Kuntress Torath Imecha.

(INDIAN JUDAICA). [FEINSTEIN], CHAIM JACOB HAKOHEN.

Ezekiel ben Sillman Hanin

Calcutta

1886

Two small corrections to the text very probably in the hand of the author (p.11, and end)

Yaari, Calcutta 32

Written by an emissary from Safed, who “afforded the Calcutta Community a great spiritual benefit” during his three visits to India. The work upbraided many unworthy customs that became rooted among Indian Jews as well as a certain lack as to moral matters. Feinstein particularly objected to problems relating to the laws of ritual slaughter and standards of Kashruth, as well as the habit of permitting the use of a rickshaw on the Sabbath - a custom, the author points out, unfortunately shared with the Jews of Singapore. Feinstein also objected to a dearth of compassion for the poor, chiding “the rich who fritter much wealth to build beautiful synagogues…” See A. Yaari, Sheluchei Eretz Yisrael pp.831-32; E.N. Musleah, On the Banks of the Ganga-The Sojourn of the Jews in Calcutta (1975) pp.511-12.