HISTORIC ADVENTURE
TO JEWISH INDIA WITH
OU ISRAEL and ARI & ARI
February 3-16, 2016 ז' אדר א' התשע"ו-כ"ד שבט
WEDNESDAY
1
DAY FEBRUARY 3
WED 24 SHVAT - 3 FEBRUARY: DEPARTURE
DEPART FROM ISRAEL ON LY 071 AT 21:00 ּלפנֶ יָך ִיהי ָרצֹון ִמ ָ בֹותינּו, לוקי ֲא ֵ לוקינּו ֱוא ֵ ה' ֱא ֵ ֶׁשּתֹולִ יכֵ נּו לְ ָׁשלֹום וְ ַת ְצעִ ֵידנּו לְ ָׁשלֹום, וְ ִת ְס ְמכֵ נּו לְ ָׁשלֹום, וְ ַתנְ ֵחנּו ֶאל ְמחֹוז ֶח ְפ ֵצנּו לְ ַחּיִים וְ לְ ִּׂש ְמ ָחה ולְ ָּׁשלֹום. (ותחזירנו לביתנו לשלום). אֹורב וְ ַת ִּצילֵ נּו ִמּכַ ף ּכָ ל אֹויֵב וְ ֵ ַּב ֶּד ֶרְך ִּומּכָ ל ִמינֵ י ֻּפ ְרעָ נֻ ּיֹות ַה ִּמ ְת ַרּגְ ׁשֹות לָ בֹוא לָ עֹולָ ם, וְ ִת ְׁשלַ ח ְּב ָרכָ ה ְּב ַמעֲ ֵׂשה ֵיָדינּו. וְ ִת ְתנינו לְ ֵחן ּולְ ֶח ֶסד ּולְ ַר ֲח ִמים רֹואינּו, ְּבעֵ ינֶ יָך ְּובעֵ ינֵ י ּכָ ל ֵ וְ ִת ְׁש ַמע קֹול ַּת ֲחנּונֵ ינּו. ׁשֹומעַ ְּת ִפּלָ ה וְ ַת ֲחנּון ַא ָּתה. ּכִ י ֵקל ֵ
ׁשֹומעַ ְּת ִפּלָ ה ָּברּוְך ַא ָּתה ה' ֵ
אסור לצאת מארץ ישראל לחוצה לארץ לעולם ,אלא ללמוד תורה או לישא אשה או להציל מן העכו”ם ויחזור לארץ ,וכן יוצא הוא לסחורה( ...רמב”ם הלכות מלכים פרק ה' הלכה ט')
2
THURSDAY
DAY FEBRUARY 4
THU 25 SHVAT - 4 FEBRUARY: MUMBAI
s Arrival Mumbai 8:25 am - Transfer to Hotel Vivanta by Taj - President. 90 Cuffe Parade Mumbai - 400 005 Maharashtra India Telephone: +91 22 6665 0808
s After lunch, time and energy permitting, we will visit one or both of the following: The Mani Bhavan, also known as the Gandhi Museum where Gandhi laid the foundation for many Independence Movements and the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, formerly known as the Victoria and Albert Museum, which features some great ancient artifacts of Mumbai.
s Continue on to experience Jewish Mumbai and see the Jewish landmarks. Visit the David Sasson Library and historic synagogues.
s Visit the Chabad House and hear about the terrorist attack that occurred a few years ago.
s First of the “Daily Misconceptions” by Ari Z.
כי נחם ה' ציון נחם כל חרבתיה וישם מדברה כעדן וערבתה כגן ה' ששון ושמחה ימצא בה תודה וקול זמרה )(ישעיהו נא ג
3
FRIDAY
DAY FEBRUARY 4
FRI 26 SHVAT - 5 FEBRUARY: MUMBAI
sEarly in the morning, board our private ferry boat
at the Gateway of India port to visit the hidden Bnei Israel Synagogues in the jungle off the Konkan coast. (Shacharit will be on the boat.) Visit the cemetery of the original 14 Jews who, according to tradition, landed here 1,000 years ago. The trade of the Jews in this area was oil pressing, and we hope to meet the last Jewish oil presser in his native jungle village.
sShiur on the return boat ride by Ari Z: Topic –
“Baghdadi Rabbinic Responsa to Indian Jews in the1800’s.”
sBack to hotel for Shabbat preparation. SHABBAT BEGINS: 6:16 PM
sFriday evening Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv at
the historic Kenesseth Eliyahoo Synagogue with the local community.
sDuring the Friday night dinner - at the shul - we will hear the story of the Bnei Israel from Ralphy Jhirad, our Jewish Indian tour guide.
.... ֵאּלֶ ה ַמ ְס ֵעי ְבנֵ י יִ ְׂש ָר ֵאל )(במדבר פרק לג פסוק א
4
SHABBAT
DAY FEBRUARY 6
SHABBAT MISHPATIM 27 SHVAT - 6 FEBRUARY: MUMBAI
sShabbat morning davening at Kenesseth Eliyahoo Synagogue with the local community followed by Kiddush.
sLecture by Ari G: Topic – “The world-travelling Even Sapir and his visit to India in the 1860s.”
sShabbat lunch followed by Mincha at the Synagogue
sAfternoon rest or walk around local area sSeudat Shlishit, lecture on the Indian Real Hair Sheitel Controversy by Ari Z.
sMaariv and Havdala at the hotel Shabbat ends: 7:16 pm
sEnjoy the night sights and lights of bustling Mumbai from an open-roofed bus as we visit the Marina with its many plazas and shops.
sExperience a unique Bnei Israel custom - a Malida (“Thanksgiving”) ceremony!
:הֹודּו לַ יקֹוָ ק ִּכי טֹוב ִּכי לְ עֹולָ ם ַח ְסּדֹו )(תהלים פרק קלו פסוק א
5
SUNDAY
DAY FEBRUARY 7
SUN 28 SHVAT - 7 FEBRUARY: IMPHAL MARKET DAY
sMumbai-Delhi flight AI 806 at 8:00 am. (Shacharit in the Mumbai airport after check-in.) Connecting to Delhi-Imphal flight AI 889 at 10:50 am, arriving in Imphal at 14:40.
sThe Classic Hotel, North AOC, Imphal (Manipur) Tel: +91-385- 2443967/69/2445162
sExplore authentic India in the town of Imphal.
Visit the Ima Keithel Market, the “mother” of all markets, said to be the only one in the world in which all the market stalls are run by women. Walk around on your own and purchase beautiful and varied handicrafts of the local women. Experience the sights, smells, and sounds among the people who live here, surrounded by nature in this mountainous area.
sReturn to our hotel on your own, either by car or
local tuk tuk (motorized rickshaw) in time for dinner.
sEvening lecture with Ari & Ari: Topic - The 10 Tribes & the History of the Bnei Menashe - an audio-visual presentation.
יַעקֹב ָשׁלֵ ם ִעיר ְשׁכֶ ם ֲא ֶשׁר ְב ֶּא ֶרץ כְ ּנַ ַען ְ ּבבֹאֹו ִמ ַפ ַּדּן ֲ “וַ יָ ּבֹא )18: וַ יִ ַּחן ֶאת ְפּנֵ י ָה ִעיר” (בראשית לג,ֲא ָרם שווקים תיקן: ושמואל אמר. מטבע תיקן להם:“אמר רב ): מרחצאות תיקן להם” (שבת לג: ור’ יוחנן אמר.להם
6
MONDAY
DAY FEBRUARY 8
MON 29 SHVAT - 8 FEBRUARY: MANIPUR
sDrive through stunning landscapes to Chuchampur National Park.
sVisit Bnei Menashe villag-
es, meet the people, see their synagogues and mikveh, and observe a mock sacrifice as they used to do it. Enjoy a local traditional meal with members of the Bnei Menashe community, learn about their customs and traditions, and see a colorful, musical presentation.
יֹוסף לְ ֶא ְפ ַריִם ְבּנֵ י ִשׁלֵ ִּשׁים גַ ּם ְבּנֵ י ָמכִ יר ֶבּן ְמנַ ֶשּׁה ֵ וַ יַ ְּרא .יֹוסף ֵ יֻלְ ּדּו ַעל ִב ְּרכֵ ּי )(בראשית פרק נ
7
TUESDAY
DAY FEBRUARY 9
TUE 30 SHVAT – 1 ROSH CHODESH ADAR I 9 FEBRUARY: FLIGHTS
sFlight IMF-CCU (Calcutta) depart 11:15, arrive
(CCU) 13:00, and depart 14:15 to arrive at 18:00 in Coimbatore. Enjoy mini-lectures throughout the day while travelling, including an evening Powerpoint presentation on the Jews of East Africa by Ari & Ari.
sTransfer to hotel for Dinner and early night.
Vivanta by Taj- Surya, Coimbatore 105, Race Course Road, Coimbatore 641 018,Tamil Nadu, India Telephone: (91-422) 668 1000
ימי ֲא ַח ְׁשוֵ רֹוׁש הּוא ֲא ַח ְׁשוֵ רֹוׁש ַהּמֹלֵ ְך ֵמהֹּדּו ֵ יְהי ִּב ִ ַו :ּומ ָאה ְמ ִדינָ ה ֵ וְ ַעד ּכּוׁש ֶׁש ַבע וְ ֶע ְׂש ִרים )'(אסתר פרק א' פסוק א
8
WED.
DAY FEBRUARY 10
WED 1 ADAR I - 2 ROSH CHODESH ADAR I 10 FEBRUARY: ERODE
sDrive to Erode, stopping at a coconut orchard
on the way, where we will meet Samuel and Anne and enjoy some freshly picked fruit. Continue on to meet their fascinating community of 1500 Christians who want to convert to Judaism, and are currently practicing Judaism.
sMeet at their “Zion Torah Center.” Discuss the
history of this unique group, and hear the personal stories of their journey directly from them.
sMeet in small groups for questions & answers and discussion about Israel and Judaism.
sLearn traditional Indian cooking with community members.
sTime permitting, visit the local market which is a textile center for the country.
sReturn to hotel in Coimbatore
יַש ִׁחיתּו ְבּכָ ל ַהר ָק ְד ִשׁי כִ ּי ָמלְ ָאה ָה ָא ֶרץ ְ ֹלא ֵיָרעּו וְ ֹלא ֵד ָּעה ֶאת ה' כַ ַּמּיִם לַ יָ ּם ְמכַ ִסּים )(ישעיהו פרק יא
9
THURS.
DAY FEBRUARY 11
THU 2 ADAR I - 11 FEBRUARY: COCHIN
sCoimbatore - Cochin 11:00–11:40 (charter flight)
sArrive in Cochin - The Gateway Hotel by TAJ Residency Cochin Marine Drive, Ernakulam 682 011 Tel: 91 484 6673300
sVisit Jew Town and learn about the history of this area
sVisit the historic Paradesi Synagogue, the
oldest synagogue in India. It was destroyed in 1662 and rebuilt in 1664. The synagogue houses silver and gold Torah scrolls, hand-painted blue floor tiles, chandeliers and oil lamps, and a brass pulpit. Outside is one of the synagogue’s most distinctive features, an 18th century clock tower with dials in four languages.
sVisit the Mattancherry Palace which
showcases portraits of the royal family of Cochin and exquisite murals.
sAfter dinner, explore Jew Street and
experience the hustle and bustle of India.
sEvening lecture by Ari & Ari: Topic – “The Unknown Jews of Asia” - a Powerpoint presentation.
המור הוא הדם הצרור בחיה שבהודו הידוע לכל והקנמון הוא העץ,שמתבשמין בה בני אדם בכ"מ ...שבא מאיי הודו שריחו טוב ומתגמרים בו בני אדם )(רמב"ם הלכות כלי המקדש פרק א הלכה ג
10 FRI.
DAY FEBRUARY 12
FRI 3 ADAR I - 12 FEBRUARY: COCHIN
sEnjoy a boat ride on the backwaters of
Cochin, where ocean salt water mixes with fresh inland water. See the spectacular forest, water birds, wild flowers, and lush greenery.
sAlong the way, see small villages, rubber trees, and an area of water where no fish can live.
sReturn to hotel for Shabbat preparations Shabbat begins: 6:03 pm
sEvening Kabbalat Shabbat in Ernakulam,
which has a handful of local Jews. Daven in a shul that has not had a Minyan since 1972.
sShabbat dinner in the hotel sMini-lectures by Ari & Ari: Topics – “Boats and Strange Creatures”.
חּורם ַא ַחת ָ ּכִ י ֳאנִ ּיֹות לַ ֶּמלֶ ְך הֹלְ כֹות ַּת ְר ִׁשיׁש ִעם ַע ְב ֵדי לְ ָׁשלֹוׁש ָׁשנִ ים ָּתבֹואנָ ה ֳאנִ ּיֹות ַּת ְר ִׁשיׁש נ ְֹׂשאֹות זָ ָהב וָ כֶ ֶסף ) (דברי הימים ב פרק ט פסוק כא:קֹופים וְ תּוּכִ ּיִים ִ ְֶׁשנְ ַה ִּבים ו
11 SHABBAT DAY FEBRUARY 13
SHABBAT TRUMA, 4 ADAR I - 13 FEBRUARY: COCHIN
sShacharit and Kiddush sLecture by Ari G: Topic – “Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Chocolate, and Jews”
sRelax and stroll the streets of Cochin sMincha and Seudah Shlishit in the shul sShiur by Ari G: Topic – “Tekhelet” sShabbat ends 7:05 pm sSpecial activity in the evening.
,את לַ ַשּ ָׁבּת עֹנֶ ג ָ וְ ָק ָר, עֲ ׂשֹות ֲח ָפ ֶציָך ְבּיֹום ָק ְד ִשׁי,ש ָׁבּת ַרגְ לֶ ָך ּ ַ "אם ָת ִּשׁיב ִמ ִ ִמ ְמּצֹוא ֶח ְפ ְצָך וְ ַד ֵבּר ָד ָּבר, וְ כִ ַב ְּדּתֹו ֵמעֲ ׂשֹות ְד ָּרכֶ יָך,לִ ְקדֹוׁש ה' ְמכֻ ָבּד ) פסוק י"ג, פרק נ"ח,(ישעיהו
12 SUNDAY DAY FEBRUARY 14
SUN 5 ADAR I - 14 FEBRUARY: KERALA
sVisit the Kerala coast to see the Jewish
Cochini settlements in Chenamangalam and Parur. The first Jewish settlers reached India in the early 1st century and prospered for hundreds of years. After persecution by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the Jews were forced to migrate to Kochi.
sVisit the Kadavumbhagum Synagogue.
The original shul was likely built in the 16th or 17th century and is now on exhibit in the Israel Museum
sSee the cemeteries of the Cochini Jews. Beware of crocodiles.
עתידין בתי כנסיות, רבי אלעזר הקפר אומר,תניא ובתי מדרשות שבבבל שיקבעו בארץ ישראל )(מגילה כט ע"א
13 MONDAY DAY FEBRUARY 15
MON 6 ADAR I - 15 FEBRUARY: FLY BACK TO ISRAEL
sTransfer to Airport at 12:00 noon for COCHIN – BOMBAY
sTransfer to International Terminal for 23:00 LY 072 return to Israel arriving at 03:30.
לִ גְ בּולָ ם,ה; וְ ָׁשבּו ָבנִ ים- נְ ֻאם,יתְך ֵ ּת ְקוָ ה לְ ַא ֲח ִר-יֵׁש ִ ְו )(ירמיהו פרק לא
EMERGENCY... EMERGENCY SERVICES:
s Dial 112 from a cell phone;
from a land line, dial 100 for police, 102 for ambulance (108 in parts of South India), and 101 for fire.
ISRAELI CONSULATE IN MUMBAI: Representatives: Mr. David Akov Matan Zamir
Consul General Deputy Chief of Mission
LOCATION:
Consulate General of Israel - Mumbai Marathon Futurex, 1301, A Wing N M Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400013
RECEPTION HOURS:
Monday - Thursday: 10.00 hrs. - 13.00 hrs. Friday: 10.00 hrs - 12.30 hrs
CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: +91-22-61600500/7 Fax: +91-22-61600599 info@mumbai.mfa.gov.il
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL MUMBAI (BOMBAY) C-49, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra East, Mumbai 400051 India Telephone: +(91) (22) 2672-4000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(91) (22) 2672-4000 If you are calling from within India, but outside Mumbai, first dial 022. Fax: 91-(0)22-2672-4786 mumbaiacs@state.gov
OUR LEADERS DR. ARI GREENSPAN
Dr. Greenspan is a co-founder of the Ptil Tekhelet Association. He is a US trained dentist, with a practice in Jerusalem. He is a mohel, shochet and sofer, and has worked for more than 30 years on collecting Jewish traditions and mesorot from far flung Jewish communities. He is a frequent contributor to Mishpacha magazine, had a column on Jewish tradition in Otiyot, a children’s hebrew magazine and writes extensively for other journals. Dr. Greenspan has been producing commercial Judaic art for 25 years enjoying wood, metal and glass as his media.
DR. RABBI ARI ZIVOTOFSKY
Ari Zivotofsky studied in Yeshivat Har Etzion for 2 years, where at the beginning of the second year he met Ari Greenspan over a kaporos chicken. Together they learned shechita and received kabalah from Rav Sasson Grady and co-signed by Rav Mesas, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, and Rav Yosef Kafach. He received semicha at Yeshivat Derech Ayson (Yeshiva of Far Rockaway). He holds a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from The Cooper Union, an MA in math from Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY), an MEE in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT; Newark, NJ), and an MA in Jewish history from Revel graduate school of Yeshiva University (NY, NY). He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University CWRU; Cleveland, OH). He made aliyah with his wife and children in 2000 and currently lives in Beit Shemesh. Since making aliyah he has been teaching in the Bar Ilan University Brain Science program.
THANK YOU TO OUR PIONEER ADVENTURERS: s AVI BERMAN s FREDRICK & BARBARA CASDEN s BOBBIE SUE DAITCH s GILBERT DREYFUSS & DOMINIQUE HAFTER
s GABRIEL & SUSIE ENGEL s YAACOV FEDER s BENJAMIN & ESTHER FELDMAN s MARLENE GINSBURG s RONALD & JUDITH GOLDSTEIN s ARI & SHARI GREENSPAN s YONATAN KOLATCH s DOV LAMM & YOSEFFA HELLMAN s LARRY LENNHOFF s HENOCH & TOVA MESSNER s STEVE MOSES s ALLAN & CHAYA NOVETSKY s YIGAL & RIVKA SEGAL s YEHOSHUA & HILARY SIVAN s SALLY ANN TUVEL s PEARL WEISS s MICHAEL & SUSANNE WIMPFHEIMER s ARI & NAOMI ZIVOTOFSKY
BEHIND THE SCENES
OUR INDIA HOSTS: Yael and Ralphy Jhirad
Thank you to our outstanding registrar, CHANA SPIVACK, for her dedicated and detailed attention to each and every participant. We could not have done this without her! Thank you to YAEL HAUFTMANN, our creative graphic designer. Yael put her professional expertise and artistic talent into this Mission from the first ad until the final participant packet.
OU ISRAEL
Connecting the Jewish People THE OU ISRAEL CENTER is dedicated to providing Olim, overseas students and tourists with an array of social, educational, and communal activities, aimed to strengthen Jewish identity, Jewish community and appreciation of Israel. The Center attracts 1,500 people weekly for meaningful shiurim and programs. OU Israel Travel, a division of the Center, offers unique and exciting tours all over the country. In our quest to offer innovative Jewish educational opportunities and experiences, we initiated the Jewish Halachic Adventure Mission to India. We hope that this experience will broaden your appreciation and understanding of Halacha, Jewish History and the contribution of the people of India to the future of the Jewish People. Rabbi Avi Berman, Executive Director OU Israel Rivka Segal, Program Director OU Israel Center
DID YOU KNOW? Design: Yael Hauftmann / OU ISRAEL
t he ndia is I A I a IND gest te r a l s ’ d ai) worl tea (ch d n a , er r produc popula t s o m is its ge bevera
INDIA
There are 300,000 active mosques in INDIA, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.
experien ces six seasons: s ummer, autumn, winter, spring, su mmer monsoon , and winter m onsoon.
Chess was invented in INDIA.
INDIA is about 1/3 t he size of the Unit ed States, y et it is the secon d most pop ulous country in the world, with a population of 1,166,07 9,217.