Jews left Karachi during Arab-Israel war

More than 40 graves in this graveyard were found in dilapidated condition with epitaphs inscribed with religious writings in Hebrew and English. Famous yellow stone of Sindh was used as epitaphs on these graves.

The scripts, written in Hebrew and English languages, are still visible but various alphabets have been effaced due to natural factors. The boundary wall has also been demolished.

The custodian of the cemetery, Mollah Khudadad alias Baboo Bhai, said “These graves are of the Jewish people who lived in in Ranchrore Line and Ramsaway and buried their dead here.” He said that Jewish cemetery in Usmanabad is around 145 years old. He added that when he was a teenage boy, he saw a few Jewish families living in the Ranchore Line where a Synagogue was also constructed. The said synagogue was later encroached in the 1980s and a Jewish woman, Rachel Joseph, a resident of Ranchore Line, was fighting for the survival of her place of worship.

Mullah Khudad remembered the same woman visited the graveyard regularly. He said that the old woman did not talk to any one during her visit. Rachel Joseph tried her level best to re-establish the Synagogue but failed due to influential land mafia.

Khudadad said that the Memon community has also directed him to look after the graves of Jewish community. They have resisted the encroachment and demolition of the Jewish graves.