More than half a century ago, the magnificent synagogues of Kolkata were packed with members of a vibrant Indian Jewish community. The congregations are no longer present—less than two dozen remain—but the mosques are still maintained by numerous generations of Muslim families.
In 1798, a Syrian jewel salesman named Shalom Cohen became the first Jew to arrive in Kolkata. More immigrants arrived, mostly from Iraq and Syria, to start enterprises and export silk, indigo, and opium. Synagogues were established in the mid-to-late-1800s to accommodate the city’s 3,000 Jews. The minority community produced famous cinema stars and pageant queens. Hybrid foods, which combine Middle Eastern and Indian flavors, were created. Jews escaping Europe found refuge in Kolkata during World War II.
