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Book of Rachel
Rachel is depicted as a woman, devout in her Judaism, and observant in the rituals. She hums Hebrew prayers in Marathi, and also the Marathi version of the Lord is my Shepherd. Rachel dutifully observes the Sabbath and buys kosher meat from Hazzan Hassaji Daniyal. Rachel’s lack of knowledge of Hebrew can be attributed to her distance from centres of Jewish learning. The synagogue is the focus of Rachel’s mere existence. Once the synagogue was the centre of Jewish society and culture. It was the men’s meeting place and served as the centre of all Jewish functions. It was a symbol of identity for all the Bene Israel Jews. Every important stage in a Jew’s life was conducted in the synagogue—birth, bar mitzvah, circumcision, marriage and death ceremonies. Most of the Bene Israel Jews have migrated to Israel while the others have died. Rachel is the survivor who attains satisfaction when she opens the rusted lock of the synagogue, sweeps it and looks at the artistry of its interior. Davis has introduced a novel way of writing. Each chapter begins with a Bene Israel recipe and the writer tell the readers how the ingredients have significance for the Jews. Fish is the protector of homes and also signifies fertility. Egg is the symbol of life, while sprouting beans symbolise survival. If you are an adventurous cook like my mother, try the recipes. They are simple and the ingredients are easily available. Apart from looking after the synagogue, Rachel has another love in life-cooking. She churns out the most exotic dishes and her culinary expertise cannot be challenged. Her children ring her up all the way from the Promised Land asking for the recipes. Through the character of Rachel, the writer shows us that women were considered subordinate in the Indian synagogue as they kept away from the teva and the synagogue had a separate women’s gallery. But in their houses these women were powerful influences. Rachel as a character is an example of the saying that the Jews kept the Sabbath and the Sabbath kept the Jews. Like an intricate tapestry, Davis weaves all the characters who are spread over places, cultures and generations. The reader is introduced to Rachel’s children and grandchildren who live in Israel and speak Hebrew. You get to meet Zephra, the youngest daughter who has lived in a Kibbutz and been through a messy love affair. Rachel is the personification of Jewish heritage and when developers seek to acquire the synagogue and its surrounding property, she fights back and enlists the help of a young lawyer, Judah. Davis very finely draws the differences between the Jews in India and those who have migrated to Israel through the characters of Judah and Zephra. Book of Rachel is not just a story of a lone Bene Israel woman, it is an account of a community in the process of social change. Now the synagogue stands closed, there are no scholars of Hebrew, the religious offices are not maintained and there is no minyan, the minimal number of 10 for congregational services. As you read, you get a glimpse of Jewish heritage and culture and the religiously oriented rhythm of their life, which is reflected in their day-to-day routine and the observance of Sabbath and the holy days. Most of the Jews, especially the younger generation, have gone to what is called the true homeland and the one’s left behind grapple with their rich heritage and identity on the brink of disappearance. The reader may question the future of Jews along the Konkan coast and we see a gleam of hope in the form of Zephra and Judah. The book is a document of social and cultural history and covers a wide range of themes and situations. |
Book
