Judah Hyam Synagogue

There are only about 10 Jewish families who are long-term residents of the area, composing about 40 people in total. In addition, Judah Hyam Synagogue is the primary place of worship in New Delhi for many Jewish diplomats, businesspeople, artisans and others from around the world who are posted in India's capital city.

The synagogue during 2007 welcomed more than 12,000 visitors for worship or tours from around the world. Jews of any level of observance are welcome at Judah Hyam Synagogue. Services are conducted in Hebrew and English.

HISTORY

The presence of Jews in Delhi (and in India) goes back many centuries, even before the British colonial era. When the capital of India shifted to Delhi, Jews were present in the vital  railways, defence and central government services.  

During the Second World War there was an influx of British and American troops and services in New Delhi for Jewish soldiers were conducted by Army chaplains. A few German and Polish Jews, who escaped the Holocaust, also settled in the city.

To serve the needs of the Jewish community, Jacob Solomon, the Station Master of the Delhi Railway Station, acquired in 1932 a plot of land from the government as a burial ground for Jews on Humayun Road, next to the large Christian cemetery. 

Services during this era were held in local Jewish homes and Sefer Torah for the High Holy Days were loaned by the Etz Chaim Synagogue in Bombay.

In 1949,  Jacob Talkar, the manager of the Delhi Safe Deposit Vault in Connaught Place, during a wedding reception of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Benjamin, mooted a proposal to form a Jewish association. With great enthusiasm from Jews as far away as Ajmer, Kalka, Ghaziabad and Amritsar, the Jewish Welfare Association was founded. 

Shortly thereafter there was a call to establish a permanent building for services and social activities. A cottage for a caretaker was constructed in 1954, followed by the present Prayer Hall following approval from the London Beth Din and the New Delhi Municipal Council.

Support for construction of the Prayer Hall was extended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Housing, S. Ranganathan. The Foundation Stone was laid on 12 February, 1956 and the building was constructed at a total cost of Rs 23,695.

Donations began arriving and a contribution of Rs 4,000 was received from Dr. Rachel Judah of Women's Hospital Jodhpur in memory of her father, Khan Bahadur Dr. Judah Hyam. Thus the Prayer Hall was named "Judah Hyam Hall" and later sanctified as a synagogue. 

Thanks to many donations from across India and abroad the building was constructed in six months and dedicated on 2 September, 1956.

The Hall was designed by J.M. Benjamin, who at the time of his retirement was the Chief Architect to the Government of India and Secretary of the Urban Art Commission.

Later, one Sefer Torah was donated by the Knesseth Israel Synagogue of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.  through the kind favor of Leo Gross. Another Sefer Torah was donated subsequently by the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia.

The first Haftarah Sefer was donated by David Benjamin Rohekar of Bombay. The brass Ner Tamid, ceiling oil lamps and the Teba (Bimah) were given by A.E. Isaac of Ajmer. Jacob Miller of the United States sent a special donation for the installation of the Aron Kodesh.

An annex to the synagogue was constructed in 1979 to house a library and an inter-faith study centre. Collectively it is known as the Benaroya Jewish Foundation in honor of philanthropist Raphael Benaroya, who sent donations for the upkeep of the synagogue and the annex.  

With the opening of the Embassy of Israel in 1993, the synagogue became a centre of Jewish activity for those diplomats and their families.

Since its inception, Judah Hyam has hosted many distinguished visitors including: former Israeli Prime Minister Moshe Sharett, former Israeli Prime Minister (and now President) Shimon Peres, Lord Grenville Janner and violinist Yehudi Menuhin. 

The President of Judah Hyam is Lt. General (Ret.)  J.F.R. Jacob  and the Honorary Secretary is Ezekiel Isaac Malekar.

Managing Committee

President- Lt. General (Ret.) J.F.R. Jacob

Secretary-Mr. Ezekiel Isaac Malekar

Treasurer-Mrs. Diana Ezekiel Malekar

Member-Mrs. Florence Aggarwal

Member-Mrs. Elizabeth Daniel

Member-Mrs. Jessica Rahamim Varulkar