The Jewish community in India is among the oldest in the Diaspora. Over the many centuries of its existence, a unique culture emerged, reflecting the particular interaction the Jews had with India's multicultural and diverse population. The origins of Jewish settlement in India, however, are obscure. Local traditions and legends point at the Biblical period, associating the first Jews on Indian soil with the seamen of King Solomon, the Book of Esther, or the Lost Ten Tribes. Indian Jewry has always been divided into separate groups, each with its own story and characteristics.
The oldest group is that of the Cochini Jews, who identify their location in South India, the State of Kerala, with the mythical Biblical region of Ophir, famous in ancient times for its fine gold and silver. The second and largest community to this day is that of the Bene Israel, who lived primarily in Konkan, Bombay, Pune, Karachi (now in Pakistan), New Delhi, and Ahmadabad.
The Bene Israel likewise believes their presence in India is more than 2000 years old, and they have their own dialect, known as Judeo-Marathi, in which they also printed their liturgical and other books. The third major group in the last centuries was that of the Baghdadi Jews, who settled in Bombay, Calcutta, and Pune, arriving in India during the late 1700s. They arrived not only from Baghdad but also from other towns in Iraq, as well as Syria, Afghanistan, Aden, Iran, and Turkey. Mention should be made of two groups that emerged publicly recently, the Bene Menashe and Bene Ephraim, who associate themselves with the tribes of ancient Israel and revive Jewish practices. While interacting peacefully and with nearly no anti-Semitic incidents, each group developed its own flavor of Jewish life, which we will explore on this tour.

Thu, Jan 28:         Late arrival in Delhi, a city where ancient and modern blend together                          DELHI

Fri, Jan 29:           Breakfast followed by orientation

                              City sightseeing, which includes the World Heritage site Qutab Minar, the tallest masonry

                              tower in India. Drive by the Parliament and the President's house.
                              Vegetarian lunch

                              Shabbat services in the Judah Hyam Synagogue, followed by Shabbat dinner           DELHI
 

Sat, Jan 30:         Shabbat services

                              Shabbat lunch
                              Walk to visit Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi
                              Vegetarian dinner
                              Visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (the Sikh House of Worship)                                         DELHI
 

Sun, Jan 31:         Drive to Agra

                              Visit the Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beautiful wife in the

                              17th century.
                              Vegetarian dinner                                                                                                               AGRA

 

Mon, Feb 1:           Lecture by Zoom: Between Myth and Facts: Origins and Early History of the Jews of

                              India – Part 1: The Bene Israel Community, S. Sabar
                              Visit Agra Fort. Packed vegetarian lunch. Drive to Jaipur
                              Vegetarian dinner                                                                                                               JAIPUR
 

Tue, Feb 2:           Morning visit Amber Fort

                              On the way back from Amber, stop at the Water Palace
                              View Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)
                              Vegetarian lunch
                              Explore Jantar Mantar
                              Vegetarian dinner                                                                                                               JAIPUR
 

Wed, Feb 3:          Fly to Mumbai. Vegetarian lunch

                              City sightseeing by bus, which includes the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (UNESCO

                              World Heritage site), Dobi Gat (laundry) and the Tipherth Israel Synagogue.
                              Vegetarian dinner                                                                                                               MUMBAI
 

Thu, Feb.4:           Take an early boat from the Gateway of India Jetty to Mandwa in the Konkan Region

                              Travel by bus to Alibag to visit the Magen Aboth Synagogue and the Jewish Cemetery
                              Vegetarian lunch
                              Continue to Revdanda to visit the Beth El Synagogue
                              Return to Mandwa Jetty to board a boat back to Mumbai
                              Vegetarian dinner restaurant                                                                                            MUMBAI
 

Fri, Feb 5:             Lecture: Origins and Early History of the Jews of India – Part 2: The Cochini

                              Community, S. Sabar
                              Visit the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue
                              Vegetarian lunch
                              Visit the Magen Hassidim Synagogue of the Bene Yisrael Community
                              Travel to the Magen David Synagogue and the Sassoon Schools in the Jewish Compound.
                              Shabbat services followed by a kosher dinner at Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue.       MUMBAI
 

Sat, Feb 6:            Shabbat services followed by Shabbat lunch

                              Visit the David Sassoon Library
                              Vegetarian dinner                                                                                                               MUMBAI
 

Sun, Feb 7:           Drive to Pune

                              Vegetarian lunch
                              Visit Ohel David Synagogue and the Succath Shelomo Synagogue
                              Vegetarian dinner
                              Late flight to Kochi                                                                                                              KOCHI

Mon, Feb 8:          Drive to Fort Kochi. Visit Mattancherry

                              Tour Jew Town with the Paradesi Synagogue, which has a Hebrew Clock tower and a

                              gold Torah crown.
                              Vegetarian lunch
                              Visit the Jewish cemetery
                              Vegetarian dinner
                              Continue to the Cochin Cultural Centre to enjoy a Kathakali Performance.                 KOCHI

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Tue, Feb 9:           Lecture: Synagogues of the Jews of Kerala as Sites of Multifaceted Significance, Y. Cooper.

                              Lecture: Jewish Art in Transition: From Europe, Iraq, and Yemen to India, S. Sabar
                              Travel to Parur and Chennamangalam to see the synagogues
                              Vegetarian lunch
                              Take a boat on the backwaters to Kodungallur
                              Continue to Mala
                              Vegetarian dinner                                                                                                               KOCHI

Wed, Feb 10:        Lecture: Traditions and Customs of the Kerala Jews, including a Personal Family

                              Journey, Y. Cooper
                              Lecture: Indian Jewry in the Twentieth Century: Transformations, Aliyah, and Settlement

                              in Israel, S. Sabar.
                              Visit the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue and the Thekkum Synagogue
                              Vegetarian lunch
                              Free time in Kochi
                              Vegetarian dinner                                                                                                               KOCHI

 

Thu, Feb 11:          Transfer to the airport for departure.
 

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PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

Lecturers:              Prof. Shalom Sabar (Emeritus), Dept. of Art History / Dept of Folklore and Folk Culture, The                                      Hebrew University of Jerusalem
                              Yaela Cooper, Researcher in Folklore, Specializing in the Cochin Jewish Community

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Price for land arrangements only: USD 6595 per person in a double room

***EARLY REGISTRATION UNTIL June 15, 2026: USD 6550 per person in a double room***
 

Single supplement (Double room for Single Occupancy): USD 2250
 

Price is based on minimum participants

Price for airfare from Israel (Tel Aviv-Delhi/Kochi-Tel Aviv): USD 1210
(Based on airfares and airport taxes in effect at time of publication and subject to change)
 

People joining us from abroad should meet us in the hotel in Delhi or at the Delhi airport at the arrival of the flight of the group coming from Israel.

Deposit: USD 1200 with registration, of which USD 800 is non-refundable.
 

Remainder of payment is to be paid by Oct 5, 2026. Please register promptly as our trips fill quickly.

 

Cancellation fees:
Nov 1-30, 2026......................35%
Dec 1- 31, 2026.......................50%
Jan 1, 2027-Departure........100%

 

Hotels: 

Delhi – The Claridges
Agra – Trident
Jaipur – ITC Rajputana
Mumbai – Trident Nariman Point
Kochi – Taj Malabar

Trip includes: 
• Lectures by Prof. Shalom Sabar, Yaela Cooper and local lecturers
• JHS Tour escort hotel
• Local excellent English speaking tour guides throughout the tour
• 14 nights accommodation in 5-star hotels with daily buffet breakfasts, vegetarian lunches and dinners including Shabbat in Delhi and kosher Shabbat meals in Mumbai.
• Local transport by a good tourist bus and boat transfers
• 2 Domestic flights (Jaipur-Mumbai; Pune-Kochi)
• Entrance fees according to itinerary

Not included in the price:
• Obligatory health and cancellation travel insurance
• Visa fees
• Tips USD 200

Program subject to change: All rights are reserved by Jewish Historical Seminars to make staff substitutions if necessary and/or make changes to the program and conditions as required by force majeure, including cancellation of the trip at any time due to drastic changes in the situation. Participants are reminded that weather conditions cannot be predicted and cancellations or changes to visits may be unavoidable.

Further information: Contact Debbie: Tel: 972.2.534.5191, Cell: +972.54.2212503 Fax: 972.2.5700005
                                                                Email: JHSeminars@gmail.com. www.JewishHistoricalSeminars.com
                                                                The trip is run in conjunction with Ayala Travel and Tours, Jerusalem

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