https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=David_Joseph_EzraDavid Joseph Ezra - Revision history2026-07-31T10:18:26ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=David_Joseph_Ezra&diff=201979&oldid=prev>Waltzingmogumogupeach at 04:21, 22 August 20212021-08-22T04:21:12Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:David Joseph Ezra, Baghdadi Jewish merchant and community leader of Calcutta.jpg|thumb|David Joseph Ezra.]]<br />
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{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}<br />
[[File:Beth El Synagogue Kolkata - Facade.jpg|thumbnail|Beth El Synagogue, Calcutta]]<br />
'''David Joseph Ezra''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: דוד יוסף עזרא, died 1882<ref name="recall" />) was a leading merchant, property developer and communal leader of the [[Baghdadi Jewish]] community in [[Calcutta|Kolkata]], India. He was one of the key developers behind 19th-century Kolkata, and was responsible for many of its most celebrated Victorian buildings and synagogues.<br />
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==Family==<br />
Ezra was an Indian Ocean and South China Seas trader. Born in Baghdad, he established in Kolkata and traded heavily with China and the Arab world. His initial wealth grew principally from indigo, silk and opium trading. In addition to trading with British, Indian and Chinese clients, Ezra and his firm acted as an agent for Arab ships arriving in colonial Kolkata from Muscat and Zanzibar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishcalcutta.in/exhibits/show/notable_members/david_j_ezra|title=Recalling Jewish Calcutta {{!}} David Joseph Ezra, Business · 03 Notable Members of and from the Community|website=www.jewishcalcutta.in|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref><br />
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Ezra's eldest son was [[Elias David Ezra]], who built<ref>[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3917-calcutta "Calcutta".] Joseph Jacobs & Joseph Ezekiel, jewishencyclopedia.com Retrieved 6 September 2015.</ref> the [[Magen David Synagogue (Kolkata)|Magen David Synagogue]] in 1884<ref name="tel" /> in honour of his father.<ref name="recall" /> His grandson was [[Sir David Ezra]].<br />
==Property development ==<br />
Ezra owned the Esplanade, Ezra and Chowringhee Mansions, and Ezra Terrace. Ezra Street in Calcutta was named after him.<ref name=tel>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1100425/jsp/calcutta/story_12374215.jsp | title=Jewish jewels | first=Samhita | last=Chakraborty Lahiri | newspaper=[[The Telegraph, Calcutta|The Telegraph]] | location=Calcutta | date=25 April 2010 | accessdate=14 September 2018 }}</ref> By the time of his death he was the largest property owner in the city.<ref name=recall>[http://www.jewishcalcutta.in/exhibits/show/imp_mem_com/david_j_ezra David Joseph Ezra.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304230410/http://www.jewishcalcutta.in/exhibits/show/imp_mem_com/david_j_ezra |date=4 March 2016 }} ''Recalling Jewish Calcutta: Memories of the Jewish community in Calcutta''. Retrieved 6 September 2015.</ref><br />
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==Jewish community ==<br />
With his fellow Baghdadi Jewish community leader [[Ezekiel Judah]] he built the Beth El synagogue in 1856 on Pollock Street.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/10/muslim-india-look-jews-kolkata-synagogues-2014101372153836885.html Muslim families look after Kolkata synagogues.] Priyanka Borpujari, ''[[Al Jazeera]]'', 13 Oct 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2015.</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[History of the Jews in Kolkata]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ezra, David}}<br />
[[Category:1882 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]<br />
[[Category:Indian merchants]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish philanthropists]]<br />
[[Category:Ezra family (Calcutta)|David]]<br />
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