An illustrated talk by Dr Saul Zadka

Jews first began settling in Burma in the 19th century. Jewish merchants from India, notably Baghdadi Jews, but also Cochin Jews and the Bene Israel, established sizeable communities in Rangoon and Mandalay. Under British rule, the local Jewish community prospered. With the Japanese invasion in 1942, many Jews fled to India. In the 1960s the community suffered further decline. The country’s last rabbi left in 1969.

Raconteur, writer and academic Dr Saul Zadka will take us on a journey of discovery to meet the remaining Jews of Burma, and tour the Musmeah Yeshua synagogue and the Jewish cemetery, where he found the graves of relatives. His talk promises to be every bit as fascinating as previous Harif/ Spiro Ark talks he has given on his visits to the Jews of Yemen and Tunisia

Wednesday 2 May 2012
8.15 pm

Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue
Norrice Lea
London N2 ORE

Tickets £8