(March 5, 2025) Last Wednesday, 26th February, Degel Menashe joined the Indian Jewish Heritage Center (IJHC), other Indian Jewish communities and organizations at ANU Diaspora Museum to celebrate the culinary heritage of each of their communities. The evening was graced by the presence of the representative of the Indian Embassy, Mr. Tejeshwar Garika, first secretary, Public Diplomacy, Mr. Oded Revivi, the new incoming CEO of the ANU Diaspora Museum and a host of other dignitaries. A welcome address was given and the podium was given to Mr. Revivi and Mr. Garikar who expressed the importance of preserving ones' heritage in every form and highlighting the contribution of the Indian Jewry in Israel. Degel Menashe is proud to be associated with this celebration as one of the sponsors of this prestigious event.
Having completed the formalities, welcome and and introductions, the president of the IJHC, Rafi Bhonkar took the audience on a trip through time to tell the story of the four Jewish Indian communities that have thrived in India, sharing lives, food and culture. He explained each journey through maps and displays. As we are all aware, the B'nei Menashe are one of the four Indian Jewish communities in Israel consisting of the Bene
Israel, the Baghdadis and the Cochinis. Each having come from different parts of India bringing with them a wealth of heritage and customs, each an adaptation to the place where they have thrived for hundreds and even thousands of years. This is reflected in the food that have developed with each communities. While the Bene Israeli preparations tend to have Maharashtrian influences, the same is true for the Cochinis with their obvious south Indian bent. The Baghdadis are, relatively, new, having come to India during the advent of British trade missions and their subsequent
colonial enterprises. They came to take advantage of an opportunity in the trade boom that was taking place in the region. In their kitchens, one will find the most delectable favorites the sub-continent has to offer, from the biryanis, various vegetables and lentils preparations to tandoori (local Indian coal/log fired clay ovens) dishes. Their cooking can truly be called continental or pan-Indian. But the most exotic spot is reserved for the B'nei Menashe. Their traditional cooking mainly consists of simple stews but coming in contact with the heart of India, spices and elements, it has evolved to give rise to what might be described as "India meets southeast Asia". Ilana Shazor and her two dancers provided for delightful distractions, treating the audience to kathakali and another performance adapted to a composition by her. The event "FOODISH" attempts to bring all them together for an evening of interaction, to learn and enrich each other with their distinctive style. In this aspect, it has succeeded beyond all expectations.
Elizabeth Binyamin presented the Bene Israel food, Mati Haymus did so for the Baghdadis and Ilanit Menachem introduced the aroma of Cochini spice. The flavors of the B'nei Menashe came to life with Jessica's presentation, wife of Degel Menashe's executive director. While these 'eshet chayil' went about describing their food in front of the more than a hundred enthralled audience, that was not all in store. Each women had prepared the food they had described and it was waiting in the hall nearby to be served, sampled and savored. In their four corners, the women had set up their camps on trolleys provided by the museum, each ready with their dishes and wares. The air was filled with a melee of spices as the women served their flavor laden food to the eager crowd. Jessica served an all-time B'nei Menashe favorite, the ubiquitous 'mepoh'. 'Mepoh' is a rice-based preparation which serves as a kind of a cooking template where one has the option to mix and match various kinds of vegetables, meat and garnishings of whole spices and herbs. Today it was rice, cabbage and peas with ginger and basil, served on a bed of jasmine rice! Needless to say, the empty food trays at the end of the it all was a silent testimony to what had been relished!
If the success of this endeavor is any indicator, there are chances that similar programs will follow in the future.
