by Esther David
Bombay Brides
Esther David
To Grandmother Shebabeth – one of the first few ‘Bombay Brides’ who came to Ahmedabad.
Contents
Author’s Note
Who is Prophet Elijah?
1. Juliet
2. Maa Myramayi
3. Ruby
4. Ruby and Georgie
5. Yael
6. Raphael
7. Salome
8. Ariella
9. Elisheba
10. Malkha
11. Golda
12. Ilana
13. Flora
14. Rose
15. Jennifer
16. Lisa
17. Sangita
18. Juliet and Romiel
Acknowledgements
About the Book
About the Author
Copyright
Author’s Note
SINCE 1994, I have been writing books based on the theme of the Jewish experience in India. My novels are about the diminishing community of Indian Jews. Since the mid-1960s, many Jewish families have emigrated to Israel and other countries. Those who have chosen to live in India are not sure if they should leave for Israel or stay on. So I write about cross-cultural conflicts and the isolation experienced by them. My novels probe the concepts of home and roots.
Almost all my novels are set in Ahmedabad. I created the fictional Shalom India Housing Society in Ahmedabad in 2005.
In Bombay Brides, I have woven narratives around the Bene Israel Jews of Ahmedabad living in this society. I decided on the title ‘Bombay Brides’ as most Jewish men of Ahmedabad are married to women from Mumbai and these stories are woven around their lives. While writing this book, I often visited Jewish homes and observed their lifestyles in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Alibaug, Cochin and Kolkata.
Writing about Jewish life has helped me understand my community, the Bene Israel Jews of western India, which has held on to its roots in India. The Bene Israelis continue to preserve their heritage, rites and rituals in an Indian environment. Bombay Brides tries to capture the emotional crisis faced by the last surviving Jews in a vast multi-cultural country like India. The focus is on Juliet’s empty apartment at Shalom India Housing Society. After Juliet and Romiel get married, they leave for Israel. They stay there for five years, periodically renting out their apartment A-107, preferably to Jews. Each character has a story, which is connected to the other residents of the housing society. Prophet Elijah, in whom the Bene Israel Jews believe, plays an important role here. Mischievously, he often creates havoc in the lives of the residents, appearing at some critical or amusing moment, but ultimately makes sure that peace prevails.
Who is Prophet Elijah?
THE BENE ISRAEL Jews of India have a great fascination for Prophet Elijah, also known as Eliahu Hannavi. The Prophet appears in several stories in the Torah—Kings I-II. The story of his ascension to heaven in a chariot of fire is connected to the belief that he will herald the Messiah’s arrival on earth.
The Bene Israel Jews believe that the Prophet rose to heaven from a site near Haifa in Israel, passing through India. His chariot touched a rock in Khandala, a small village near Alibaug on the Konkan coast in Maharashtra, where members of the community make vows to fulfil their wishes. Once the wish is fulfilled, a malida is offered to Prophet Elijah with a plate of flaked rice mixed with grated coconut, dates and fruit. Often, the malida is followed by a community dinner. For Bene Israel Jews, all rituals begin with a prayer to him. Perhaps the Bene Israel elders of ancient times created the cult of Eliahu Hannavi to keep the community together.
All over the world, in Jewish homes, Prophet Elijah has special significance during the seven-day festival of Passover. It is believed that he visits their homes, and a special chair and goblet of wine are kept for him on the Seder table.
1
Juliet
JULIET ABRAHAM IS our first Bombay bride.
Abraham, a Mumbai-based Jew, had recently shifted to Ahmedabad with his wife Rebecca, daughter Juliet and son Abner. Abraham had been transferred as the branch manager of a well-known company of home appliances. Even before they had settled down in their company apartment at Citizen Flats near Satellite Crossroads, Juliet fell in love with Rahul.
Juliet and Rahul met at a catering college in Ahmedabad. Both had a passion for food, which they wanted to turn into a profession. Juliet had become well-known in the Jewish community of Ahmedabad for winning prizes at cooking contests. Her victories were celebrated with parties, to which she often invited Rahul.
But when Rebecca caught Rahul kissing Juliet on the landing of their building, she decided that Juliet had to be married off immediately to a good Bene Israel Jewish boy. She was worried that her daughter would elope with Rahul. How would she then face the community? She was always showing off about how her daughter was not only beautiful, but also talented. They had a reputation of being God-fearing Jews and Juliet had been brought up with the values of Judaism. From a young age, she had religiously followed all rituals and was known to be a ‘good’ girl. So they were sure that it was Rahul who was evil and had led her astray. Maybe she was no longer a virgin. Her mother started counting the days of Juliet’s menstrual cycle. She blamed herself for allowing her daughter to spend so much time with Rahul.
Rebecca also heard from her neighbours that Rahul used to be in and out of their apartment on the pretext of exchanging notes, books or music. He was from Bhavnagar in north Gujarat and stayed in a hostel, so Juliet would often invite him home for lunch or dinner or to watch a cricket match on television with her family. Initially, her parents had been amused by the fact that Juliet’s father’s name was Abraham while Rahul’s family name was Abhiram.
Rebecca drummed into Juliet that she was Jewish and had to follow the Law by getting married to a Jewish man and increasing the tribe. She wrote to a Jewish matchmaker in Mumbai and asked him to find a groom. But Prophet Elijah had other plans.
After innumerable discussions, arguments and fights, Juliet’s parents found a solution to their problem. They sent her to Israel in Rebecca’s cousin Hannah’s custody. But with Abner’s help, Rahul tracked Juliet down and phoned her. While she was speaking to Rahul, Juliet noticed that Aunt Hannah, who had been told about him by Juliet’s parents, did not seem to be particularly angry with her. Instead she asked, ‘Was that Rahul? You don’t have to hide it from me.’
Juliet was surprised that Aunt Hannah was sympathetic and that she could trust her. So she said, ‘Aunty, I am in love with Rahul.’
‘I know. Your parents have told me everything. Well, this is the curse of belonging to a minority community.’
‘Why do you say that?’
Aunt Hannah smiled ruefully. ‘I was also in love with someone else, but was forced to marry your uncle. Fortunately, he is a good man and I came to terms with my life. So if you love Rahul, why don’t you make your life with him?’
Hesitantly, Juliet asked, ‘Aunt Hannah, will you help us?’
‘Yes, but let me warn you, once you take the final step, neither community will accept you or your children.’
‘So, what should I do?’
‘Convert.’
‘How… I know Rahul likes Israel and would like to work here as a chef.’
‘I suggest that you convince Rahul to convert to Judaism. That will be the easiest. It takes longer in Israel, as he would have to study the Torah and even undergo a circumcision. I am told it is faster in India.’
Juliet sat huddled on the sofa, biting her nails. ‘What if Rahul does not agree?’ she asked.
‘Then you could become a Hindu. But I suggest you ask him to convert and settle in Israel. You said he wants to start a restaurant. Indian restaurants do very well here. Look at
the tandoori place in Tel Aviv.’
Juliet was not sure how Rahul would react to such a suggestion. After all, he had obligations to his family. They would never agree to their son converting to a strange religion like Judaism.
Six months later, Rahul travelled to Israel with a company that had an exchange programme with a kibbutz for trainee chefs. On arrival, he called Juliet and told her that he was in Israel. She was very excited and wanted to meet him that very day. But Aunt Hannah stopped her, as her husband Uncle Rahmim would not approve. He was sending reports about Juliet by email to her father every day. He was also very conscious of upholding the family’s honour and had decided that his nephew, Ralphi, would be the perfect groom for his niece. Ralphi’s family had been looking for a good Bene Israel bride for their son.
Juliet’s parents happily agreed to the alliance. They distributed sweets, telling everybody that Juliet was soon to be married and they were flying to Israel for her wedding.
Juliet told Aunt Hannah she could not possibly marry Ralphi. She wept. ‘I love Rahul, not Ralphi.’
Aunt Hannah looked deep into her eyes and whispered, ‘Go, find him.’
Hannah and Juliet had to plan carefully so that Uncle Rahmim did not grow suspicious about their occasional outings. Aunt Hannah accompanied Juliet when she met Rahul at the Tel Aviv bus terminus after six months. They hugged, kissed and did not want to part.
That month, Rahul and Juliet met often, but always with Aunt Hannah chaperoning. Whenever they met, Aunt Hannah tried to convince Rahul to convert; it would be easier for them to get married.
Rahul liked Israel and enjoyed his stay at the kibbutz. The Israeli atmosphere had gone to his head and he had become fearless and bold. He was willing to brave all odds for his love.
Eventually, Aunt Hannah bought an airline ticket to India for Juliet and made all the preparations for their runaway marriage. Rahul already had a return ticket.
An old friend of Aunt Hannah was to receive them in Mumbai and arrange for a civil marriage, after which Rahul would have a meeting with the cantor of a synagogue in the suburbs and start the process of conversion. It would take three months.
On their departure, Aunt Hannah gave them a cheque to help them in the initial difficult days.
As they kissed her goodbye, Aunt Hannah blessed them, asking Prophet Elijah to protect them from all difficulties.
In Mumbai, it was easier than expected. They got married and called and informed their parents. At first, both families were furious, but then came together to receive the young couple at the Ahmedabad railway station. Aunt Hannah’s plan worked. Both families welcomed them back with open arms. If Rahul’s parents were disturbed about his decision to convert, they did not say anything.
Despite their misgivings, Juliet’s and Rahul’s parents organized a grand wedding reception at a five-star hotel and invited relatives and friends from both communities. This was when they were given new names to begin their journey into wedded life, Romiel–Rahul and Juliet–Priya.
Standing on the flower-bedecked dais, the young couple greeted their Hindu relatives by touching their feet and shook hands with their Jewish guests. Between the welcome aarti for the bride and groom, the wedding march and the cake-cutting ceremony, Abraham and Abhiram announced that they had bought an apartment for the couple at Shalom India Housing Society on Satellite Road.
The residents of Block-A of the housing society loved the young couple. They made Rahul feel like he was one of them. They often teased the two, referring to them as Romeo and Juliet, and said that Abhiram sounded like Abraham, so how did it matter if Romiel was actually Rahul? They invited Rahul’s family for malida ceremonies and other festivities and even asked Rahul’s mother to bring Gujarati snacks for the community dinner.
That was when Prophet Elijah intervened, as he had heard Juliet’s prayers calling out to him, asking him to help decide their future.
Rahul and Juliet decided to emigrate to Israel, and Rahul’s parents were invited for a malida as thanksgiving to Prophet Elijah. Rahul’s father wore a kippa cap and his mother pinned a handkerchief on her head, just like a Bene Israel Jewish woman.
On the eve of their departure, Rahul–Romiel and Juliet–Priya left the keys of their flat with Ezra, the builder-cum-president of Shalom India Housing Society, asking him to sell the flat for them, as they would need the money in Israel.
When Ezra built the society, he had decided that Block-A would only be allotted to Jews. He advised Juliet to rent out the apartment to Jews who often came to Ahmedabad for a year or two, so that she would have some extra income.
Juliet agreed.
That is why this narrative is woven around Romiel and Juliet’s apartment A-107 at Shalom India Housing Society.
2
Maa Myramayi
MYRA CAME TO Ahmedabad as a volunteer on an American programme of Torah studies for Indian Jews. She had earlier met Ezra when he had gone to America for a World Jewish Congress. She had never come across an Indian Jew and was fascinated that there were Jews in India, in a place called Ahmedabad. She was also amazed that they had a synagogue. Like most foreigners, she knew about Mumbai, but had never heard of Ahmedabad. She worked in a Jewish social centre and was well versed in the Torah, so she wondered if she could visit India on an educational programme for Jews. She knew of many Jewish groups that could sponsor her trip. Ezra immediately invited her to Ahmedabad.
Myra had never been to India, so she asked Ezra innumerable questions about the country. Ezra patiently answered them while he studied the petite woman. He tried to guess her age. He thought she was somewhere between thirty and forty, maybe younger, but because her face was haggard, it was hard to tell. She had a thin face, long nose, fuzzy red hair and large violet eyes that looked eternally surprised.
With the possibility of her coming to India, Ezra started fantasizing about Myra and having a torrid affair with her. He noticed that she had a nice body with small, taut breasts. He knew he was on religious duty in America and should not have pagan thoughts, but it was hard to break old habits, like having imaginary romances.
Myra appeared to be single. But one never knew when a boyfriend might appear. How did it matter? She was discussing her trip, asking where she could stay and other details.
Without thinking twice or wondering what his wife Sigaut or the community would have to say in the matter, he suggested that she stay in Juliet’s flat. He said it on the spur of the moment, without consulting Juliet. He told himself that it did not matter, as the flat was empty. It was unfurnished, but then the inhabitants of Shalom India Housing Society were kind and would be sure to help.
‘No problem,’ he said, smiling and wondering how he would cheat on his wife with Myra.
Ezra assumed that his dream would come true when Myra would eventually come to Ahmedabad and set up home in Juliet’s apartment. Juliet agreed to rent out her flat on the condition that Myra pay her two months’ rent in advance, in dollars, in Israel. She also sent specific instructions that Myra pay the electricity bill and not disclose that she was a tenant, due to municipal tax problems. Myra agreed to all the terms and sent the rent to Israel. Juliet was happy with the arrangement.
Although Ezra had requested Salome, who along with her husband Daniyal was a caretaker of the society, to set up the apartment for Myra, he realized from day one that it was not going to be easy to realize his dream of an extra-marital affair, for Salome was always present in Myra’s flat. To add to his woes, the residents of the society pooled everything extra that they had—like mattresses, pillows, a table, two chairs, a small cupboard, a quilt, an assortment of dishes and cutlery—and lent it all to Myra. Juliet’s mother gave her a gas cylinder and their old fridge, so all Myra had to buy was a stove, bed sheets, pillow covers, provisions and a printed tablecloth for her desk.
Myra and Salome installed old packing cases into a seating arrangement, which Myra covered with a block-print bedcover. Salome also offered to send a simple lunch
of boiled vegetables, dal, rice and chapattis every day for five hundred rupees a month. Besides, Myra kept getting invites for lunch or dinner by one family or another, including Ezra’s. He had boasted to Sigaut that he had invited Myra to teach the Torah at the synagogue, so he felt that it was his duty to invite her for Sabbath dinner. But when Myra attended the Sabbath service at Ezra’s house, he was nervous and uncomfortable around her in Sigaut’s presence.
Ezra rarely found Myra alone. Whenever he escaped Sigaut’s vigilant eyes and rang Myra’s doorbell to discuss the Torah study classes he had planned at the synagogue, Salome was always there. Or somebody stopped him when he was on his way to Myra’s flat, needing help or advice, and he felt awkward ringing her doorbell in their presence. Eventually, Ezra gave up. He was sure that the housing society was conspiring to keep him away from her.
To find a way out, Ezra decided to have meetings with Myra at the synagogue office. This meant a drive down to the synagogue in his car and during the half-hour ride, he could be alone with her.
When they reached the synagogue, they would discuss details of classes and subjects. He suggested that she teach the Torah in the main prayer hall on weekends, when most people would be free. They also discussed the important question of English as the language of instruction, as most Bene Israel Jews found it difficult to follow Myra’s accent and normally spoke in Marathi or Gujarati. They registered for the classes out of curiosity but then sat there staring blankly into space. To add to their problems, the Hebrew words were like Greek and Latin to them. Yet, they made an effort to follow Myra’s rendition of the Torah.
Ezra was a busy man, but so great was his desire to befriend Myra that he volunteered to work as an interpreter. After all it was only for two months, he argued with himself. He knew that the number of people who came for the classes would dwindle with time and he would be left alone with Myra. He dreaded that Sigaut or Salome might join the Torah classes and was relieved that they did not, as they were busy when Myra held the classes.