Indian-Jewish round-up

Here are various stories about Jews in and from India which Point of No Return readers have brought to my attention:

Brivdaker in the IDF. | Photo credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

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Israel Hayom reports:

Ronen Birvdaker, a Jewish Indian from Mumbai, was so moved by the 2008 terrorist attack in his home city that he decided to immigrate to Israel last year. On Wednesday, he completed his training to become a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade. 

Birvdaker, 25, said that after the November 2008 attack — which killed 166 people, including a Chabad emissary and his wife — he felt that as a Jew there was no place for him to live other than in Israel.

"I was shocked by the assault on Jews, just because they were Jewish,” he said. “It affected me so much that I felt I had to do something, although at the time, I wasn't sure what I could do. I thought about it for a while and arrived in Israel last year to serve in the IDF. I was determined to join Golani."

Birvdaker said he was inspired to join Golani after meeting Israelis in Mumbai.

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Mattancherry Jew dies: The strength of the Jewish community in Mattancherry has been reduced to eight with the passing away of its leader 88-year-old Johnny Hallegua.

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Bene Menashe: Israel to resume aliyah of 'lost tribe' from India and Burma

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Any information on Matilda and Rachel Cohen? Barun Chattopadhyay wants to know about Matilda and Rachel Cohen. Matilda is the first Jewish lady to be awarded an MA from Calcutta University. Rachel was a famous doctor. If you can enlighten him please email bataween@gmail.com.