Storytime w/Siona Benjamin, "On a Chariot of Fire"

Featuring the other side of the Hanukkah story, A Chariot of Fire shares the origin of the Jewish community in India–known as the Bene Israel

Two thousand years ago, a ship sailed east, alone on an endless sea. The people onboard were fleeing the same war that the Maccabees fought in the ancient land of Israel. They took with them their faith and their traditions, knowing they would sail for more than a year. When a great storm crushed their boat on the shores of India, only a few survived. Some say the prophet Elijah plucked them from the sea. But they were welcomed by the people of the new land. They survived and adapted, with new spices for their food and new clothing and culture to borrow, but never strayed from their faith. They say Elijah came back down from Heaven in a chariot of fire, to praise this community, the Bene Israel of India for their strength, and their belief. Here, for all to share, is their story.

Siona Benjamin is an Indian-American Jewish artist. She has exhibited in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has an MFA in painting from Southern Illinois University, and an MFA in theater set design from the University of Illinois. She was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 2011 to India, and to Israel in 2016. She’s received praise in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The Times of India.

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