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Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
BMC orders to stop ‘unauthorised' repair works at 170-year-old heritage synagogue in Mumbai's Byculla
Magen David Synagogue – the 170-year-old historical structure of the Jewish community in in South Mumbai – has come under controversy after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation issued a stop work notice claiming that the trustees of the synagogue were carrying out repair work without seeking due approval. BMC claimed that the trustees initiated an allegedly 'unauthorised' repair work of the structure. The BMC has told The Indian Express, that they have sought a report from the trustees as the civic officials have not granted any permission to carry out the work in the heritage structure. 'The trustees of the synagogue were carrying out repair works and we have issued them a stop work notice. We did not receive any application from them seeking NOC before going ahead with the repair works. For the time being, they have been asked to submit a report to us by providing the plans of repair works, and all the documents that are with them. After we go through the documents, the next course of action will be decided by us,' an official said. Located in the densely populated Byculla that houses a substantial population of the members from the Baghdadi Jew community, the synagogue symbolizes their diverse heritage and features distinctive architecture, including a blue facade, large frontal columns, and towering clock tower. The synagogue's interiors also feature bright blue paints, fluorescent lights, and a double-height sanctuary with a gallery. The Synagogue is a grade 2B heritage structure and the state government's law states that the managers of these properties will have to acquire a consent letter from the BMC before carrying out repair works in any of these structures. The repair works started last week and the issue was promptly highlighted by restaurateur Moshe Shek. 'I received messages from our community members from abroad who asked me to check the issue. They had received photos and videos of the building being demolished and had shared the same with me. Following this, I visited the Synagogue on May 18 and was shocked to see that the entire structure was largely pulled down,' Shek told The Indian Express. He said that at present, the columns and pillars of the property stands completely damaged with the main-staircases being entirely removed. 'I asked one of the workers who was present there about who is executing the work, but the worker ran away. Later the trustees came, they manhandled me and stopped me from taking any photographs and videos,' he added. Shek said that the next day he wrote a letter to Mumbai's municipal commissioner and visited the local civic ward office to lodge a complaint. He also filed a complaint at the police station about the trustees manhandling him, following which the authorities prompted into action with BMC issuing a 'stop-work' notice. 'I had grown up in this locality and all my ceremonies had happened in this synagogue. Therefore, it is absolutely appalling to see the structure being pulled out in such an unprofessional manner without informing the community members,' Shek said. Meanwhile, Solomon Sopher, chairperson of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trust that manages the Synagogue, refuted the allegations saying that they have carried out only the basic waterproofing works so as to make it ready for restoration work. 'The structure was not at all razed in the manner like how the complainant has described. The synagogue is 170 years old. Keeping in mind the old age and heritage value of the property a decision was made for restoring the project. We were awaiting the necessary permission from the authorities and decided to do some basic waterproofing work to prevent seepage during the rains since monsoon is just 10 days away. At the same time we were hopeful that the permissions would arrive, following which the planned work would be taken up accordingly,' Sopher told The Indian Express. Speaking to the Indian Express, Samajwadi Party MLA and former corporator from Byculla Rais Shaikh said, 'This event needs to be scrutinised by the highest of the civic administration level. Earlier also I had received complaints that the Synagogue was being leased out for social events like marriage due to which the sewer lines were getting choked due to improper usage. These things need to be looked into thoroughly by the administration,'
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Restaurateur fights to protect synagogue from bulldozer
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. In his letter to Gagrani, Shek also raised concerns about the alleged misuse of a nearby children's school playground, which the synagogue trust is believed to have converted into a paved wedding venue without legal, civic or other permissions. 'I sincerely urge you to use your authority to halt these illegal activities and take legal action against those responsible,' he said. Solomon Sopher, chairperson of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trust, which administers the synagogue, has issued a strong rebuttal. Sopher told HT that the Magen David Synagogue was built 170 years ago, and had recently exhibited signs of structural deterioration. The trust had engaged noted conservation architect Abha Narain Lambha – whose firm had restored the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue in Kala Ghoda in 2019 – to prepare a restoration plan. According to Lambha's proposal, such a plan would cost ₹9.7 crore, a sum the trust could ill-afford. Due to challenges in securing external funding, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the absence of FCRA (permission for foreign remittances), the trust opted to undertake basic emergency repairs, Sopher said. These included strengthening beams and columns, and preventing water seepage ahead of the monsoon. This interim work, overseen by an architect, a structural engineer and a contractor, was funded by the trust, he added. During these repairs, a deteriorating wooden beam collapsed along with a portion of a balcony, highlighting the fragile state of the synagogue's ageing wooden structure, Sopher said. He denied all accusations made by Shek, particularly the claim that the synagogue or its adjoining land is being considered for sale. Sopher reiterated the trust's commitment to restoring the Magen David Synagogue to its original splendour and resuming full religious services. Until then, all weekday and Shabbath services are being conducted at the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue. 'We will not be misled by false propaganda by parties with hidden agendas,' Sopher remarked. 'They assaulted me and are now trying to shift blame. I had no reason to attack anyone,' Shek told HT, referring to Sopher's allegations that Shek had allegedly forced entry into the synagogue and assaulted two staff members, and obstructed the management team. 'The police have seen footage clearly showing them assaulting me, even in front of officers.' He added, 'They lack the necessary permissions and used a quote from a well-known architect without hiring her. Now, they plan to use cheap labour and misuse trust funds to cover the costs.' Conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah told HT that in 2021, her firm was paid ₹2 lakh to prepare a preliminary assessment report to support fundraising efforts. 'Our report identified the building as a Grade 2A heritage structure, which means that any intervention requires prior heritage permissions. We also estimated that around ₹9 crore would be needed to complete the restoration. 'Over the past four years, we were never given any formal appointment to begin work or take on the project. We were told repeatedly that there were no funds available. Now, Sopher has appointed a contractor without consulting me, and he is solely responsible for that decision. I would never have allowed any roof repairs without thorough due diligence and the necessary clearances from the heritage committee. Even temporary works require proper permissions,' she added. Lambah said she was appalled at the damage to the synagogue. 'It's like visiting a doctor for a consultation and, four years later, deciding to perform your own surgery from a quack just to save money,' she added. Acting on Shek's complaint, the BMC's building and factories department of C Ward visited the synagogue on Tuesday and pasted a stop-work notice as they had received no permissions or plans for any alterations to the structure.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
BMC to issue stopwork notice to synagogue over ‘repairs'
Mumbai: The BMC on Tuesday began the process of issuing a stop work notice to the authorities of the historic Magen David Synagogue in Byculla after it found that massive repairs were being carried out without civic permissions . The Jewish house of worship is a heritage structure that is 170-years-old. The civic action came after South Mumbai restaurateur Moshe Shek , himself a Jew, posted a video clip and pictures on social media Tuesday, claiming that the historic synagogue was being "bulldozed". Shek also apprised BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and local civic and police officials of the matter. His visuals of the synagogue's ripped interiors evoked alarm among citizens, activists, heritage lovers and indeed, the Jewish community. "A heritage structure is being bulldozed with zero permissions in place. I have lodged my complaints with the authorities..." he wrote. Arun Chavan, designated officer from E ward which oversees Byculla, said that civic staff was sent first on Monday evening immediately after a complaint was received, but as the premises was locked, they had to return. On Tuesday evening they went to deliver the stop work notice but as the synagogue was shut again, the notice will be delivered on Wednesday as an acknowledgement of receipt would be required. "When our staff inspected the premises earlier on Tuesday, demolition work was being carried out. Prima facie it appears that the community wasn't aware of the permissions needed. However as an immediate step we are in the process of issuing a notice under section 354A of the MMC Act 1888 to stop any kind of work till they receive the permissions," said Chavan. In case the trust fails to comply, the BMC can initiate penal proceedings. Shek told TOI, "On Sunday I visited the site and was shocked to see the demolition work. The columns were being broken and debris filled into gunny bags. When I was taking pictures, a woman affiliated with the trust snatched my phone and attacked me. I filed a complaint at Nagpada police station and wrote to the municipal commissioner and the local ward office. " Solomon Sopher, chairman of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trust which oversees the synagogue termed Shek's allegations "false and malicious". He said, "We had noticed structural faults in this 170-year-old structure and approached a restoration architect whose estimated cost for the project was Rs 9.7 crore. This was beyond our the trust decided to do basic strengthening of the beams and columns and prevent seepage caused by the impending monsoons. "
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Ex-Israel ambassador breaks ranks to slam new Gaza offensive & warns remaining Hamas hostages are in ‘immediate danger'
ISRAEL'S new offensive in Gaza hinders bringing the remaining hostages home and puts them in "immediate danger", a former diplomat has warned. Ex-Israeli ambassador Daniel Shek questioned the point of the latest ground operation against Hamas as he insisted the military is now "going around in circles". Advertisement 9 Israeli tanks roll into the Gaza Strip as they launch their new ground operation which has left many concerned by the fate of the remaining hostages Credit: Getty 9 Ex-Israeli ambassador Daniel Shek has questioned the point of the latest ground operation against Hamas as he insists the military is 'going around in circles' Credit: EPA 9 Palestinians ride a horse and cart past the rubble of destroyed houses in Gaza Credit: Reuters 9 Earlier this year, there was a glimmer of hope as both the terror group and Israel laid down their arms and 33 hostages - 25 alive - were released. But Shek said the three-phase plan failed to reach its second phase as Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition partners vowed they would leave if it did - collapsing the government. Now Israel risks sanctions from the UK and France after launching a renewed ground offensive just after Donald Trump left the region without fixing a ceasefire deal. Speaking exclusively to The Sun in Paris, Shek warned the fresh operation - dubbed Gideon's Chariots - has a "two-fold danger" for those still captive. Advertisement His call for the Israeli government to prioritise returning the hostages through diplomatic means before crushing Hamas was echoed by Shoshan Haran, who was kidnapped by terrorists. Shek, the former ambassador to France , said: "On the one hand they can be collateral victims of bombarding areas in Gaza. "Many of the returned hostages say that the scariest moments of their captivity were connected to Israeli bombs falling nearby where they were. "We don't know the exact number of hostages who perished through such and obviously nobody accuses anybody of premeditation. It's just it happens but it puts them in immediate danger. Advertisement Most read in The Sun "The other is that every single hostage who came back from captivity said that their captors told them very clearly and very often that the moment they hear the IDF forces nearby they will put a bullet in their head. "It was sort of a part of the psychological pressure they put on them." Dramatic moment Israel launches fresh airstrikes in major operation 'Gideon's Chariots' to 'seize and control' Gaza Barbaric Hamas terrorists took more than 250 hostages when they swept across the border on October 7, 2023 and unleashed a brutal massacre. Shoshan Haran was among those dragged to Gaza after she and eight of her family members were kidnapped from kibbutz Be'eri while callous gun-toting terrorists murdered her husband and brother-in-law. Advertisement The grandmother, who was released in November 2023, said hostages still holed up in Gaza is not preferable for either nation. She told a conference of European and Israeli officials in the French capital: "The only way to get the hostages out of Gaza is through a deal. "The release of all the hostages is the key for rehabilitation not only for Israeli people, but for the Palestinian people in Gaza. "The hostages still there is suffering for both sides. Hamas is using the Pastinians to make Israel look bad. Hamas does not care about Palestinian suffering." Advertisement Some 58 hostages remain in Hamas' clutches in Gaza - up to 23 who are still believed to be alive Shek - head of diplomacy at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum - pointed to the fact that around 150 hostages have been freed by diplomatic means, while only seven have been rescued alive through military action. 9 Israeli army's tanks and military vehicles move along the border line in Israel Credit: Getty 9 Palestinians who have been displaced by the Israeli military offensive are now sheltering in tents in Gaza City Credit: Reuters Advertisement 9 Israel Defense Forces during an operation in the Gaza Strip Credit: Shutterstock Editorial "As uplifting these moments of liberation were, they just don't compete," he said. "Plus after the last successful freeing of hostages through a military action, which was many months ago, all the hostages without any exception were put underground. "Whereas before that some of them, we don't know exactly how many, were in homes and above ground - which makes the living conditions very different. Advertisement "So for us [at the Hostage Forum] there's no doubt as long as there is a diplomatic alternative and there is one that should be the absolute priority." Every single hostage who came back from captivity said their captors told them very clearly that the moment they hear IDF forces nearby they will put a bullet in their head Daniel Shek Ex-Israeli ambassador Shek believes military efforts on the ground to eliminate Hamas - ongoing since October 7, 2023 - have been exhausted. He added: "I listened to the military experts for many many months already and the message between the lines and sometimes not even between them is that sort of treading water going around in circles. "There are no real military objectives anymore and that quite frankly the war could and should have ended a year ago in May 2024. Advertisement "There was a real opportunity for an exit strategy and it was not taken. A year has gone by and we're not currently not at the end of this ordeal." A proposal drafted by mediators in the US, Egypt and Qatar last May was surprisingly accepted by Hamas. Israel , however, rejected the proposal - and Netanyahu launched an invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza soon after. Months later after Donald Trump took office, a variation of the three-phase plan proposed by his predecessor Joe Biden was given the green light. Advertisement What happened on October 7? ON October 7 2023, militants of Hamas and other Palestinian nationalist groups launched co-ordinated armed attacks in the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel. The perpetrators had managed to bypass Israeli defences to para-glide across the border, in what became the first invasion of the territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The horror coincided with the Jewish celebration of Simchat Torah, and initiated the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. A barrage of around 4,300 rockets were launched on Israel from the Gaza Strip in the early hours of October 7 before vehicles and powered paragliders crossed the border. The Hamas fighters attacked military bases and massacred civilians in 21 communities, including Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim. The first civilian attack started at 6.29am at the Nova Music Festival site at Re'im, just three miles from Gaza. More than 360 revellers were cut down as they desperately tried to flee. Across October 7, an estimated 1,139 people were massacred and another 250 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage into Gaza. Shek said: 'Israel signed a framework agreement in January - and that was the result not of 14 months of military pressure but of a five-minute phone call between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. "That had three phases. Phase one happened and luckily it did, 33 hostages came back. "Phase two was supposed to be negotiated in detail during phase one and that never happened. "The real reason and we knew that from the very beginning was that Netanyahu's coalition partners told him very openly that if he goes on to phase two they leave the government and his coalition falls. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun "So we were very skeptical from day one that this would ever go beyond phase one and we weren't wrong unfortunately. "So again what does it depend on? Probably on the guy in the White House how insistent he's going to be." 9 Israeli civilians are continuing to urge their government to help secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza Credit: Splash 9 Palestinians move with their belogings through Jabalia as they flee the northern Gaza Strip this week Credit: AFP Advertisement
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Israel ambassador breaks ranks to slam new Gaza offensive & warns remaining Hamas hostages are in ‘immediate danger'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ISRAEL'S new offensive in Gaza hinders bringing the remaining hostages home and puts them in "immediate danger", a former diplomat has warned. Ex-Israeli ambassador Daniel Shek questioned the point of the latest ground operation against Hamas as he insisted the military is now "going around in circles". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Israeli tanks roll into the Gaza Strip as they launch their new ground operation which has left many concerned by the fate of the remaining hostages Credit: Getty 9 Ex-Israeli ambassador Daniel Shek has questioned the point of the latest ground operation against Hamas as he insists the military is 'going around in circles' Credit: EPA 9 Palestinians ride a horse and cart past the rubble of destroyed houses in Gaza Credit: Reuters 9 Earlier this year, there was a glimmer of hope as both the terror group and Israel laid down their arms and 33 hostages - 25 alive - were released. But Shek said the three-phase plan failed to reach its second phase as Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition partners vowed they would leave if it did - collapsing the government. Now Israel risks sanctions from the UK and France after launching a renewed ground offensive just after Donald Trump left the region without fixing a ceasefire deal. Speaking exclusively to The Sun in Paris, Shek warned the fresh operation - dubbed Gideon's Chariots - has a "two-fold danger" for those still captive. His call for the Israeli government to prioritise returning the hostages through diplomatic means before crushing Hamas was echoed by Shoshan Haran, who was kidnapped by terrorists. Shek, the former ambassador to France, said: "On the one hand they can be collateral victims of bombarding areas in Gaza. "Many of the returned hostages say that the scariest moments of their captivity were connected to Israeli bombs falling nearby where they were. "We don't know the exact number of hostages who perished through such and obviously nobody accuses anybody of premeditation. It's just it happens but it puts them in immediate danger. "The other is that every single hostage who came back from captivity said that their captors told them very clearly and very often that the moment they hear the IDF forces nearby they will put a bullet in their head. "It was sort of a part of the psychological pressure they put on them." Dramatic moment Israel launches fresh airstrikes in major operation 'Gideon's Chariots' to 'seize and control' Gaza Barbaric Hamas terrorists took more than 250 hostages when they swept across the border on October 7, 2023 and unleashed a brutal massacre. Shoshan Haran was among those dragged to Gaza after she and eight of her family members were kidnapped from kibbutz Be'eri while callous gun-toting terrorists murdered her husband and brother-in-law. The grandmother, who was released in November 2023, said hostages still holed up in Gaza is not preferable for either nation. She told a conference of European and Israeli officials in the French capital: "The only way to get the hostages out of Gaza is through a deal. "The release of all the hostages is the key for rehabilitation not only for Israeli people, but for the Palestinian people in Gaza. "The hostages still there is suffering for both sides. Hamas is using the Pastinians to make Israel look bad. Hamas does not care about Palestinian suffering." Some 58 hostages remain in Hamas' clutches in Gaza - up to 23 who are still believed to be alive Shek - head of diplomacy at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum - pointed to the fact that around 150 hostages have been freed by diplomatic means, while only seven have been rescued alive through military action. 9 Israeli army's tanks and military vehicles move along the border line in Israel Credit: Getty 9 Palestinians who have been displaced by the Israeli military offensive are now sheltering in tents in Gaza City Credit: Reuters 9 Israel Defense Forces during an operation in the Gaza Strip Credit: Shutterstock Editorial "As uplifting these moments of liberation were, they just don't compete," he said. "Plus after the last successful freeing of hostages through a military action, which was many months ago, all the hostages without any exception were put underground. "Whereas before that some of them, we don't know exactly how many, were in homes and above ground - which makes the living conditions very different. "So for us [at the Hostage Forum] there's no doubt as long as there is a diplomatic alternative and there is one that should be the absolute priority." Every single hostage who came back from captivity said their captors told them very clearly that the moment they hear IDF forces nearby they will put a bullet in their head Daniel Shek Shek believes military efforts on the ground to eliminate Hamas - ongoing since October 7, 2023 - have been exhausted. He added: "I listened to the military experts for many many months already and the message between the lines and sometimes not even between them is that sort of treading water going around in circles. "There are no real military objectives anymore and that quite frankly the war could and should have ended a year ago in May 2024. "There was a real opportunity for an exit strategy and it was not taken. A year has gone by and we're not currently not at the end of this ordeal." A proposal drafted by mediators in the US, Egypt and Qatar last May was surprisingly accepted by Hamas. Israel, however, rejected the proposal - and Netanyahu launched an invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza soon after. Months later after Donald Trump took office, a variation of the three-phase plan proposed by his predecessor Joe Biden was given the green light. What happened on October 7? ON October 7 2023, militants of Hamas and other Palestinian nationalist groups launched co-ordinated armed attacks in the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel. The perpetrators had managed to bypass Israeli defences to para-glide across the border, in what became the first invasion of the territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The horror coincided with the Jewish celebration of Simchat Torah, and initiated the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. A barrage of around 4,300 rockets were launched on Israel from the Gaza Strip in the early hours of October 7 before vehicles and powered paragliders crossed the border. The Hamas fighters attacked military bases and massacred civilians in 21 communities, including Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim. The first civilian attack started at 6.29am at the Nova Music Festival site at Re'im, just three miles from Gaza. More than 360 revellers were cut down as they desperately tried to flee. Across October 7, an estimated 1,139 people were massacred and another 250 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage into Gaza. Shek said: 'Israel signed a framework agreement in January - and that was the result not of 14 months of military pressure but of a five-minute phone call between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. "That had three phases. Phase one happened and luckily it did, 33 hostages came back. "Phase two was supposed to be negotiated in detail during phase one and that never happened. "The real reason and we knew that from the very beginning was that Netanyahu's coalition partners told him very openly that if he goes on to phase two they leave the government and his coalition falls. "So we were very skeptical from day one that this would ever go beyond phase one and we weren't wrong unfortunately. "So again what does it depend on? Probably on the guy in the White House how insistent he's going to be." 9 Israeli civilians are continuing to urge their government to help secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza Credit: Splash
