On a Chariot of Fire: The Story of India’s Bene Israel

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

Featuring the other side of the Hanukkah story, A Chariot of Fire follows the Bene Israel community, as they flee Israel to find a new home in India. Two thousand years ago, a ship sailed east, alone on an endless sea.

The people onboard were fleeing the same war that the Maccabees

fought in the ancient land of Israel. They took with them their faith

and their traditions, knowing they would sail for more than a year.

When a great storm crushed their boat on the shores of India, only a few survived.

Some say the prophet Elijah plucked them from the sea.

But they were welcomed by the people of the new land.

They survived and adapted, with new spices for their food and

new clothing and culture to borrow, but never strayed from their faith.

They say Elijah came back down from Heaven in a chariot of fire, to praise

this community, the Bene Israel of India for their strength, and their belief.

Here, for all to share, is their story.

About the Author

Erica Lyons is a Hong Kong-based children’s book author who loves creating stories from the footnotes of history books. She is the chair of the Hong Kong Jewish Historical Society and the Hong Kong Delegate to the World Jewish Congress. She is the founder and director of PJ Library Hong Kong and of Asian Jewish Life, a journal of spirit, society, and culture. She is the mother of five children and two cats.

Author Residence: Hong Kong, China

Siona Benjamin is an Indian-American Jewish artist. She has exhibited in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has an MFA in painting from Southern Illinois University, and an MFA in theater set design from the University of Illinois. She was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 2011 to India, and to Israel in 2016. She’s received praise in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The Times of India.

Illustrator Residence: New York, NY