It is believed that when a group of Jews were fleeing Greek persecution, they were shipwrecked on the shores of India, establishing the Jewish Indian community there. A small tight-knit community, India’s Jews at times got on well with their Hindu and Muslim neighbors, and at times were persecuted.
David’s novel features a group of Jews who live together in an apartment complex they built after violence against them in the 1950s left them feeling unsafe living scattered about amongst their formerly friendly neighbors.
The novel starts off with the preparation of the Passover celebration. The Prophet Elijah, whose image is a popular part of Indian Jewish home decorating, prepares to visit the Shalom India Housing Society. He descends from the heavens in his chariot of fire, turns it into a pumpkin, and his horses into mice, and hides them in a storage room, since his chariot and horses would otherwise be stolen.
From there, Elijah checks in with each family to see how their Seder preparations are coming along, and particularly, what is put out for him in his cup.
Each chapter features a different family, and the reader comes to know the members of this close-knit community: who is in love, who mourns something, who dreams of a different life.
A delightful read.
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