Jewish body in Pak moves court to preserve Synagogue

A Jewish welfare body has approached a court to try to preserve the land of the Magen Shalom Synagogue, where a shopping mall was built after it was demolished in the 1980s here in southwest Pakistan, a media report today said.

The Bene Israel Trust has submitted an application to the Sindh High Court with the request that it take control of the property so it can maintain the land of the place of worship.

The Bene Israeli community was made of the Jews who were traditionally found in Konkan, roughly the coastal region from Goa to Karachi.

The trust's attorney has informed the court that there used to be a synagogue on survey No.RC-3, measuring 1,190 square yards, located in the Ranchore Line Quarters.
 

It was built in 1893, according to independent sources, Express Tribune reported.

The trust's application says it was built for the sole purpose and object of performing worship, which is a right of the members of a minority community.

It has been replaced by a Khurrum Shopping Mall.

During the British era, there was a small but vibrant Jewish community in Karachi.

Many members of the community left after the founding of Israel and more left after the Arab-Israeli wars led to increased anti-Jewish feeling in Pakistan.