The Jewish community on the Indian subcontinent dates back many years, long before the Muslims in the former British colony sought independence. But only a small part of that relatively prosperous community lived in the five districts that in August 1947 became Pakistan. At the time, they numbered fewer than 3,000, and most of the community lived in Karachi, with a few dozen more in Peshawar.
When Israel was founded, many members of the Jewish community left Pakistan, the second-largest Muslim country in the world, leaving only 200-300 members who remain despite growing anti-Semitism. They live in Karachi and Lahore.
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Some Jews in Pakistan converted to Islam, such as deputy head of Pakistan's mission to the UN in the 1950s, Mohammad Assad. But the ones who adhered to their original faith were forced to make due without a functioning synagogue.
One of the remaining few Pakistani Jews is Fishel Khalid, 32, from Karachi.
In a special interview to Israel Hayom in honor of Rosh Hashanah, Khaled discusses personal challenges and challenges facing the community; local anti-Semitism; and his historic visit to Israel.
Khalid, a civil engineer by training and profession, says he also works as a kashruth supervisor for Pakistani food manufacturers and exporters.
Q: Are you scared to live in Pakistan?
"I don't disclose my identity to 99% of the people with whom I interact. And when I wear a kippa, I hide it under a baseball cap. But in general, I'm not that concerned, as long as I'm not open about being Jewish."
"Pakistan has its share of varying degrees of anti-Semitism," Khalid adds, noting that the synagogue in Karachi was burned down during riots that erupted after Israel was established in 1948.
Karachi is the capital city of the Sindh province, considered the most demographically diverse in Pakistan. Some 94.8% of the population are Muslims, another 5% are Hindis, and 0.2% of the population belong to other groups, including Jews.
"The culture of the Sindh province is a second mother to me and other minorities. People here are much more tolerant than in other provinces of Pakistan," he says.
His attempts to keep his Jewish identity under wraps notwithstanding, all of Pakistan heard Khalid's story. He is the son of a Muslim father and a Jewish mother. He has four siblings, all of whom are Muslim. How did his story become common knowledge? The government allowed him to visit Israel. This was no minor gesture, as Pakistani passports are labeled valid anywhere in the world, "except for Israel."
How did he find his way to Judaism?
"It's complicated, but there was something that made it happen. I wanted spirituality and I found it in Judaism. I thank God for the good things that happen to me," Khalid tells Israel Hayom.
Khalid is also a staunch Zionist.
"I'm openly a Zionist and a supporter of Israel. Most importantly, I love Pakistan, which is why as a Pakistani Zionist I want good relations between these sister countries," he says.
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