Satamkar
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A "Bene Israel" Family who lived for centuries in its Indian village before
returning to Israel or settling throughout the World
Contents |
[edit] Origins of the Family
The SATAMKAR (SATAMKER) सातामकर family has its origins in the village of Satamba/Virjoli[1], Roha Taluka, Raigad District, Maharashtra State, near the West Coast of India, South of Mumbai (Bombay). This family belongs to the Bene Israel community, one of the three groups of Indian Jews. According to tradition, The Bene Israel came to India about 2000 years ago.
[edit] Their life in Konkan
They have been living in the Konkan (today: Raigad) District for close to eighteen centuries .They used to dwell in villages from which they took their surnames (SATAMKAR = from SATAMBA, PENKER = from PEN, ASHTAMKER = from ASHTAMI, etc ...). SATAMBA means, in Marathi, 'Seven Mangoes'. For centuries their principal occupation was oil pressing. They extracted oil from a kind of sesame seed called "til" and were known as "Shaniwar Telli" ("Saturday oil pressors"), because they did not work on Saturday.
[edit] Settling throughout India
At the end of the 18th century and, mostly, during the 19th century, BENE ISRAELS enlisted in the Army and joined the civil service, the railways, the Post office, Customs and Excise, etc.... From that time they settled in all parts of India (present India and Pakistan). Many of them lived in Mumbai as carpenters or contractors ('maistry').
Members of the SATAMKAR family lived in Satamba/Virjoli until the 1970's. At the beginning of the 19th century some of them left their village for Mumbai, Nandgaon and other places.
[edit] Emigration from India
Between the 1960's and the 1980's most of the SATAMKARS emigrated to Israel. Some of them are now living in the United Kingdom, the U.S.A., Canada, France and other countries around the world. However, the family is still present in India.
[edit] Some famous members of the Family
In 1905, Daniel Abraham SATAMKAR (known as Daniel ABRAHAM) (1869-1926), founded, with great success, the "D. Abraham & Sons" Shipping Company in Mumbai.[2] He was a Trustee of the Thane (Mumbai) Synagogue and, at one time, its President.
David Ezekiel SATAMKAR (1875-1955) was President and Treasurer of the Ghosale & Virjoli/Satamba Bene Israel Community; he was also Representative of the Jewish Central Board in Bombay (now Mumbai)
In the 20th century Hanoch SATAMKAR (1912-1982), was a film actor and assistant director. Nathan SATAMKAR (c1911-1962), David SATAMKAR and Benjamin SATAMKAR were musicians.
[edit] References
- Shirley Berry Isenberg India's Bene Israel, a Comprehensive Inquiry and Sourcebook Popular Prakashan, Bombay, 1988
- Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People, Jerusalem, Ms 654/1
[edit] Gallery
 Film actor Henoch Satamkar and his bride |
 Old tombstones in the Satamkar's Cemetery |
 Daniel Abraham Satamkar, founder of D. Abraham & sons |
 David Ezekiel Satamkar and his wife |
author of this article: I. LEVI ALVARES, E.mail address: satamker@yahoo.co.uk
