From Calcutta to Philadelphia: Baghdadi-Indian Language and Identity with Rahel Musleah

Rahel Musleah, an award-winning journalist and educator, discusses her roots as a Baghdadi-Indian Jew from Calcutta. Rahel details the history of her name, explaining how the Arabic pronunciation ‘Musleah’ contrasts with the Hebrew ‘Matsliach’ due to her family’s Iraqi origins. She describes her linguistic upbringing as primarily British English, yet deeply infused with Hindustani and Judeo-Arabic heritage words like awafi and kabrowed. Through leading heritage tours to India and preserving her father’s Baghdadi melodies, Rahel celebrates her multifaceted ancestry. She concludes by emphasizing her dedication to passing down these unique, blended traditions to her grandchildren.

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Through the vivid prism of her family’s story, Rahel Musleah introduces audiences to the distinctive heritage of the Jews of India and Iraq. The seventh generation of a Calcutta family, she traces her roots to 17th-century Baghdad. Her multi-faceted visual, song, and story presentations offer a rare and intimate view of a rich culture little-known to most.

Rahel is an award-winning journalist, author, singer, storyteller, and educator. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, Hadassah magazine, and numerous other publications. Her publications include Apples and Pomegranates: A Family Seder for Rosh Hashanah; Why On This Night? A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration, and a CD of Shabbat and holiday melodies, Hodu: Jewish Rhythms from Baghdad to India—all available on her website. She is a pioneer as a woman prayer leader in the Sephardi/Mizrahi community.

Rahel leads in-person Jewish heritage tours to India twice a year, in November and February. She infuses each tour with her personal, spiritual, and musical insights as well as her knowledge of India’s Jewish history.

When she is not traveling, Rahel lives in Roslyn Heights, NY. Please visit her website and sign up for her newsletter at www.explorejewishindia.com.