Are there any Jews (or a synagogue) in Karachi, Pakistan?

[WeRSauron]

Pretty straightforward. Are there any Jews or a synagogue in Karachi, Pakistan?

I mean, in Karachi there are Bohra Ismailis, Nizari (Aga Khani) Ismailis, Baha'is, Roman Catholics, Latter-day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventists (they have a hospital there!). So, why not Jews?

I know there were Jews in the northern areas (maybe until the Taliban drove them out). It's a very common belief that a group of Jews settled in Herat (I believe, or Kabul) a long, long time ago. I don't know if they have any connection with Cochin Jews in India.

It is said that Jews are in every country of the world. Chabad Lubavitch is said to promote this, for their own mystical reasons. So, I'm wondering if there's any Jewish activity in Pakistan, specifically Karachi.

WRS

[Plan B]

It is said that Jews are in every country of the world.
WRS

No way there are Jews in Saudi Arabia. Even the US governement discriminates against Jewish military and civilian personnel-doesn't send them to Saudi Arabia on assignment.

[Lochdale]

Discrimination is a strong word. A jewish soldier in Saudia Arabia might very well be in jeopardy for his or her life and it is a tough enough assignment as it is! Indeed, you can't get a visa to Saudia if your passpost has an Israeli stamp on it.

[WeRSauron]

May there not be Yemenite Jews somewhere in the Rabb al-Khali of Saudi Arabia? Certainly no Western Jews, but maybe Yemenite Jews?

WRS

[zev_steinhardt]

Pretty straightforward. Are there any Jews or a synagogue in Karachi, Pakistan?


From the Virtual Jewish History Tour (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Pakistan.html):

Magain Shalome, Karachi’s last synagogue, was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a shopping plaza. Some Jewish families do remain, but they prefer to pass themselves off as Parsis due to the intolerance for Jews in Muslim Pakistan.


In addition, MavenSearch (http://www.maven.co.il/synagogues/synagogues.asp) does not list Pakistan on it's Synagogue Search Page.

Zev Steinhardt

[WeRSauron]

And I suppose there is no way whatsoever for a Jew-friendly person to find one or more of these families, right?

WRS

[C K Dexter Haven]

You might contact the Jewish United Fund in Chicago. I don't have their phone number, but it should be easy to find. They provide lots of funding for Jews in desparate straits, and they might be able to help you.

I suspect, of course, that if there are Jewish families hiding their identity, they will not be eager or willing to talk to you. Building up their confidence and trust would probably take a lonnnng time. The price of being friendly is liable to be death or imprisonment.