Comments on: India: A remarkable community project

By: Ziva Abraham

Ziva Abraham — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:59:35 +0000

I am married to a Bene Israel ” Cheulkar Family”. I can find out from the many Reubens who are related to my husband about Usman’s Great Grandfather. Also I know of one pakistani Bene Israel and will surely forward this site to her if she can help Haroon.
What a great idea for connecting people in the BeneIsrael Community.

Ziva

By: Usman Shaikh

Usman Shaikh — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:23:10 +0000

Dear Nissim,

I am reaching out to you to help me re-connect with my Jewish heritage.

The little I know is that my great, great,great grandfather, along a brother, settled in India-probably in Thana, Mumbai. I would guesstimate (from my grandfathers dob 3/3/1885) probable date of migration around 1820 or so.

For reasons that only he knew, he converted to Islam and married into the family of the personal physician to the last Moghul Emperor. His brother, as I understand, did not change his faith.

Their family name was Reuben (if I spelled it right). He took up the name Ismael Shaikh (Ishmael?).

I was born a Muslim in 1946 in Karachi. I hope you can help me meet my relatives in person after 125 year!

Best,

Usman

By: David Chester

David Chester — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:39:34 +0000

Nissim,

I remember you from IAI. I now work as a volunteer at Beit HaTfutzot where visitors can see their family trees and can get advise about building them. May I suggest that you write to this institution so as to give (and receive) more data about the Bnei Yisrael trees recorded here?

Where can I see your claim about the Bnei Yisrael family names being hebrew and not based on their past villages (as I once thought)?

Shalom and all the Best

By: Nissim Rohekar

Nissim Rohekar — Sat, 14 May 2011 10:26:56 +0000

Dear Nissim,

This is Nissim Rohekar. I am excited to start charting my heritage. How do I begin. You mentioned that you have already done some work on my family tree. How can I access it?
Best regards,
Nissim

By: A Talwar

A Talwar — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:15:38 +0000

Hi Nissim,
Great to read your web site, and how U have helped people in your community to build up family tree, with all other things which make it very unique.
I am also semi retired now, and have taken up similar project few days ago, TALWAR FAMILY 1915 TO 2010, as year of my father birth is 1915 to current.
How do I go about, as I find lot of my family surnames “TALWAR” which belong to Khatri clan are settled all over the world. How to get in touch, how to shoot emails/most easy way in this electronic world etc, so that we could update our family to last so many generations etc.
pls ack me.
Regards,
A Talwar email:talwar1948@gmail.com

By: Haroon

Haroon — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:58:25 +0000

I am working to protect and keep in better position of Bene Israel Graveyard in Karachi. Also contacting the remaining Bene Israel is Karachi which are according to my research numbering around 200. After Rachel Joseph died, it is left with the Baloch Family’s mercy. Requesting more information about Bene Israel families that lived in Karachi about it to promote the historical significance of this graveyard, in order to obtain a status of Heritage for it.

By: Schelly Talalay Dardashti

Schelly Talalay Dardashti — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:05:25 +0000

Thank you, Nissim. Your work with the Bene Israel community is fascinating and I look forward to the continued growth of the project.
Schelly

By: Kirsty Sorrell

Kirsty Sorrell — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:31:07 +0000

Hi
I am trying to trace my family back to India but I am not sure where to start.
I amtrying to find Rachael Wrights (born 1859) Bombay and her parents Thomas Wright and Mary Ann Hynes ( They married in India in 1854.
Can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks
Kirsty

By: Nissim Moses

Nissim Moses — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:46:42 +0000

Thanks Schelly.You have written a very nice article.

Nissim Moses