Ohel David Synagogue, David Sassoon Tomb join state's Jewish Heritage Tourism circuit

PUNE: The Ohel David Synagogue, popularly known as Lal Deval, and the David Sassoon tomb in Pune's Camp area are now officially part of Maharashtra's Jewish Heritage Tourism Circuit.

- Nadeem Inamdar

The announcement was made on Sunday by Israeli Consul General Kobbi Shoshani during the 160th-anniversary celebrations of the historic synagogue.

The development has been hailed as a significant step in preserving and promoting Pune's Jewish history.

Moshe Aston, program coordinator and senior member of the Pune Jewish community, expressed gratitude to Shoshani for his efforts, saying, "The inclusion of these historic sites on the Jewish heritage map will help showcase the rich cultural history of Pune's Jewish community."

The foundation stone of the Ohel David Synagogue was laid in 1862 by David Sassoon, a prominent Jewish philanthropist and merchant known as the "Merchant Prince of Bombay."

Sassoon passed away in Pune on February 5, 1864, and his tomb is located within the synagogue's premises.

The synagogue was inaugurated in 1867, standing as a testament to Pune's religious and cultural diversity.