Bene Israeli celebration of Tisha B'Av and the Tradition of Birda

 Heritage of Bene Israel Indian Jews -  מרכז למידה יהודי הודו

Bene Israeli celebration of Tisha B'Av and the Tradition of Birda

This year, the fast of Tisha B'Av begins on the evening of Wednesday, 22 July. Tisha B'Av is one of the most solemn fasts in Judaism. It commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history. In the Hebrew Bible, it is referred to as "the fifth fast" (Zechariah 8:19). For many centuries, however, the Bene Israel Jews of the Konkan region in present-day Raigad District, Maharashtra, India, were completely isolated from the Jewish world. 

Living in small villages and farming communities, they preserved many ancient Jewish traditions while remaining unaware of others, including the observance of Tisha B'Av in its broader historical context. 

The traditional occupations of the Bene Israel were rice farming, cultivating grains and vegetables, and operating oil presses. Because they refrained from working on the Sabbath, they became known locally as "Shanwar Teli" ("Saturday Oil Pressers"). Along the edges of their rice fields, Bene Israel farmers cultivated a climbing bean known locally as Kadva Val, or Birda (Bidah). The excess irrigation water flowing through channels from nearby lakes and wells naturally nourished these plants. 

After flowering, the pods matured and were harvested, dried in the sun, and shelled. The dried beans were carefully stored in earthen jars in nearly every Bene Israel household. Whenever a member of the family passed away, the mourners remained at home throughout the seven days of Shiva, following the ancient customs of their ancestors. Since they did not leave the house to obtain food, they relied on provisions already stored at home. The dried Birda beans were soaked overnight and prepared as a simple vegetarian meal for the entire family. 

Over time, this humble dish became closely associated with mourning, both because of its simplicity and its slightly bitter taste. The traditional dishes Puri and Tzafati, served together with Birda curry, became familiar foods of consolation among the Bene Israel of the Konkan. According to Bene Israel tradition, knowledge of the destruction of the First and Second Temples reached the community after their encounter with David Rahabi from Cochin. From that time onward, the community observed Tisha B'Av and referred to the fast in Marathi as "Birdyacha Roza" ("The Fast of Birda"), emphasizing the symbolic mourning meal prepared at the conclusion of the fast. 

On the evening before the fast, meals were traditionally served on banana leaves rather than household utensils. Community tradition explains that this practice symbolized the mourning customs observed during Shiva, reflecting humility, grief, and the temporary suspension of ordinary daily life. During the entire mourning period, meat was avoided, and only vegetarian foods were eaten. Even today, many members of the older generation continue the custom of preparing Birda curry with rice to break the fast of Tisha B'Av. 

In many Bene Israel families, memorial prayers (Hashkavot) are recited at home for deceased relatives after the fast, while other families submit the names of their departed loved ones to local synagogues, where memorial prayers are offered during the Tisha B'Av services. Birda and the Ancient Origins of the Bene Israel. According to the cherished Bene Israel tradition, following the destruction of the First Temple around 586 BCE, a group of Israelites fled the Babylonian conquest under King Nebuchadnezzar. They traveled south toward the region of Eilat and sailed through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea toward India. 

Before reaching the coast near Naugaon (Nagaon) in Maharashtra, their ship was wrecked. Tradition holds that only seven men and seven women survived. They were warmly welcomed by the local inhabitants of the Konkan coast and gradually established farming communities, becoming rice cultivators and oil pressers. The cultivation of Kadva Val (Birda/Bidah) became part of their agricultural life, while its use during periods of mourning transformed it into a powerful symbol of remembrance and continuity. 

For generations, the Birda meal has remained inseparably connected with Tisha B'Av among the Bene Israel, preserving the memory of both personal loss and the national mourning for the destruction of Jerusalem. Today, this unique custom stands as an important example of how the Bene Israel preserved Jewish identity while adapting ancient traditions to life in India, creating a distinctive heritage that continues to unite the community in both India and Israel. 

Our synagogues are decorated to reflect  Mourning and sad atmosphere.

The curtains of the hall are changed to white. decorative items are removed, and the chairs and benches are set aside, with carpets spread across the entire floor of the synagogue. In the evening, the congregants pray with sadness and weep in the synagogue with mourning songs and kinnot. There are sections of the prayer that are customarily read in the dark. The Bene Israel jews in Israel with the Jewish communities in Israel Jews of Israel, the accepted custom is to visit cemeteries on Tisha B'Av itself, usually after the lamentations and morning prayers or after midday. 

In the cemetery, it is customary to recite Psalms and prayers of supplication and mercy, depending on the nature of the day. With immigration to Israel, differences in customs sometimes arose between families due to the influence of various rulings and traditions. Some people customarily visit the cemetery on the eve of Tisha B'Av to avoid entering a cemetery during the fast, but this is not the common custom. When Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat and the fast is postponed to Sunday, the visit to the cemetery is also postponed to Sunday because mourning customs are not observed on Shabbat. 

In the case of a family memorial, it is recommended to continue with the family custom. If there is no fixed custom, the accepted custom is to go to the cemetery on Tisha B'Av itself, preferably after midday. It is permissible to light a fire on Tisha B'Av, but cooking should not be done before midday so as not to distract from the atmosphere of mourning. Traditionally, the Jewish people of Israel would visit the graves of their loved ones on Tisha B'Av.

This is about our "Bidda" 👌

A small group of Jews arrived after the destruction of the First Temple by ship to India during the rainy season and on the 9th of Av, they ate and ate 🥧 Vaal !!

 Now because they left and  were decents from the holy land, they called Val (sprouts bitter in taste) "Bei Yaridah" (in our decent)

Later "Bei Yaridah" became Birda...after decades it was called *Bidda😇😁which we till today call Val by the name Bidda !

Very interesting  indeed !! ✨️

This is the  history of our "Bidda"

Courtesy:  

Jointly written  by Ora Samson

Shared via: IOBI Whatsapp Group

- Mr. Nissim Moses, historian of the Jews of India; 

- Hayeem Samuel Kehimkar, The History of the Bene Israel of India.

- Ora Samson - Active Bene ISraeli Community Member

- Edited by Samuel Kurulkar 

- Compiled and Presented by Sammy Benjamin

Source: 

- https://tinyurl.com/birda-tradition

- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1541191059432450/posts/4233160943568768