The leader of Delhi’s Judah Hyam Synagogue, Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar represented the Jewish faith at the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023.
According to a report by Money Control, Ezekiel said that he went to the program as an Indian and not just as a representative of a particular faith.
Credits – The Polemicist
Malekar is the Honorary Secretary of the Judah Synagogue. Besides serving the Jewish community in New Delhi, the Synagogue also caters to Jewish diplomats who are in India on their foreign mission.
The Synagogue in Delhi has hosted Israeli Prime Ministers like Shimon Peres. Indian Jews visit the New Delhi Synagogue for rituals like Bat Mitzvah, Bar Mitzvah, and Brit Mikabh.
More About Ezekiel Malekar
A native of Pune, Malekar has served in the Indian Air Force. He is a graduate of economics and also has a law degree from Pune.
Although actively involved with the activities of the Succath Shelomo Synagogue, Malekar studied the scriptures of other religions, such as Islam, Christianity, Hinduism etc. To understand the Hindu scriptures better.
Credits – Ynetnews
In 1980, Malekar moved to Delhi and found a job with the Health Ministry. Since then, he has been living in the community cottages, taking care of the synagogue and the 100-year-old Jewish cemetery.
Given the dwindling state of the Jewish community in India, Malekar included adult women in the quorum to perform Friday Sabbath, as it became difficult to get a 10-member male quorum for the activity.
Malekar also invited people from other religions to attend the Friday sabbath.
In The New Parliament
According to the report by Money Control, Malekar felt that he was duty-bound to honour the country’s constitution. “I was there as a religious leader, but first I am a citizen of India, it was an event honouring the constitutional democracy of the country,” said Malekar.
Credits – Mint
“India is a true republic of religions. Jews came to India 2,000 years ago. This is the only country where they did not have to face anti-Semitism and persecution. We see India as our motherland.”
Malekar also noted that after having recited the Hebrew prayer, he recited the preamble of the Indian constitution when the Prime Minister installed the ‘Sengol’.
