Sri Lanka is emerging as a favored destination for Israeli tourists, buoyed by the commencement of a direct flight route by Arkia Airlines. Renowned globally for its pristine white beaches, ideal surfing conditions, and rich tapestry of historical sites, Sri Lanka offers an alluring blend of experiences. Additionally, the island boasts a captivating Jewish heritage, adding another layer of intrigue for Israeli travelers.
When planning a journey to Sri Lanka, it is recommended to delve into its lesser-known Jewish history and cultural facets, often overlooked in conventional tourist literature and by travel agencies.
Local lore intertwines with biblical narratives, as Sri Lanka is believed to have served as a haven akin to the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve upon their expulsion. This sentiment is echoed in the Sinhalese name for the island, "Sri Lanka," meaning "magnificent island."
According to local folklore, Adam's Peak, nestled in the island's heartland, is so named because it bears the footprint of the first man. It identified as the biblical Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark found refuge after the Great Flood.
In biblical accounts, Tarshish is mentioned as a destination for King Solomon's merchant ships, bringing treasures like gold, silver, and exotic fauna. Sri Lanka's port city of Galle is believed to be the Tarshish referenced, where Solomon's vessels docked, exchanging commodities including peacocks and apes indigenous to the island. Elephants, emblematic of Sri Lanka, are also thought to have been among the traded goods.
Fortress and the Gulf of Galle, the biblical Tarshish
Historical records trace the presence of Jews in Sri Lanka back to ancient times. The earliest documentation of Jews in Sri Lanka dates back to the period of the Second Temple. An ancient manuscript recounts an account of a Phoenician ship that arrived on the shores of Sri Lanka after a voyage of 72 days, and some of its sailors fell ill and died. It is written that one of the sick sailors was from Jerusalem.
Further evidence of Jewish settlement emerges in the ninth century, with accounts from Persian traveler Abu Sa'id al-Hasan visited Sri Lanka, and in his travelogue, he writes of finding a "large number of Jews" on the island.
During the reign of a Sinhalese king in 1154, Jews held 4 ministerial positions in the government of 16 members, comprising a significant proportion of the ruling council. This underscores the esteemed status and influence of the Jewish community during that period.
Nine centuries ago, Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela ventured into Sri Lanka, chronicling his travels in the esteemed "Book of Travels," wherein he documented a thriving Jewish community of around 3,000 residents. This enclave stood out as one of the largest he encountered during his extensive journeys in the East. Were he would revisit today, Rabbi Benjamin would find a Jewish presence in Sri Lanka primarily drawn by the allure of its surfing scene. While none claim Sri Lanka as their birthplace or permanent abode, a handful of Israelis have chosen to make the island their home.
Throughout the colonial era, spanning from 1500 to 1948, Sri Lanka was subject to the dominion of three successive powers. In the mid-15th century, Portuguese conquest led to the renaming of the island as Ceylon. Alongside the Portuguese, numerous Jewish immigrants arrived, contributing to the maritime industry as shipbuilding managers, accountants, traders, and builders of ports along the northern and western coasts. The expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 precipitated a significant influx of Sephardic Jews to Ceylon. However, their arrival was met with persecution as the Portuguese authorities, in tandem with the Inquisition, enforced conversion upon the Jewish population. Despite coercion, some secretly adhered to Jewish customs, earning them the moniker "Marranos." Conversely, the descendants of mixed marriages between Sri Lankans and European Jews or Christians were dubbed "Burgers," a group characterized by fair complexions and elevated socio-economic standing. Presently, Christian Burgers bear Jewish surnames like David, Solomon, etc.
indicative of their Jewish ancestry, though they have severed ties with Judaism.
In 1640, Dutch conquest supplanted Portuguese rule, with Jewish immigrants from Amsterdam and Malabar, India, swelling the island's Jewish population. Notably, in the late 18th century, a Dutch-born Jewish professor, Leo Van Dort, assumed leadership of the Hebrew department at Columbo University in Ceylon, where he accomplished the pioneering translation of the Quran into Hebrew.
The British Empire asserted control over Sri Lanka in 1798, ushering in an era of prosperity for the island's Jewish community. Jews wielded significant influence across various spheres of public life, with prominent figures occupying senior governmental positions. Among the most renowned was Leonard Woolf, Deputy Governor of Hambantota District and spouse of author Virginia Woolf. Woolf's literary masterpiece, "A Village in the Jungle," offers a poignant portrayal of life in Ceylon during his tenure, cementing its status as a literary classic.
Until the mid-20th century, the bustling capital of Colombo boasted the iconic "Great Synagogue," serving as a spiritual hub for both British soldiers, government officials, and local residents alike. Its grandeur implied the existence of smaller synagogues, at least one more within the vicinity. A glimpse of the Great Synagogue's former glory is captured in a poignant 1966 photograph by Zeev Raphael.
On the synagogue's erstwhile location now stands the Cinnamon Red Hotel. Once, its lobby proudly displayed a sign bearing the simple yet profound inscription, "The Synagogue," a relic of bygone days that vanished amidst the hotel's renovations years ago.
With the conclusion of the British mandate in 1948, three months preceding the establishment of the State of Israel, the synagogues fell silent as Sri Lanka's Jewish community dispersed, many opting to immigrate "Aliya" to Israel or settle in England. Left to languish in neglect, the Great Synagogue eventually succumbed to ruin, making way for the construction of the Cinnamon Red Hotel. Across the street, the edifice now known as the Chabad House emerged, a beacon of Jewish continuity in Colombo.
When planning a journey to Sri Lanka, it is recommended to delve into its lesser-known Jewish history and cultural facets, often overlooked in conventional tourist literature and by travel agencies.
Local lore intertwines with biblical narratives, as Sri Lanka is believed to have served as a haven akin to the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve upon their expulsion. This sentiment is echoed in the Sinhalese name for the island, "Sri Lanka," meaning "magnificent island."
According to local folklore, Adam's Peak, nestled in the island's heartland, is so named because it bears the footprint of the first man. It identified as the biblical Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark found refuge after the Great Flood.
In biblical accounts, Tarshish is mentioned as a destination for King Solomon's merchant ships, bringing treasures like gold, silver, and exotic fauna. Sri Lanka's port city of Galle is believed to be the Tarshish referenced, where Solomon's vessels docked, exchanging commodities including peacocks and apes indigenous to the island. Elephants, emblematic of Sri Lanka, are also thought to have been among the traded goods.
Fortress and the Gulf of Galle, the biblical Tarshish
Historical records trace the presence of Jews in Sri Lanka back to ancient times. The earliest documentation of Jews in Sri Lanka dates back to the period of the Second Temple. An ancient manuscript recounts an account of a Phoenician ship that arrived on the shores of Sri Lanka after a voyage of 72 days, and some of its sailors fell ill and died. It is written that one of the sick sailors was from Jerusalem.
Further evidence of Jewish settlement emerges in the ninth century, with accounts from Persian traveler Abu Sa'id al-Hasan visited Sri Lanka, and in his travelogue, he writes of finding a "large number of Jews" on the island.
During the reign of a Sinhalese king in 1154, Jews held 4 ministerial positions in the government of 16 members, comprising a significant proportion of the ruling council. This underscores the esteemed status and influence of the Jewish community during that period.
Nine centuries ago, Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela ventured into Sri Lanka, chronicling his travels in the esteemed "Book of Travels," wherein he documented a thriving Jewish community of around 3,000 residents. This enclave stood out as one of the largest he encountered during his extensive journeys in the East. Were he would revisit today, Rabbi Benjamin would find a Jewish presence in Sri Lanka primarily drawn by the allure of its surfing scene. While none claim Sri Lanka as their birthplace or permanent abode, a handful of Israelis have chosen to make the island their home.
Throughout the colonial era, spanning from 1500 to 1948, Sri Lanka was subject to the dominion of three successive powers. In the mid-15th century, Portuguese conquest led to the renaming of the island as Ceylon. Alongside the Portuguese, numerous Jewish immigrants arrived, contributing to the maritime industry as shipbuilding managers, accountants, traders, and builders of ports along the northern and western coasts. The expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 precipitated a significant influx of Sephardic Jews to Ceylon. However, their arrival was met with persecution as the Portuguese authorities, in tandem with the Inquisition, enforced conversion upon the Jewish population. Despite coercion, some secretly adhered to Jewish customs, earning them the moniker "Marranos." Conversely, the descendants of mixed marriages between Sri Lankans and European Jews or Christians were dubbed "Burgers," a group characterized by fair complexions and elevated socio-economic standing. Presently, Christian Burgers bear Jewish surnames like David, Solomon, etc.
indicative of their Jewish ancestry, though they have severed ties with Judaism.
In 1640, Dutch conquest supplanted Portuguese rule, with Jewish immigrants from Amsterdam and Malabar, India, swelling the island's Jewish population. Notably, in the late 18th century, a Dutch-born Jewish professor, Leo Van Dort, assumed leadership of the Hebrew department at Columbo University in Ceylon, where he accomplished the pioneering translation of the Quran into Hebrew.
The British Empire asserted control over Sri Lanka in 1798, ushering in an era of prosperity for the island's Jewish community. Jews wielded significant influence across various spheres of public life, with prominent figures occupying senior governmental positions. Among the most renowned was Leonard Woolf, Deputy Governor of Hambantota District and spouse of author Virginia Woolf. Woolf's literary masterpiece, "A Village in the Jungle," offers a poignant portrayal of life in Ceylon during his tenure, cementing its status as a literary classic.
Until the mid-20th century, the bustling capital of Colombo boasted the iconic "Great Synagogue," serving as a spiritual hub for both British soldiers, government officials, and local residents alike. Its grandeur implied the existence of smaller synagogues, at least one more within the vicinity. A glimpse of the Great Synagogue's former glory is captured in a poignant 1966 photograph by Zeev Raphael.
On the synagogue's erstwhile location now stands the Cinnamon Red Hotel. Once, its lobby proudly displayed a sign bearing the simple yet profound inscription, "The Synagogue," a relic of bygone days that vanished amidst the hotel's renovations years ago.
With the conclusion of the British mandate in 1948, three months preceding the establishment of the State of Israel, the synagogues fell silent as Sri Lanka's Jewish community dispersed, many opting to immigrate "Aliya" to Israel or settle in England. Left to languish in neglect, the Great Synagogue eventually succumbed to ruin, making way for the construction of the Cinnamon Red Hotel. Across the street, the edifice now known as the Chabad House emerged, a beacon of Jewish continuity in Colombo.
