor Herzl .This gentleman fascinates me as how he motivated the Jews globally to unit and make their country. I wish I could meet some Jew and talk to him about his culture and way of life.
It's nice to know that your chosen subject is Theodor Herzl, a remarkable man with a remarkable vision. It was Herzl who said,'If you will it, it is no dream.' The majority of Jews believe Herzl's vision of a Jewish homeland was the best thing that has happened to the Jewish people, and it is still something of a miracle that Israel was established.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments dear .Can I know what his contemporary thinkers had views about him, I mean about Herzl. Moreover do you know any online resource from where I can get material about this gentleman and about Jewish people of that time?
ReplyDeleteYou could try
ReplyDelete'A history of Zionsim' by Walter Laqueur
Also this site about Herzl himself:
http://www.hagshama.org.il/doingzionism/resources/expand_author.asp?id=89
What an outrage that Pakistani Jews were hounded out of the country - a disgrace. I am British (of Pakistani origin) but attended Jewish schools here in the UK so understand something of the culture. Political differences aside, Jews are our Semitic brothers. It is truly a mark of dishonour that the last Karachi synagogue was demolished to make way for a shopping centre - of all projects.
ReplyDeleteDo you Pakistanis not value your country's heritage? For shame. My father who was brought up in Pakistan remembers walking home on Shabbat and seeing the synagogue candles light up the windows of the shul in Karachi - would that he could still see them today.
Does anyone know if the Muslim mensch who saved articles from the Karachi shul (synagogue) mentioned in an earlier blog post is still alive, and what he did with those items? If so, any ideas on how to contact him?? Thanks everyone. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI am from Peshawar, Pakistan and have seen the synagogue there. But unfortunately it was converted to a fish market and now there is a mosque built on that ground. I personally think that the synagogue should have been declared a national heritage and preserved.......alas
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know there is only one jewish lady in Karachi now. Few years ago I met her. At that time she was very sick. In fact My mother in law was a Pkistani jewish lady. Her whole family migrated to Israel after 1967 war. She prefered to stay back. Right now I am in the USA and I have very strong ties with my inlaws residing in Isreal.Their elders really miss Karachi.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI am a Muslim Pakistani. My mother is from a christian Pakistani family and my grand mother tells of of some Jewish relatives. It fascinates me really and wish everyone could just live together and accept each others differences.
ReplyDeleteIts a shame to see Pakistan pushing out its minorities and forgetting what it stands for:
The Pakistani flag comprises a dark green field, representing the Muslim majority of Pakistan, with a vertical white stripe in the hoist, representing religious minorities.[5] In the centre is a white crescent moon and a white five-pointed star, which symbolize progress and light respectively.[5] The flag symbolizes Pakistan's commitment to Islam, the Islamic world, and the rights of religious minorities.
If you are concerned with minority rights in Pakistan it is too late for the Jews: hardly any are left. But it is not to late to fight against abuses of the rights of Pakistani Christians as per the example below.
ReplyDeleteA 12 year old girl -an underage domestic servant - was tortured, raped and murdered. On Saturday the powerful, wealthy and influential former President of the Lahore Bar Association was released on bail. It is purported that contrived medical evidence/Death certificate in contradiction to the original post-mortem has facilitated his release. Over 300 lawyers mobbed the court in support of the accused in a shameful act that has brought further disrepute to the Pakistani Legal system
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI am a jew living in canada originally from Karachi, Pakistan , i still have a list of my family members who were there .........
10:06 PM, April 08, 2009
Hi Anonymous. I was really happy to read your comment. I am originally from Karachi and am a Muslim and it has been my passion for the last few years to kmow and meet Pakistani or Karachi Jews, but have so not not sucessful. Even before migrating to Canada, my family my friends and the people we knew had no grudge againt Jews, Christians or any other minority. We were taught to respect other religions and try to understand their point of view. Having said this, I must accept that minorities in Pakistan have been treated badly in the recent years, by a minority of bigots. I went to Catholic institutions myself and Catholics , Parsis were the most respected people of Karachi. We had a Law Minister in the 70's "Jusctice A.R. Cornilious", who was a very well respected man. I remember as a kid there were many Airforce officers in the PAF who lost lives for Pakistan in the wars.
When I was in middle school in Karachi, I remember walking near Lawrence Road and saw a street called Synagogue Street where an impressive stone made building was situated. I still remember going inside in the courtyard. I wish Pakistanis had kept this building as a heritage site, but it seems in Pakisatn no one has the pain in their hearts and they keep demolishing the old beautiful buildings of the past.
I really hope and wish the the original Karachi Jews come back adn vist their city, their MOHALLAs adn thir graveyrds. I want to see Synagogues in Pakistan as they were before.
QUOTE
I am a jew living in canada originally from Karachi, Pakistan , i still have a list of my family members who were there
UNQUOTE
I will be really happy to meet my Jewish brothers and sister from Pakistan. if you dont mind please post your comment to be in touch with me-I will give you my e-mail address. Any other Pakistani Jewish person please respond-I would really love to meet you all.I currently reside in West of Toronto. Shalom to you all!!!!
Sholom and Hello to all my Jewish brothers and sisters, especially from Pakistan. The below article was published in The Daily Dawn newspaper of Karachi on February 27, 2010.
ReplyDeletePlease respond to my above post-I would love to be in contact with any Jewish person who was from Karachi or Pakistan. Please respond and let us talk about Karachi. I am a Muslim from Karachi, now living in Ontario, west of Toronto. Thank you. Dan
QUOTE
According to estimates, there were about 2,500 Jews living in Karachi before 1947. Most of their ancestors had migrated to Karachi from Persia (Iran) in the 19th century, and lived here as tradesmen, artisans, poets, philosophers, and civil servants. The native language of this group of people, known as Bene Israel, was Judeo-Marathi.
According to one account, the Magain Shalome Synagogue on Lawrence Road (now Nishter Road) in Karachi was built in 1893, by Shalome Solomon Umerdekar and his son Gershone Solomon.
Other accounts suggest that it was built by Solomon David, a surveyor for the Karachi Municipality and his wife Sheeoolabai, although these may be different names for the same people. The synagogue soon became the centre of activity for the small Jewish community. Abraham Reuben, who became a city councillor in 1936, was one of the leaders of this community.
A number of associations existed to serve the Jewish community, among them the Young Men’s Jewish Association founded in 1903. Its aim was to encourage sports, and to promote religious and social activities among the Bene Israel in Karachi.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the Karachi Bene Israel Relief Fund was established to support poor Jews in Karachi. The Karachi Jewish Syndicate, formed in 1918, continued to provide homes for poor Jews at reasonable rents.
Relations between the Jewish community and others in Karachi continued to be harmonious immediately after the establishment of Pakistan in 1947. However, incidents involving violence against Jews began to occur some time after the creation of Israel, leading to feelings of insecurity within the Jewish community.
The synagogue in Karachi was set on fire, and several Jews were attacked. The frequency of attacks increased after each of the Arab-Israeli wars, i.e. 1948, 1956 and 1967.
The decade-long period under President Ayub Khan saw the gradual disappearance of Jews from Pakistan. They migrated to India, Israel, or the United Kingdom. The Jews also had a small community in the northern city of Peshawar that was served by two synagogues. By the 1960s, this community too had ceased to exist, and both the synagogues were closed.
Reportedly, several Jewish families remained in Karachi beyond this period, but out of concern for their own safety, and as a reaction to increasing religious intolerance, many of them concealed their Jewish identity, sometimes passing themselves off as Parsis or Christians.
The synagogue in Karachi became dormant in the 1960s and was demolished by property developers in 1988 to make way for a commercial building.
Reportedly, the last custodian of the synagogue, Rachel Joseph, lived in Karachi in a state of destitution. She also acted as the caretaker of the Jewish graveyard in Mewa Shah, an old locality of Karachi.
Parts of this graveyard have now been absorbed by another graveyard. Rachel Joseph, until her death, claimed that the property developers had promised her and her brother Ifraheem Joseph an apartment in the new building, and also space for a small synagogue. Unfortunately, both Ifraheem and Rachel Joseph passed away before they received any compensation.
Many of the Jews who left Karachi now live in Ramale in Israel and, in remembrance of times past, have built a synagogue there called Magain Shalome, Karachi, their former home, seems to have conveniently forgotten all about them and their contribution to the history and architecture of this city.
My family has a strong connection with Karachi, and probably accounted for most of the very small community of European Jews there. My great-grandfather, Simon Wyse, ran the Great Western Hotel, and my grandparents ran the Killarney Hotel there. The Killarney was first housed in a building that later served as the Russian Consulate which, I believe, has been restored as part of the Bay View School.
In the early 1930’s the hotel moved to a ‘palace’ built by a Parsi entrepreneur and was renamed the ‘Killarney Hotel, Marder’s Palace’. The building was, unfortunately, demolished in the 1970s. In its place stands the modern Sheraton Hotel.
My father grew up in Karachi before going to school in England, and went back in 1939 to serve in the Indian Army during the War. He now lives in the UK. One of his aunts married Moses Somake, an Iraqi Jew who, I have learnt, was one of Karachi’s leading architects. One of his buildings is the Flagstaff House that later became the home of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to visit Karachi, but have heard many of my father’s and grandparents’ stories. I am in touch with many of our relatives, including Somake’s descendents.
— As narrated by
Jonathan Marder
UNQUOTE
A number of associations existed to serve the Jewish community, among them the Young Men’s Jewish Association founded in 1903. Its aim was to encourage sports, and to promote religious and social activities among the Bene Israel in Karachi.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the Karachi Bene Israel Relief Fund was established to support poor Jews in Karachi. The Karachi Jewish Syndicate, formed in 1918, continued to provide homes for poor Jews at reasonable rents.
Relations between the Jewish community and others in Karachi continued to be harmonious immediately after the establishment of Pakistan in 1947. However, incidents involving violence against Jews began to occur some time after the creation of Israel, leading to feelings of insecurity within the Jewish community.
The synagogue in Karachi was set on fire, and several Jews were attacked. The frequency of attacks increased after each of the Arab-Israeli wars, i.e. 1948, 1956 and 1967.
The decade-long period under President Ayub Khan saw the gradual disappearance of Jews from Pakistan. They migrated to India, Israel, or the United Kingdom. The Jews also had a small community in the northern city of Peshawar that was served by two synagogues. By the 1960s, this community too had ceased to exist, and both the synagogues were closed.
Reportedly, several Jewish families remained in Karachi beyond this period, but out of concern for their own safety, and as a reaction to increasing religious intolerance, many of them concealed their Jewish identity, sometimes passing themselves off as Parsis or Christians.
The synagogue in Karachi became dormant in the 1960s and was demolished by property developers in 1988 to make way for a commercial building.
Reportedly, the last custodian of the synagogue, Rachel Joseph, lived in Karachi in a state of destitution. She also acted as the caretaker of the Jewish graveyard in Mewa Shah, an old locality of Karachi.
Parts of this graveyard have now been absorbed by another graveyard. Rachel Joseph, until her death, claimed that the property developers had promised her and her brother Ifraheem Joseph an apartment in the new building, and also space for a small synagogue. Unfortunately, both Ifraheem and Rachel Joseph passed away before they received any compensation.
Many of the Jews who left Karachi now live in Ramale in Israel and, in remembrance of times past, have built a synagogue there called Magain Shalome, Karachi, their former home, seems to have conveniently forgotten all about them and their contribution to the history and architecture of this city.
My family has a strong connection with Karachi, and probably accounted for most of the very small community of European Jews there. My great-grandfather, Simon Wyse, ran the Great Western Hotel, and my grandparents ran the Killarney Hotel there. The Killarney was first housed in a building that later served as the Russian Consulate which, I believe, has been restored as part of the Bay View School.
In the early 1930’s the hotel moved to a ‘palace’ built by a Parsi entrepreneur and was renamed the ‘Killarney Hotel, Marder’s Palace’. The building was, unfortunately, demolished in the 1970s. In its place stands the modern Sheraton Hotel.
My father grew up in Karachi before going to school in England, and went back in 1939 to serve in the Indian Army during the War. He now lives in the UK. One of his aunts married Moses Somake, an Iraqi Jew who, I have learnt, was one of Karachi’s leading architects. One of his buildings is the Flagstaff House that later became the home of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to visit Karachi, but have heard many of my father’s and grandparents’ stories. I am in touch with many of our relatives, including Somake’s descendents.
— As narrated by
Jonathan Marder
UNQUOTE
In the early 1970s in Karachi my mother [Jewsih] the Australain Consul General's wife supplied all kinds of Jewish needs to some of the local community. I recall going with her in my father's [non Jewsih]seeing the offical Mercedes Benz with consular licence plates and the Australian flag on the car covered [as my father was not in the car] visting the synagogue.
ReplyDeleteI recall going to the Intercontintal Hotel for dinner one Friday night and wearing my kippot ... probably the first time it was ever done there. I recall going to some diplomatic parties on Friday nights with my parents and I always wore my kippot. No one took any notice of it.
In retrospect my father did attend the synagogue on a couple of occasions ... i recall sitting in the front seat with the driver and my parents were in the back, the Australain flag flying on the bonnet.
ReplyDeleteOne Xmas holiday when I was visiting Karachi from university I played the part of Santa Claus in costume for the children of consualr staff and the children of domestic servants (Muslem I guess). I then went to the local Jewsih community still dressed as Santa Claus with my mother to hand out Xmas treats ...
Later when my Father was no longer a Consul General but an Australian Ambassador he would always accompany my mother to Jewish functions with the flag flying.
We often had formal diplomatic dinners on Friday nights, and everyone enjoyed them despite the fact that there were usually no other Jews present in Karachi except very rarely someone from another consular mission.
Shalom and kindly I just ask if you know any of Old Jewish from Pakistan? Im son of a Karachi Bene Israel Mother and a Muslim father and my grand father and his four brothers was moved to Hyderabad from Karachi after failed to sell their property in Pakistan, I'm looking for my mother relatives and only older generation know who was left behind in Pakistan.i just beg to you please help me find my relatives as I need you children's to grow as Jewish and Im not sending my daughter to school for fear that she might get Corrupt teaching of other faiths. Shalom from Cambodia
DeleteThank you for your interesting anecdote.
ReplyDeleteCould you tell me how big the local Jewish community was in the 1970s? How did your mother get in touch with them? What needs did they have?
bataween
batween,
ReplyDeleteHi I have just asked my mother how big the local Jewish community was in the early 70s. She replied that there may have been 100 to 200 but after the Indo=Pakistani war of the early 70s most were too frightened to be openly Jewish. She personally knew of only perhaps 30 people.
I recall our household servants were all Christian and so were many of the local staff at the Consulate General. To make it more safe for the local staff to go to wrok a mini bus from the consulate would pick them up and take them home from work.
I recall my mother used to ask some very junior consular staff from the USA so that she had a male for Friday Shabbat night dinner. If I was there or my brother is was a different story, but my father was not Jewish. There were also a few expatraite Jewish business people on postings who kept being Jewish 'secret' out of necessity.
The Consulate General from Iran also had a young single male Jewish male vice consul at one stage who my Mother would ask to dinner .... during the days of the Shah things were different in Iran.
My mother also infomed me that the wife of the Japanese Consul General (ethnic Japanese) was Jewish in 1972. My mother informs me that they were later posted to Israel due to this link. She apparently did not advertise she was Jewish in Pakistan.
She did say that none of the local Jewish population were very affluent, and were Urdu speaking. She supported them with things because they were Jewish not because she was friendly with them.
my Mother also infroms me she had visited the Synagogue in Kabul in the early 1970s as my Father was accredited to Afghanistan at the time he he Consul General in Karachi.
Your mother might know my grand father as well my mother too, they were well to do and had a lot of property that they failed to sell and moved to inner sindh with new identity as muslin but practiced Judaism,
DeleteNote my grandfather were five brothers. Please help
bataween
ReplyDeleteI just reread your message,as to how she made contact with them. She said this was after she asked the head of Karachi Police (a Christian) to find out for her.
He was at organising security for something just after my parents arrived in Karachi and she asked him. She said he sent off an aid and had a list of addresses for her within a week.
Thank you very much for such interesting information. On the basis of what your mother says one can assume that there are probably still Jews in Pakistan today, but like all the remnants in Arab lands, they have gone to ground, too frightened to identify as Jews.
ReplyDeleteI just spoke to my Mother and she informed me that she believed there were more Jews, but many were high rofile business people and kept this secret.
ReplyDeleteshe has some old photos in her albums which may show the bldg, perhaps she will lewt me share these.
i also went to the Jewish Cemetary on day out of curiousity. I recall asking her if there was one and she suggested I ask the Police Chief ... he told me where it was.
This is all very useful - thank your mother for me. People are always asking for more information, is it Ok to contact you (or your mother) direct? Just drop me a line to bataween@gmail.com - will keep address confidential.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking and have just thought about some concern for any surviving Jews in Pakistan incase there is someone trying to do something less than pleasant eg Pakistani State Security, or Terrorists.
ReplyDeleteI am willing to reply to you but not to a gmail address. I will reply to you ONLY via a known Jewish organisation eg a Synagogue, Welfare League etc. sorry, but i am just cautious.
Pakistan is far frrom the ideal place for a Jew to be, there would be no protection from local Police etc. the best thing they could do in my opinion would be to flee to somewhere safe (India, USA, Israel etc).
It would be wonderful for the IDF to mount a covert operation to take them all out. Who else would do it?
It is not me you need to worry about , I can assure you. Never mind, it was just a thought.
ReplyDeleteok fine
ReplyDeletemy mother is in correspondance with some peole in Karachi. My offer of assistance is strict. only via a Jewish organsation who can protect those who live in a country with out protection.
I spoke to her today, she will not disclose ANY addresses as she fears for their safety.
for your information the Bima was removed from Karachi as was the Ark. They and other artifact are now quite safe and treasured in Australia in a 'home Synagogue' of an elderly widow [my Mother]
ReplyDeleteFor you information the Torah and candlesticks from a Shul closed in the 1960s in NWFP were also rescued and are notw safe in Australia.
ReplyDeleteWe also have a beautiful Lapis Lazuli inlayed Menorah purchsed in the bazzar of Darra .. not sure how to spell it but it is phonetically Darra .... a village in the tribal area of NWFP at the base of the Kyber Pass road ... possibly ex Afghanistan due to the type of stone inlay. This was found when looking for relics in the old town.
I am a muslim of Pakistani decent , residing in New Jersey,I was dissapointed to learn that there are hardly any Jews left in Pakistan.I hope they are safe and their number increases with time,and may God protect them,and the society accepts them for who they are,and so they do not have to hide their identity,all my prayers and best wishes to them! Fariha
ReplyDeleteI am a Jew who has left Pakistan this year. For decades we masqueraded as Muslims. My elderly Father recalls the Australian diplomat's wife who provided some of Karachi's Jews with things including Kosher wine and grape juice.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Indo Pakistani was in the early 1970s she smuggled my widowed sister and niece to India in the trunk of her car. The border was totally closed to all except diplomats. My sister told me how she had the center rear arm rest tsken out and had a vacuum cleaner hose from the airconditioner to the trunk. We think not that her husband knew what she did. We believe she may have smuggled other Jews in the same way.
She asked us never to contact her or speak of how we got out in case her husband lost his employment. But this is now 40 years and he will have long retired. This is why no doubt she aquired or was able to aquire items from the Shul in Karachi.
My niece and sister now live in NY.
I too know of the lady who smuggled Jews out of Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteShe said she owed the tradition to all those who did the same in Germany and Europe during WW2
There must be untold heros who have smuggled jews from Muslem lands.
ReplyDeleteBut like all real heros they dont want recognition.
They want to be left in peace
Pakistani family masquerading as parsi living in UAE terrified here and in Pakistan to say we are jewish
ReplyDeleteMUSLEM LANDS ARE BETTER OFF WITH NO JEWS.... GOOD RIDDINGS TO THEM
ReplyDeleteyes i am one live in peshawar
ReplyDeletenot pakistani
I have just finished Shabbat dinner with my Mother the wife of Australia's Consul General in Karachi in 1971/2.
ReplyDeleteAs discussed in an earlier post we have the Bima and the Arc from Karachi they are very safe and very cherished.
I asked my Mother about her smuggling people as people smuggling is a political issue in Australia now at dinner. She said "there is people smuggling and refugee repatriation two quite different issues, please pass me some bread". This was to indicate the topic was closed.
I found her old Diplomatic passport and noted she made several trips by road to India, one passport entry says she was accompanied by a French diplomatic passport holder. The border was closed to all but diplomats. I guess she did this more than once as there was no reason to drive there.
One funny anecdote wasin 1972 I persuaded the Commander of the Pakistani Air Force base outside of Karachi to let me ride in a fighter jet as an 18 year old. I decided it was funny to wear a Kippot under the helmet.
I also wrote in Hebrew in the Visitor's Book at the base. One officer said quite seriously "is that Australian" as if we had our own language. Probably the only time someone has worn a Kippot on a Muslim Air Force fighter, or written in Hebrew in the visitor's book. What I wrote was very Zionist.
It was not just as an 18 year old that I enjoyed using my Jewishness.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy stirring even know I am middle 50s. Recently I flew on a Muslim airline and after leaving my departure city, when the plane was well over Europe put on an Israel Defence Forces T shirt and a Kippot, just before landing.
It was as if terrorists were on board, the cabin crew went white when I used the rest room. The steward tried to pour me coffee and his hands were shaking.
Hello again
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice anecdote, thank you. I have had several people who want to get in touch with you, one from a Jewish paper in Oz - would you be willing to giving me an email address via bataween@gmail.com (you needn't give your real name) and I could pass on their email addresses to you.
I will try and bring up the subject with my mother again. As a diplomat's wife over the years I know she used her diplomatic immmunity often to do what she thought was best .... in Karachi I recall her regularly importing medical equipment 'illegally' imported and labelled as office equipment or furniture. I recall on one visit I was given two large boxes to bring with me from Australia as a part of my luggage. The boxes contained medical supplies which were destined for a charity who could no import these without large bribes.
ReplyDeleteIn Argentina in the 1970s I recall she sheltered 2 peolpe in her home until she could get them to Montevideo ... again in the trunk of her car. I don't know what they were shelotered for, it would not have been due to being Jewish as Argentina was pro Jewish then.
I actually did the same thing in 1978 as a student staying in a youth hostel in East Germany ... took 2 people in the boot of my car to Est Berlin .... I had a diplomatic passport and took a German Shepard dog in the car to put the Police dogs off scent as they walked around the car. Just an impulsive thing as a 19 year old.
I got the idea of the dog in the car from my Mother in Buenos Aires when she took the two people out. She also took our German Shepard "Begum" with her to India but whenevert she drove out of the city withoutr her driver the dog came too for secuirty. I can remember one trip with her driving from Karachi PEshawar via Multan and the hotel in Multan not liking the dog in her room, the same at Dean's Hotel (I recall the name) in Peshawar we had the dog. We drove to a village called "Darra" for the day (I think is was or similar name) and the dog came too .... probably Taliban territory now! I recall they made replica guns in the village and being quite annoyed with my mother at not being given prmission to buy a pen converted to fire a bullet.
She drove all over Pakistan over her two years there which she regrds as some of the happiest tin her life. She was also renowned in Karachi for lavish entetaining.
I'm a writer and photographer based in Melbourne (www.andharris.com), and I'd love to get in touch with you. If there are any Pakistani-Jewish artifacts floating around somewhere in Australia, it would be incredible to find them. Please email me at andrew(at)andharris.com.
ReplyDeleteMy mum is from Karachi(Muslim) but now lives in London. She said that when she was young(teens), in the 60's, she was best friends with a Jewish girl called Lily Solomon (may be spelt Salomon). Lily had very beautiful green eyes and was a dancer. Lily's dad would accompany her when she danced at parties and she had a brother.
ReplyDeleteLily started dancing in clubs around the time my mum lost contact. She may have married a Muslim man and converted and might be a stage actress. My mum talks about Lily all the time, if anyone knows what happened to Lily, or even better what she is doing now, please reply. Thanks, Tara
Dear "Anonymous" - Its so effing difficult to know who you are with that name - but I'd like to say that "MUSLEM LANDS ARE BETTER OFF *WITHOUT YOU+ .... GOOD RIDDINGS TO THEM".
ReplyDeleteBTW, your English sounds like an Oxbridge Master :)
Zakintosh, I really hope you are being sarcastic because to come out with ignorant comments like that, at least have the decency to spell correctly. There's more then one anonymous, its the term for people that do not have an account. I'm half Pakistani and the reason I am reluctant to go back is because of the stupid ignorant comments like that which you have come out with. Live and let live and maybe get a life of your own so you don't have to make people feel rubbish about their own.
ReplyDeleteZackintosh, ignore that last comment, I have seen the stupid comment you were poking fun of, but only after scrolling through 90 comments! Oops. Oxbridge master hehe!
ReplyDeletelastly but happily the pathaans and the kashmiris r the fellow brothers of the jews in which one turned to islam and cleared himself from the curse and the other the jews remained with judaism and lingered with the curse wherever remained. So there will be always issue with them wherever they are.Although there count is diminishing but they remain the superstar of this world. This curse was invoked by the tongue of David A.S. and Isa A.S. because of their crookedness and disbelief.And most of the pakistanis r fool concerning their beliefs in islam as they dont know that in their backyard their is pool of history lying concerning the children of israel, prophets. Deaf,dumb and blind for them their is no faith and that what most pakistanis r about with wrong Islam and ways at their hand.
ReplyDeletePeace, prosperity, love and respect for all Pakistanis irrespective of faith, wether your Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Budhist, Kalash, Armenian, Sikh or Agnostic. We are all tied to our homeland and the land of the Indus River. We need love our land first and work for our beautiful nation.
ReplyDeleteJews of Peshawar
ReplyDeleteThere is always speculation about the Jews of Peshawar. The material available on net is totally base less and wrong. If we traced back the history of Jews I n Peshawar we found that after the Soviet revolution in 1907 the Jews of central Asian states are migrated to Peshawar .when they came to Peshawar they settled in the famous Gorgatry building .In which they stayed till 1910. In Peshawar the famous setti families are doing business with the central Asia so some of the Jew may knew members of that family. The setti family allowed some of the Jews family to reside in there house in mohallah settyan moh kawhsheke bazaar Kallan . These Jews are of the two type one are very rich and the other are very poor and are street venders .who sell home made pudding, kinddy and other edible items. But the rich are doing their business of clothes selling in the Hastings memorial which now called choke yadgar. It is stated that at that time when the migrated from central Asian states the setti family are doing business in cites of the central Asian state like Bukra Taskant etc. because of that they approached to them particularly the honorary magistrate setti Karam Ilahi setti Kareem Baksh setti Abdul Gafoorr . They happily settled them in their hoses moh kawshki opposite the mosque .one family of Benjamin mairaif is settled in moh kudadad . This man is doing business of clothes in Peshawar. He has two sons Hanail Benjamin and Yushfa Benjamin and two doughtier Sara and Mazol. They are from different mothers so they quarreled with each other all the time. The eldest one Hanial Benjamin is living in other vicinity called mundi berre inside yaka toot gate. He through two time acid on his younger brother which caused his one eye fully damaged. Benjamin Mairaif has property also in mambay and Quatta. Some other Jews who are residing in Peshawar are Yuna Dadvouf Abdullah Abdul Kareem both of them are doing business of fur. Another Benjamin is also here I n Peshawar who sells chaddar (a peace of clothes traditional used by Puktoons). Two other brothers are David god and Sulman god sons of Naseer god are also doing fur business. The Jew of Peshawar city kept long beard wears loses trousers wearing traditional Jew cape on their head. Their woman are completely covered themselves in black burqa .they speaks Hebrew and Persian .after the creation of Israel some more Jew are also come from Afghanistan to Peshawar. Some prominent figure of Peshawar city have assured the than government of Pakistan that they will go back to Afghanistan. But, they don’t do that and instated of going back they migrated to Israeli via Peshawar. in the result is that their Pakistani sureties are facings court and put themselves in jeopardy one of these Jew is Seven god son of Naseer god who came to Peshawar in June 1949 .In Peshawar they don’t have any synagogue they observed their religion and don’t do any work on Saturday .They have a peace of land for their graveyard which one of the Jew David marziouf bought from a member of kawja family in 1932. But today this land is under cultivations and no sign of any grave is there. This land is transfers back to one of the member of that family through a court decree in 1973.In the walled city of Peshawar in almost in every street on every second house there is David star but they are no concern with Jew because these buildings are made by Hindus and this is a local traditional Peshawari style of windows.on one of the site is saying that these jews are migrated by force from peshawar in some one grand father arrange this exdouse isnot true . the pshawari are very friendly to them not harm any one of them during thier stay at peshawar. they opt for migration to isrial by themselves not force by Pakistani govt. Written by humayun_m_pk@yahoo.com
+
Hello Humayun
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Do you know these Jews personally?
Peace to all Muslim and Jewish brothers. Many muslims in Pakistan are Jewish descents. Jewish heritage in Karachi should be preserved. Pakistani Jews are precious and hopefully they will visit their motherland Pakistan someday and possibly return for good. Pray for peace in Pakistan.
ReplyDeletePakistani Jews are most welcome as Pakistan is their homeland too.
well i am not sure how many jewish are in pakistan as i am doing a documentary on jewish histroy in the paksitan but after 3 years of struggle i found a jew in karachi and i record it with secret idenity but i am planning for more to come as i know there are more in karachi as well, if any of you wana share anything with me on this or some1 to give their views email me to shazlil2002@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletethe idenity should be kept in secret.
well i am not sure how many jewish are in pakistan as i am doing a documentary on jewish histroy in the paksitan but after 3 years of struggle i found a jew in karachi and i record it with secret idenity but i am planning for more to come as i know there are more in karachi as well, if any of you wana share anything with me on this or some1 to give their views email me to shazlil2002@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletethe idenity should be kept in secret.
I appreciate this blog very much as believe Pakistani should be aware of the History of Jews in our land.
ReplyDeleteI am a Christian Preacher and passionate researcher dreaming to provide good material to all Bible Colleges and Church in Pakistan with material on the Subject under discussion.
Wish to have as much information as possible:
kgmpak@gmail.com
Mr Anonymous, whose mother was the one who helped smuggle the Jews out of Pakistan, could you please contact me again? Andrew Harris -- andrew.harris(dot)ah(at)gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks you!
Pls. check your email, Bataween.
ReplyDeletethanks,
wayne
Reply to unknown
ReplyDeleteI may know someone
Croningw@mymts.net
Wow! I thought there is none. Oh mi gosh! Hihihi I'm so happy there r still some
ReplyDeleteI recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing. Buy fake and register I'd cards
ReplyDelete