Daily Times - Site Edition
There was once a small but vibrant community of Jews in what is now Pakistan. Most of them left Pakistan decades ago in circumstances that were not comfortable for them and a matter of some shame for us
A facinating and slightly sadenning account of Pakistani jews- reflect as it does the slow erosion of pluralism and tolerance that was a hallmark of the societies that directly proceeded ours.
Having heard of it some time previously, I tried to look up the Karachi Magain Shalome synagogue; but, as the article informs us that was pulled down some time ago. There exists a jewish cemetery in the area though apparently, and it might be interesting to go and document that - before bloodthirsty ‘developers’ build another ’super delux’ shopping plaza “like city center dubai”.
Whilst on the subject - I found Paul Kriwaczek’s book In search of Zarathustra to be a facinating account, not only in terms of putting Zarathustra’s (Zoraster) ideas in context, but also because Paul explains in some detail the link between ideas first seen in Zoraster’s teachings and their eventual inclusion in Jewish thought, which in turn formed the framework for all Abrahamic religions. Plus personally, I’ve always found Judaism and Zorostrianism very intruiging and facinating religions. I dont know why, perhaps its the fact that they dont allow conversions which has allowed them to evolve such a distinctness of culture and identity not all of which is just about the religion, but I suppose more athropological.
What I did find somewhat inexplicable is how dismissive Kriwaczek remains of modern day Parsis being a window into the life of the Prophet they follow. He in passing ascribes this to the fact that Parsis retain only a reconstruction of the religion after the wealth of its knowledge was snubbed into the ground when Alexander sacked Persepolis.
See Wiki for more on Persepolis - including a 3d reconsruction.
books Pakistan