Rebecca Reuben - a Pioneer Bene Israel Woman of India
Rebecca Reuben
A Bene Israel of Mumbai : Pioneer, Scholar, Community Leader and Educationist . (1889-1957)
Dr. Kranti K.Farias.
“A Teacher touches eternity” …….. Henry Adams.
Rebecca Reuben was one of the leading lights of the small community of Jews, who call themselves the Bene Israel (sons of Israel) found in the Western region of Maharashtra, originally from the Konkan belt. That she was no ordinary person is to be noted as she was the grand daughter of Rebecca and Abraham Samuel Nagavkar and he, her maternal grandfather was the first Graduate of the Community who had studied engineering in Poona and got the degree in 1872, the next batch of Graduates being about twelve years later!
Abraham Samuel Nagavkar gave the lead to his community, and his daughter, Mrs. D.J Solomon was the first lady graduate and his son-in-law, Mr. D.J.Solomon the only Bene- Israel to graduate from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinatti (U.S.A.). His daughter Sara was married to Ezra Reuben (Nawgaonkar), Chief Judicial Officer of Junagadh whose daughter was Rebecca Reuben. Yet another daughter of Abraham Nagavkar was Dr. Jerusha J. Jhirad who was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for her immense work in the medical field.
Rebecca Reuben is a lady seemingly so inconspicuous, but a name closely and lovingly associated with the Bene Israel Jews of India was a person who was serene, yet vibrant, zealous and tenacious. She had the vision to see that the Community she belonged to, so miniscule when compared to the other communities of India was going to be able to lift their heads a little more higher with the empowerment of women and men she along with other leaders of her community would give it.
Rebecca Reuben was born on 18th September 1889 in Shimoga, Mysore
A Bene Israel of Mumbai : Pioneer, Scholar, Community Leader and Educationist . (1889-1957)
Dr. Kranti K.Farias.
“A Teacher touches eternity” …….. Henry Adams.
Rebecca Reuben was one of the leading lights of the small community of Jews, who call themselves the Bene Israel (sons of Israel) found in the Western region of Maharashtra, originally from the Konkan belt. That she was no ordinary person is to be noted as she was the grand daughter of Rebecca and Abraham Samuel Nagavkar and he, her maternal grandfather was the first Graduate of the Community who had studied engineering in Poona and got the degree in 1872, the next batch of Graduates being about twelve years later!
Abraham Samuel Nagavkar gave the lead to his community, and his daughter, Mrs. D.J Solomon was the first lady graduate and his son-in-law, Mr. D.J.Solomon the only Bene- Israel to graduate from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinatti (U.S.A.). His daughter Sara was married to Ezra Reuben (Nawgaonkar), Chief Judicial Officer of Junagadh whose daughter was Rebecca Reuben. Yet another daughter of Abraham Nagavkar was Dr. Jerusha J. Jhirad who was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for her immense work in the medical field.
Rebecca Reuben is a lady seemingly so inconspicuous, but a name closely and lovingly associated with the Bene Israel Jews of India was a person who was serene, yet vibrant, zealous and tenacious. She had the vision to see that the Community she belonged to, so miniscule when compared to the other communities of India was going to be able to lift their heads a little more higher with the empowerment of women and men she along with other leaders of her community would give it.
Rebecca Reuben was born on 18th September 1889 in Shimoga, Mysore
Bibliography: 3. Ezekial , Moses, History and Culture of the Beni Israel in India, Nadiad, October, 1948, New Year’s Day,5709,) published by the author. 4 5. Gazetteer- Bombay City and Island Vol II, (1896); Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. XII , II. 6. Gadkar, Rachel, Bharatvasi Bene Israeli,(Marathi) Thane, Indian Education Societychi Mahatma Phule Kanyashala, 2001. (see coloured picture on p.l). 7 10. Israel , Benjamin J. “Introduction”, The Bene Israel of India, Bombay, Orient Longman, Limited, 1984. 12. Kehimkar, H.S. The History of the Bene-Israel of India, (Written in 1897) , Tel Aviv , 1937. 13. Moraes, G.M. A History of Christianity in India, Bombay, P.C. Manaktala & Sons Pvt. Ltd, 1964.