Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue

04/07/2026

*STUDENTS OF SOCIOLOGY FROM EUROSCHOOL THANE VISIT KENESETH ELIYAHOO SYNAGOGUE*

A group of 33 enthusiastic students of Sociology from EuroSchool Thane visited Keneseth Eliyahoo on Friday 3rd July, 2026. They were accompanied by Prof. Sunita Chavan, Head of the Department of Sociology, and Prof. Pranita Ambekar.

The visit was part of the policy of the institution to connect academics with real-world understanding and appreciate the beauty of pluralism and inter-faith learning.

On this rain-drenched day, the group visited Knesseth Eliyahoo along with primary religious institutions of other faiths practised in our city.

Abraham Yehuda of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trusts took the group on a guided tour of the Synagogue, highlighting the key symbols of the Synagogue and of Judaism.

The students were given a brief history of the Baghdadi community of Mumbai, highlighting the predominant role its founder Sir David Sassoon and his family played and the contribution they made to Bombay's history and community life.

Special mention was made of the activities of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trusts led by our Chairman Mr. Solomon Sopher in ensuring that the three Synagogues under the Trust continue to function while concentrating on the restoration of Magen David Synagogue in Byculla. The outreach activities of the Trust were greatly appreciated by the students.

The students were explained the significance of the religious scrolls placed in the Synagogue and the importance of congregational prayers with a Minyan.

The students and faculty were so moved by what they witnessed and heard that one student said it was 'the most important day of learning in her life'. Prof. Chavan said that she would never forget this visit for the rest of her life!

11/06/2026

*DUKE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT CHINCHPOKLI CEMETERY AS PART OF STUDY PROJECT*

Three students from Duke University, USA, visited Chinchpokli Cemetery on 2 June 2026 as part of their study projects. The group was led by Ms. Leora Joseph.

They are doing a documentary of the Jews of India, and the Baghdadi Jewish Cemetery was their first port of call!

Abraham Yehuda of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trusts received them and took them on a guided tour of the burial grounds, walking on the special pathway gifted to us by the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany, going past the three mausoleums housing the remains of Albert Sassoon and of Jacob Sassoon and his beloved wife.

They were then shown the section of the graves of the Europeans who had managed to escape the horrors of WW2 and land in Bombay where they were looked after and find meaningful employment.

They were also shown the graves of leading members of the Baghdadi community of Bombay.

They were very impressed to learn about the meaningful work of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trusts led by our indefatigable Chairman Mr. Solomon Sopher and about the way the 3.3 acre Cemetery is looked after and would be conveying all that they witnessed to the administration of Duke University and the Synagogues and the community in the vicinity of the University.

Abraham suggested to them to arrange to send a batch of volunteers from their University, funded by a well-wisher there, to assist us in tidying up the graves, the mausoleums and assist with landscaping. They seemed excited about the plan and assured me they would revert on it after they returned to the US.

11/06/2026

.TEAM FROM INDIAN JEWISH HERITAGE CENTRE VISITS KENESETH ELIYAHOO SYNAGOGUE. A significant step has been taken towards preserving and showcasing the rich heritage of India’s diminishing Jewish communities.

A dedicated team from the Indian Jewish Heritage Center (IJHC), ledh by Robin Samuel-Founding Member and Past President and BenSion Benjamin-Founding Active Member, has embarked on an ambitious multi-dimensional heritage preservation initiative. Conceived over two years ago, the project aims to digitally document and present the historic synagogues of India through immersive 3D and 360-degree experiences, highlighting the architectural beauty, spiritual significance, and cultural legacy of these centuries-old landmarks that have served generations of Indian Jews and visitors from around the world.
We came on the 5th of June which happened to be the 86th birthday of Mr. Solomon Sofer who is a Pious Man doing a lot of charity work and responsible to keep the synagogue in the traditional way as it is. May G-D give him a long life. We celebrated his birthday with Friday evening prayers followed by a traditional dinner. The team of Mr Solomon, Ms Jessica & Ms Veera were extremely helpful in guiding us through the whole process. We thank them and bless them for their hard work and dedication to the community. We would also like to thank Mr. Abraham Yehuda.
The project has greatly benefited from the outstanding expertise of the Whistling Woods International, one of India’s leading institutes for film, communication, and creative arts. Their team, led by Mr. Chaitanya Chinchlikar and supported by the talented technical and artistic professionals Sumedh Sawant and Rishab, along with the IJHC TEAM worked tirelessly to capture both the grandeur of the synagogue exteriors and the beauty of their sacred interiors.

This initiative would not have been possible without the invaluable support of The Israeli Council in Mumbai - Mr Yaniv Revach, whose efforts helped establish the collaboration with Mr. Rafi Bhonker the Chairman of the IJHC.

To date, the team has successfully completed the foundational filming and documentation of the Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue.
In the next two phases we will have the immersive filming of the Jewish customs, prayers, weddings, Festivals, etc.
Together, we can ensure that the remarkable story of Jewish life in India is preserved and shared with future generations through cutting-edge immersive technology.

23/03/2026

All Community members are hereby invited for the community Seder.

18/03/2026

Celebrating a vibrant start to 2026 at the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trust, from the joy of Purim and moving Holocaust Memorial Day services to the prestigious visit of HRH Princess Patricia. We are proud to bridge history and the future, honoring international dignitaries while celebrating the success of the Florrie Sopher Elocution winners and our visiting students.

18/03/2026

A journey through faith, celebration, and cherished memories ✨

From the warmth of Hanukkah lights to meaningful community gatherings and historic milestones—every moment reflects our unity, legacy, and spirit together. Grateful for the past, inspired for the future.”

18/03/2026

The Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trust maintains two Synagogues in Mumbai (Knesseth Eliyahoo and Magen David) and Ohel David Synagogue in Pune. We hold regular prayer services in all three. We also maintain two Cemeteries (one in Mumbai and the other in Pune).

The Trust has recently launched a bimonthly Newsletter that features key events held at our institutions along with highlights from the history of the Baghdadi Jewish community in India.

We have this far produced editions in October and December 2025 and one in February 2026. While issues are widely distributed on whatsapp or email, we also produced a limited number of hard copies.

We have found this to be a very effective way of communicating with the Baghdadi Jewish community settled outside India as well as other Indian Jewish communities here and abroad.

Please feel free to access any of these editions.

10/03/2026

A group of well-wishers from Synagogues across the US visited Knesseth Eliyahoo Synagogue today, 10th March 2026.

They were keen to learn about the history of the Baghdadi Jewish community in India and about its founders.

They were very impressed by the architecture and layout of the building and were delighted to meet the Chairman Mr. Solomon F. Sopher, who addressed them.

04/03/2026

03/03/2026

It was an evening to remember, celebrating the Purim party at the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue. An artist, John, drew Mordechai and a great choreographer, Laura from England gave a dance 💃 performance. We had guests from Paris, England, Israel and India. Dance performances by the kids were amazing. Many games were played and prizes distributed.