Floods in Mumbai hits Jewish population hard

The Jewish community in the Indian city of Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) has been hard hit during recent flooding. More than 1,000 people were killed by the inundations and at least 10,000 homes were destroyed. Many people, including Jews, had to relocate to neighbors’ houses; with widespread power cuts aggravating the situation, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) notes in a memorandum which is cited by JTA. Initial reports “indicate that there has been considerable water damage to homes and buildings in low-lying areas, including the synagogue in Thane and in Panvel,” the JDC report says. In the Panvel temple, water damaged Torah scrolls and prayer books.