Restaurateur fights to protect heritage Byculla synagogue from bulldozers

Moshe Shek claims he was assaulted when he confronted trustees regarding major repair work at the Magen David Synagogue on Sunday

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: Chef Moshe Shek on Sunday stepped in to save one of Mumbai's oldest synagogues from bulldozers and alleged emergency repairs that lacked permission and had gone horribly wrong.

Describing the incident as very disturbing, Shek wrote to municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on Monday, calling for immediate action against the alleged illegal activity at the Magen David Synagogue in Byculla, a Grade 2A heritage site belonging to the Baghdadi Jewish community.

"This synagogue... has been a vital part of my life, and many other prominent Jews who once lived in Byculla but are now settled abroad."

For Shek, this battle is deeply personal. Raised in the street next to the synagogue, he was a part of very fabric of the city's Jewish community, and went on to become a pioneering restaurateur in Mumbai.

On Sunday, Shek says he was shocked to find portions of the synagogue's interior being bulldozed, including large supporting pillars and the women's gallery.

The labour contractor present fled when confronted. When Shek left, he was allegedly assaulted by the synagogue's trustees and the workers, who also tried to snatch his phone to delete footage he had recorded. The situation escalated, prompting the on-site police to escort Shek to the police station, where his statement was recorded.