Old Town in Bharuch, Gujarat, India — भारत (South Asia)
Jewish Historical Trade and the Great Port of Bharuch
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
1. Jewish Historical Trade and the Great Port of Bharuch Marker
Jews have been part of India's mercantile heritage for over 2,000 years.
Recently discovered 12th-century documentary evidence from the historical Cairo, Egyptian Synagogue, confirmed the centrality of the Port of Bharuch to Jewish International-Indian trade.
[1] Abu Zikri Yehuda b. Yosef ha-Kohan al-Sijilmasi, a Moroccan Jew, took refuge in Bharuch after being attacked by pirates near Tana.
[2] Yishaq al-Nafusi imported sorghum, iron, and textiles from Bharuch.
[3] Halfon B. Netanel Ha-Levi sent textiles from Bharuch to Aden with Barakat B. Musa Al-Halabi.
[4] Judah and Harun, the sons of Musa, perished on the route to Bharuch.
Presented in 2026 by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation
[Jerry Klinger, President] and Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins
Erected 2026 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation and Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. series list.
Location. 21° 41.491′ N, 72° 58.783′ E.
this page online
Regionally, it is in Asia, specifically in South Asia, in the Indian Subcontinent, on the Arabian Sea, on the Bay of Bengal, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Mughal Empire, Portuguese colonies, and a British colony.
Also see . . .
1. Bharuch of Gujarat has the oldest library of the west!!.
what is the cotton king of India doing building libraries? who is this premchand raichand actually? why did he built this library and many more? what was the bullion king of Bombay doing in Bharuch? We are working on finding answers to these questions and many more. Heres what weve found out till now.(Submitted on February 12, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
Raichand Deepchand Library was established in 1858. It is one of the oldest library in Western India. It has a collection of about 200,000 books including some rare manuscripts.
2. The Jews of India: A Tale of Three Cities.
Photographed by Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins, February 12, 2026
2. Jewish Historical Trade and the Great Port of Bharuch Marker
The history of the Jewish community in India, according to legends of the Bnei Israel of Bombay, dates to the time of King Solomon. We cannot confirm that date, but it does seem that the history of that community goes back over a thousand years. The Bene Israel Jews have a founding legend/narrative that they say dates to the time of the Second Temple. A ship set sail from Israel in about 175 BCE and sunk of the Konkan Coast, leaving seven couples as survivors of the shipwreck. The Bene Israel Jews, according to this legend, are descendants of those original couples.(Submitted on February 12, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
3. Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins and Dr. Joyce Robbins - marker dedication
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 77 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 12, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on February 14, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
