Ezra Kolet

Mr. Ezra Kolet, who was then the head of the Jewish Organisation in India had the good fortune of being present at the World Prayer Day function on June 24, 1984, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Kolet Ezra was born in 06-Jan-1914 . to Rahamin Kolet and Shebabai. He married  Ruth Kolet (4th Oct. 1940 - 16th Mar. 2004). He was the President of the Indian Council of Jewry. He has always been the leader of the New Delhi Jewish community, the community’s hazan and frequent liaison between India’s Jews and the government of India. For years he has attempted to move the Indian bureaucracy to grant visas to Israeli citizens of Indian origin with a minimum of delay, with which has met with moderate success. He was an IAS officer and senior civil servant, formerly in government service in the Finance Ministry, later in the Ministry of Shipping and Transport as chief comptroller of chartering and as additional secretary to the ministry. Mr Ezra Kolet did pioneering work for the Government in the shipping industry. He was also an accomplished violinist. Kolet founded the Delhi Symphony Orchestra in 1964. 

To cater to the growing religious, social and cultural needs of the community, the Jewish Welfare Association was formed in 1949 on the initiative of Late Mr. Ezra Kolet. Mr. Kolet was an active leader of the Judah Hyam Synagogue at 2 Humayun Road, Opp Taj Mahal hotel, Near Khan Market, New Delhi.

He also wrote the forward of the famous book – The Jews of India which was published in 1983.

He died on 25-Oct-1992 and was buried at the Jewish cemetery in Delhi. The photograph of his tombstone is given here.