India is a vast country with 29 states and 6 union territories. Gujarat is the 7th largest state on the western coast of India, and Ahmedabad is its old capital.

The Jews arrived Gujarat during the British régime, enjoying high posts in the army, and as collectors, judges, businessmen, doctors, advocates and commissioners. With the rapid development of transportation they settled in the various cities of Gujarat. When the railway was laid between Mumbai and Baroda and other junctions Jews began to settle in other places in Gujarat as Surat, Baroda, Deesa, Rajkot, Wadhwan, Surendranagar and Ahmedabad. Till today there are Jewish cemeteries in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Rajkot, Sirendranagar, Surat, Deesa, and Abu road.

The Jews settled in Ahmedabad in 1840. It is on record that in 1846, forty Bene Israel lived in Ahmedabad. They were mostly clerks or hospital staff. Dr. Abraham Benjamin Erulkar (1822-1887), head of the Civil Hospital, was a major player in building the Jewish community; in his death will he left a large amount for the construction of a synagogue in Ahmedabad. After his death, his son Dr. Solomon Abraham Erulkar returned from England and provided guidance and leadership to the Jews of Ahmedabad.

A beautiful hall, the Magen Avraham Synagogue, was inaugurated on 8th September 1934 in loving memory of the late Dr. Abraham Erulkar. The structure houses a sanctuary, a hall for social gatherings, guest rooms, storerooms and a library. We celebrate the synagogue’s birthday every year according to the Hebrew calendar; The Magen Abraham Synagogue celebrates its 70th birthay this September 2004.

Although a few years a ago there were around 800 Jewish families living in Ahmedabad, today there are only thirty. Due to economic difficulty, many families have emigrated to Israel. Among the members of the community were the late Mr. Reuben David, creator of the Kamala Nehru Zoo in Ahmedabad and a world-renowned animal lover; and currently Ms. Esther Solomon, a renowned Sanskrit scholar. Both Ms. Ether Solomon and the late Mr. Reuben David have won the President’s Award and Padmashree for their outstanding work. Ahmedabad presently has two Jewish cemeteries – the old cemetry in the city which is filled to capacity, and a new one outside the city.

Most of the Jews work in educational institutions, banks, hospitals, private companies, railways etc. There are currently five reputed educational institutes owned by the Jewish families in Ahmedabad. These schools provide strong support to the synagogue and the community through donations. A managing committee administers the affairs of the synagogue and the Jewish community on a volunteer basis; likewise the shamash and chazzan provide service without remuneration. There are a number of other volunteers, men and women, who work selflessly on behalf of the community.

Though we speak English, Gujarati, Marathi and Hindi as language, we pray exclusively in Hebrew. Circumcision, Bar mitzvah, marriage and baby naming ceremonies are held in the synagogue only, according to local tradition.

Great emphasis is placed on education; classes take place mostly on Sunday. Though the Jews have settled far away from the synagogue, we maintain a minyan at Erev Shabbat and Shabbat prayers. Jewish festivals are celebrated with great pomp and pride.