Spotlight: Sweet Malida: Memories of a Bene Israel Woman by Zilka Joseph

Who are the Bene Israel Jews of India? Where did they come from? How did they survive in India? “Sweet Malida” is a moving, multi-layered, richly sensory and informative collection of poems and short prose inspired by this ancient community to which the poet herself belongs. Using various poetic forms, the poet launches on an imaginative journey, delving into the history, especially the food and culinary customs of this small community of Indian Jews, explores its special connection to the Prophet Elijah, while seamlessly weaving in memories, bringing to life the past and lost loved ones as well.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Bookshop.org

About the Author

A creative writing coach and manuscript advisor, Zilka Joseph is the author of five collections of poetry. She was born in Mumbai, lived in Kolkata, and now resides in Michigan. Her work is influenced by Indian and Western cultures as well as her Bene Israel roots. Her poems have appeared in journals such as Poetry Magazine and The Bombay Literary Review, as well as in international anthologies. She has been nominated for awards, participated in festivals, featured on NPR/Michigan Radio, and interviewed for podcasts including Rattlecast and Culturico. Her chapbook Sparrows and Dust won a Notable Best Indie Book award and was a Notable Asian American Poetry Book. Two of her books, Sharp Blue Search of Flame and In Our Beautiful Bones, were Foreword INDIES Prize finalists. The University of Michigan awarded her a Zell Fellowship, the Michael Gutterman award, and the Elsie Choy Lee Scholarship. Her next book, Sweet Malida: Memories of a Bene Israel Woman (Mayapple Press), will be published in February 2024. Learn more about her at zilkajoseph.com