Scarred 038; Scared

But the city8217;s tiny Jewish community8212;there are around 5,000 of them8212;seems to be uncomfortable with such public and media attention. Security is their prime concern and that stops them from talking to the media.

When contacted on Monday, a number of prominent Jews of the city refused to speak on the hostage drama which left at least six Jews8212;including Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, both directors of the community centre8212;dead.

A popular Jewish restaurateur from South Mumbai refused in no uncertain terms to comment on the terror attack, another hotelier from the suburbs said that he did not see a reason why he should be talking at all about his community. He was quick to add that he feared for his security.

There are more who share his concerns. 8220;I don8217;t mind speaking as an American but not as a Jew. The Jewish community is small in India, but in the USA, from where I am, anti-Semitism still exists and there are still many hate crimes. Often when I am asked my religion, especially when I travel, I don8217;t divulge it,8221; says a Jewish American novelist. Married to a Mumbai boy, she is currently holidaying in the city for the next two months. She doesn8217;t have plans to shorten her stay here.

Michael Rubenstein, a Jewish photojournalist based in Mumbai, has posted photographs of the attack with a voiceover on the New York Times website. Rubenstein said in his blog the recent attacks reminds him a lot of what was said after 9/11, after the London train bombings, after the PanAm disaster, after the Gujarat massacres 8212;after any one group of people decides that another group of people should die for believing something differently. He even adds 8220;I8217;m sorry Bombay, this shouldn8217;t have happened to you.8221;

However, when approached by us, he refused to talk. 8220;I8217;d really rather not be the subject of an interview. The NYT piece was my job but I don8217;t want to be a subject. I8217;m sorry.8221; Jews are a small community-almost a religious minority8212;in Mumbai as well as India. They, however, haven8217;t ever faced anti-Semitism in this country.

Baghdadi Jews became one of the highest earning communities and expressed gratitude with philanthropy. The David Sassoon Docks and the David Sassoon Library are some fine examples. Despite the prevailing air of caution, Rachel Reuben puts up a brave front.

8220;To react to the killings of the Jewish couple as a Jew would be further politicising the issue. I8217;m born and raised in Mumbai and feel the same way as any citizen would. The attacks were meant to weaken the city and not aimed at any particular community,8221; says the former model. 8220;My tears were as much for those who died at the CST and the Taj as they are for those who were killed at Nariman House.8221;