From the Publisher’s Desk:

To,
The Noble and Glorious Community
Of the Bene- Israels of India

My Dear Friends,

I consider it a great privilege indeed to be partly responsible on behalf of M/s Sai Tech Ventures Pvt. Ltd. (STV) for the publication authored by Mr. Nissim Moses.

During my visit to Delhi in June 2003 this project was assigned to me with trust and confidence that it will be released in CD format by the Professional team of STV lead by it’s CEO – Mr. Ari Lieberman and CTO – Mr. Hazlitt Noronha.

Mr. Moses provided the manuscript for CD’s on the Heritage and Recipes along with valuable data for the FTV (Family Tree Viewer) software developed by Sai Tech Ventures Pvt. Ltd. The Prayers and Songs were selected with the advise from Mr. Moses, and recorded with the professional assistance from Mr. Nandoo Bhende and his team at the InSync Studios with melodious singing by the members of the community.

May this publication achieve its purpose in bringing us nearer to the World Jewry in addition to the objectives set by Mr. Nissim Moses. I feel sure, this publication will stimulate you to delve deeper into our Heritage, to continue the studies of our history and culture, to rediscover and to bring to the notice of the world the great men and women of genius that flourished amongst you.

With Best Regards,

Yours affectionately,

Ralphy Jhirad
Managing Director
STV- Asia Pacific Headquarters

Mumbai 2004

This Project to establish a cultural back up of the Bene-Israel Community & Develop the foundations of an Integrated Communal Family Tree was initiated by him as a Hobby. It is intended that this publication on CD will give a new insight into the history, heritage and the way of life of the Bene-Israel. The publication will include, a brief history of the community, the origin of their surnames, pictures of their mode of dress and its change over the past century, religious artifacts, achievements as professionals, the achievements of the women of the community, their food, recipes and recordings of their Prayer Chants.

The whole concept of this project is to create the foundations by means of which each family or person can get involved in adding and including to this work their contribution to a rich cultural heritage.

Having worked on this project for the past several years, from my personal experience I can say that being ignorant of the achievements of our ancestors probably due to lack of information or effort by our elders to disseminate such information among the younger generation I as most of my generation rarely took pride in the achievements of our ancestors. But having worked on this project and having accumulated and generated through intensive research the information on the achievements of our ancestors and elders I today hold in Awe Amazement that so small a community could have so many great personalities who contributed so much to the country that they lived in. Their achievements could in good measure be compared to other Jewish communities elsewhere in the world.

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JEWS IN GOA

Ralphy Jhirad a leader of the Jewish community in India, has been the former National Director in India for more than twelve years for World ORT Union. Currently the Managing Director of Asia pacific Headquarters for Sai Tech Ventures Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Jhirad is the co-author of two publications 1. Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Jews in India (with Dr. Asha Bhende), 2. Judaism (with Mr.Levi Jacob) and the Executive Producer of two documentary films, 1. “David Sassoon- The Great Philanthropist” and 2. “India- Israel Fostering A New World Together.” His lectures on the Jewish community of India are accompanied by audio-visual presentations created by the multimedia team of Sai Tech Ventures, Pvt. Ltd. The latest publication completed by Mr. Ralphy is authored by Mr. Nissim Moses and is available from Sai Tech Ventures Pvt. Ltd founded by CEO Ari.J.Lieberman.