Perspective/Opinion
Tuesday, August 25, 1987
By JOSEPH I. SARGON
Baghdadi Jews of India and the
Sassoons
In the
accounts of the historic role played by the Jews of Cochin and the Bene Israel,
ancient Jewish communities in India, which date back, over 2,000 years, little
reference is made to the Baghdadi Jews, Iraq, another important segment of the
Jewish community established about 150 years ago in India. Very little is
written and known about their remarkable achievements, their phenomenal success
and their invaluable contribution to the economic growth and welfare of India
in a short period of time, particularly in the field of two of its most
important industries, at one time, cotton and jute. They were the builders of
these two staple industries. They also rose to prominence in commerce and
banking in which they were actively engaged and in which they distinguished
themselves. They acquired an excellent reputation and were highly respected and
admired.
The
Baghdadi Jews. of Sephardic origin, came to India from Baghdad, Iraq, as
individual traders in the early I 9th century and settled in Bombay and
Calcutta, two large seaport cities, where they flourished and prospered. Once
numbering about 12,000, today only a few hundred are left, most leaving of
their own volition in 1948 for lsraels, England. Canada. the United States and
Australia.
The Jewish
association with Baghdad began long before its rise to lame with the Caliphate.
Mesopotamia had been the second home of the Jews from the time of the exile by
Nebuchadnezzar. In its golden age the Jewish population was the most
influential community in the Middle East. It was the seat of the Exilarch, the
Prince of the Captivity, the Academies of Sura and Pumbeditha, the birthplace of
the Babylon Talmud, the home of the foremost scholars and personalities who
left an indelible mark in the annals of Jewish history.
The Jews
enjoyed an eminent position in the social and political life of the country
rendering outstanding services to successful Ottoman rulers and Caliphs. Many
of them became rich in banking and commerce. Their fortunes changed at the
whims of the rulers, some of whom persecuted them, and from time to time,
extorted large sums of money from them.
It can
well be claimed that no Jewish community in the world whose integration was
then the general background, has been as complete as Baghdad, by virtue of age
and achievement. There was a time when one-quarter of the population was
Jewish. Iraq, whose capital is Baghdad, was the first Arab state to gain
independence after World War I, and individual Jews played a prominent role in
the emergence of the Arab nation. How times have changed! This once large
prosperous community numbering over 100,000, because of persecution and brutal
assault, found it necessary in 1950-51 , to flee to Israel leaving wealth and
possession.
When the
Baghdadi Jews came to India in the early 19th century, they were quick to
realize the great potential for the development of lucrative trades and with
their experience, acumen and foresight, opened new foreign markets for
indigenous products which were exported on a massive scale and were not only
well received hut steadily increased in demand.
In turn
they imported the products of the many countries with which they traded and
built a very successful business. The pioneering efforts of the Sassoons, the
leaders in the field, the Ezras, the Ezekiels. the Gubbays and others were a
great boon to India and contributed in a large measure to the economic, political
and diplomatic stability, widely recognized. They were primarily engaged in the
gum trade, cotton. jute, opium, tea, spices, silk, wheat, wool, rosewater,
silver, gold and the import of Arabian horses.
The famous
House of Sassoon, the Rothschilds of the East, in particular, was actively
engaged in the opium trade, which was legitimate in those days. Opium produced
in India was exported on a large scale and exchanged for tea and other
commodities in China, which were then shipped to England. In the early 19th
century, the opium trade was very lucrative and volatile. Opium, only second to
cotton, were the two keys which rapidly increased their treasuries and a vast
fortune was accumulated.
India has
grown Cotton for centuries using primitive methods for cleaning, ginning and
manufacturing. There was a very heavy demand for raw cotton, so they took
advantage of the situation and opened large, pressing, spinning and weaving
mills and became the largest exporters of cotton. They built their own docks in
Bombay, the Sassoon Docks, a landmark, to facilitate the handling and shipment
of cotton bales. By the end of tile 19th century the Sassoons represented the
largest conglomeration of cotton mills in India. giving employment to
thousands, including many Jews.
The
founder of the House of Sassoons. David Sassoon, known as the merchant prince,
was forced to flee from his ancestral home in Baghdad in 1829 under the threat
of a death sentence imposed by the then Pasha. Packed among his small
belongings were a prayer shawl. his phylacteries and a copy of the Pentateuch.
Strictly orthodox, he adhered to the dietary laws and the rituaas of the Jewish
faith. His two natural languages were Hebrew and Arabic. The Sassoons were
founders a spectacular international
trading empire based in Bombay, with offices in England, the Middle East.
extending to the far East. They were the first to open branches in Japan after
a new treaty was negotiated in 1858. They dominated Jewish life in Bombay in
which they took a close an active interest. The history of the community
centered around the Sassoons to whom it was largely indebted. They fathered the
community which looked up to them for its needs from very earliest days and
their philanthropy and generosity of a far reaching nature, widely spread, also
benefited those of other sects and creeds.
The Jews
lived literally in a “welfare state” established by the Sassoons and the many
amenities enjoyed by them were provided “on a platter” by the good grace of she
Sassoons. Several large Sassoon Charity Funds, richly endowed, unique its
origin and Jewish history, were crested by them for the advancement of Jewish
education, religion, culture and social welfare. Communal institutions vital to
Jewish life were built by the Sassoons at their own expense with iuhstantial
funds provided by them with perpetual maintenance made available free of cost
. Highlights included the Sir Jacob
Sassoon Free High School. the David Sassoon Hospital in Poona with 200 beds for
Jews and non-Jews, well equipped with a hostel for doctors and nurses, the
David Sassoon Benevolent School, the
David Sassoon Industrial Reformatory, the Sassoon Mechanics Library, the Royal of
Institute of Science, a Free Medical Dispensary for medical aid and medicines, cemetery
with free lots and burial ;facilities, and the distribution of matzos and other
products for Passover. An Utopian dream.
Prayers
and worship were regarded of paramount importance and in the beginning they set
aside a room for daily services where they assembled a “minyan” in devout
worship. This was later followed by the building of three large attractive
synagogues with ample seating accommodation (men and women seated separately),
officiated by “Hakamim” maintained with funds provided by them and with no
membership dues.
The Ohel David Synagogue in Poona. she Magen David
Synagogue, and the Kenesseth Eliahoo Synagogue, both in Bombay, gifts to the
Jewish community, glorify she devoutness of she Sassoons and well exemplify
their Jewish consciousness, their piety and pride in their Jewish heritage.
It is
significant to note that the Kenesseth Eliahoo Synagogue celebrated its
centenary in 1984 when many distinguished guests, including the president of India, Zail Singh, lauded the Sassoon family
for the building of the synagogue and for the development of Bombay. He stated, “The presence of Jews in India since
ancient times has enriched Indian heritage and contributed immensely to our
composite culture.” He referred to the visit to the Cochin Synagogue of the at. prime minister of India,
Indira, Gandhi, on the occasion of ii 400th anniversary, when she stated, ‘‘The
Jewish community of India has rendered and continued to render notable service
in many fields, it has contributed men of distinction to business and industry,
to the civil service and the armed forces end so the world of scholarship.”
In the
course of the years the Sassoons changed their Baghdadian richly embroidered
turbans and flowing robes for Western attire and adopted language and manners
of the English. They had gone long way from the time of David Sassoon. They
became Anglicized, had close ties with the British, and associated with British
royalty, aristocracy and the elite.
Their
royal circle of friends included, among others. King Edward VII, the Duke of
Windsor (laser King Edward VIII), and the shah of Persia. who were guests in
their homes in England. Two branches of the family were knighted separately.
Their history was one of success and outstanding achievements—a household name.
They had is rabbi. a poet and scholars in the family who distinguished
themselves, “a dynasty respected for centuries as defenders of sIte faith.”
Sir Victor
Sassoon, the last in the family line of Baronets. raised she firm to “a
pinnacle of world power and influence.’’ Well known magnate and philanthropist,
considered the richest man in Asia, he was in the forefront of the war efforts
of the British.
Very
substantial funds and gifts were contributed by him and he was most outspoken
in his denouncement of Nazi Germany and Japan. Propaganda Minister Goebells singled
him out for vehement abuse in which he was joined by Goering with warnings of grave
consequences supported by Japan. At that tune, practically all of she huge
Sassoon interests were transferred from India so China with headquarters in
Shanghai where he had very large holdings. He suffered very heavy losses in
Communist China and Japan and his huge enterprises were confiscated. He played a major role in the habitation of
about 20,000 Jewish refugees who arrived in Shanghai, China to escape Nazi
persecution. Food, shelter, and medical aid were provided on a massive scale
and many lives were saved.
Other
Baghdadi Jews who rose to eminence were Sir Sassoon J. David, his son Sir
Percival David, Sir Alwyn Ezra, the Gubbays, Meyer Nissim. were also engaged in
commerce sitd banking, In a population teeming with millions, it is incredible that
this small community, established in Bombay a little over 150 years, not more
than 7,000 in its height, brought so much benefit so the country, played a
significant role, made its influence felt, flourished and prospered. It enjoyed an excellent relationship with its
Indian neighbors, also the British who ruled India at that time, did not suffer
persecution or discrimination at any time, enjoyed religious freedom and equal
opportunities. India’s anti-Israel position
did not disturb them, They dwelled in an environment as a separate entity
without let or hindrance, observed Jewish laws and customs with an awareness of
their Jewish identity, no intermarriage, and proud of their heritage. There was
riot a single ordained rabbi but Hebrew scholars who were called “Hakamim.”
They were contented and happy. Unlike the other Jewish communities in India,
they were entirely unaffected by the creed or culture of their neighbors. They
dwelled in neighborhoods in close proximity to one another, concentrated around
the Sassoon Headquarters and the two synagogues in Bombay. They were staunch
supporters of the British, took an active interest in the Zionist movement and
got on splendidly with the Indians. A number of them were in the import-export
business in which they did very well. Amongst
them were eminent doctors, lawyers, teachers, a judge, a mayor, movie stars and
a noted film director. They had their
own social clubs and Anglo-Jewish publication.
Special
mention muss be made of Abraham D. Sofaer, a Baghdadi Jew from Bombay, who was
appointed to the federal bench in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. A scholar and prolific writer. he was an
assistant U.S. attorney in New York City. As judge, he presided over the Sharon
libel case against Time Magazine. In June 1986 he was appointed legal
adviser to the State Department. He has expressed legal opinion relative to the
handling of terrorism. Last December he headed the eight member U.S. Mission to
Israel that worked out U.S. Israeli cooperation in handling the Jonathan Jay
Pollard espionage case. The Washington Post stated, “An excellent
achievement for a Jew born its Bombay, to end up as being a federal judge. a
federal prosecutor and legal adviser.”
The
departure of the British from India in 1948 and the creation of the State of
Israel caused a large scale emigration which was completely voluntary, and brought
an end to the fascinating history of a Jewish community which rose so great
heights. Now they number no more than 500.
Joseph I.
Sargon, born in Bombay, India, where he lived for many years was managing
editor of the Jewish Tribune. He
was representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and the World Jewish Congress. He now resides in Brookline, Mass.