Delhi synagogue gets no visitors after Pune blast

NEW DELHI - There has been no visitor to the capital’s only synagogue ever since the Pune blast last week near a Jewish prayer house. Even as security has been stepped up, uncertainty looms large in the minds of the Jewish population here, says its rabbi.

“We generally get visitors everyday at the synagogue, but since the Pune blast last Saturday, there has been not a single visitor. People are scared and want to be careful,” Ezekiel Issac Malekar, honorary secretary and the rabbi of the Judah Hyam synagogue in south Delhi, told IANS.

“We have also stepped up the security and will be confirming the identity of visitors before letting anyone in,” he added.

The Pune blast took place Feb 13 in the German Bakery in Koregaon Park, located near a Chabad House, a Jewish prayer house. It left 10 people dead and nearly 60 injured.

“Ever since the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, there has been a general feeling of uncertainty in the minds of the Jewish population here. The Pune blasts have further dampened our spirits.”

A small population - according to Malekar there are just about 5,000 Jews in India, 4,000 of whom live in Mumbai alone - the Jewish community came under the spotlight after the deadly Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 in which the Chabad House was one of the targets.

In Delhi, there are just 10 families and 200 diplomats of the Jewish community.

“The 26/11 attacks are a bitter memory. After that, we have the local police sending security around the synagogue every Friday evening since we have special prayer meetings on that day.

“But after the recent attack in Pune, we feel that security is inadequate. The policemen are not even armed,” Malekar said.

“There is no security advisory from the Israel embassy, but we have to take precautions ourselves. Earlier I used to let even non-Jews come to the synagogue to attend the prayer service, but now I don’t let anyone in without proper identity proof. There are CCTV cameras installed inside the synagogue too,” he told IANS.

Despite taking precautionary measures, Malekar said he doesn’t believe that the Jewish community here in particular is being targeted.

“Any attack on the Indian soil is an attack on Indians. I don’t think the Jewish community is targeted. We are Indians first, so I would say, that Indians are targeted. The moral spirit is a little low now, but we will fight back. The Indian community as a whole should stand united to fight back,” he said.