Nazi-Themed Restaurant Infuriates Jewish Community
 

A security personnel stands guard outside a new restaurant, named after Adolf Hitler and decorated with posters showing the German leader and Nazi swastikas, on the outskirts of Mumbai August 21, 2006.

MUMBAI (Reuters) - A new restaurant in India's financial hub, named after Adolf Hitler and promoted with posters showing the German leader and Nazi swastikas, has infuriated the country's small Jewish community.

'Hitler's Cross', which opened last week, serves up a wide range of continental fare and a big helping of controversy, thanks to a name the owners say they chose to stand out among hundreds of Mumbai eateries.

"We wanted to be different. This is one name that will stay in people's minds," owner Punit Shablok told Reuters.

"We are not promoting Hitler. But we want to tell people we are different in the way he was different."

But India's remaining Jews -- most migrated to Israel and the West over the years -- say they are outraged by the gimmick.

"This signifies a severe lack of awareness of the agony of millions of Jews caused by one man," said Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation, the community's umbrella organization.

"We are going to stop this deification of Hitler," he said without elaborating.

The small restaurant, its interior done out in the Nazi colors of red, white and black, also has a lounge for smoking the exotic Indian water pipe or "hookah."

Posters line the road leading up to it, featuring a red swastika carved in the name of the eatery. One slogan reads: "From Small Bites to Mega Joys."

A huge portrait of a stern-looking Fuehrer greets visitors at the door. The cross in the restaurant's name refers to the swastika that symbolized the Nazi regime.

"This place is not about wars or crimes, but where people come to relax and enjoy a meal," said restaurant manager Fatima Kabani, adding that they were planning to turn the eatery's name into a brand with more branches in Mumbai.

The swastika has its roots in ancient Indian Hindu tradition and remains a sacred symbol for Hindus. Nazi theorists appropriated it to bolster their central hypothesis of the Aryan origins of the German people.

And that's how they greet you. I'd hate to see what happens when you send food back.

Well, the Hindu's shouldn't mind it too much. Atleast they won't be putting cows into the ovens.

This just in: Jews whine about something

Well, isn't there a resteraunt in Israel called "Forcibly Sodomizing Ghandi"? And it's not like that restaurant is about the forcable homosexual rape of the great pacifist. It's just a swell place to have a nice, family style meal.

Hitler was totally gay for Indian culture, right? With the taking the Swastika, and the concept of Aryan race, and being vegetarian. Or some deal like that.

and apparently a ton of indians who hated Ghandi's guts because he was such a pacifist.

pent up hostility against Ghandi? :/ good stuff Max :)

fartin mowler here is my impression of you

:/

Ya, well there's no one to defend Ghandi when it's needed most

It's a shame Ebay outlawed Nazi memoribilia... this would be a good week to cash in while the climates hot!

I wonder if these fellas are even Hindus?

BOMBAY, India Aug 24, 2006 (AP)— The owner of a restaurant named after Adolf Hitler said Thursday he will change its name because it angered so many people.

Puneet Sablok said he would remove Hitler's name and the Nazi swastika from billboards and the menu. He had said the restaurant's name "Hitler's Cross" and symbols were only meant to attract attention.

Sablok made the decision after meeting with members of Bombay's small Jewish community.

"Once they told me how upset they were with the name, I decided to change it," he said. "I don't want to do business by hurting people."

Sablok said he had not yet decided on a new name.

Hitler's Cross opened five days ago and serves pizza, salad and pastries in Navi Mumbai, a suburb of Bombay, also known as Mumbai.

On Thursday, Bombay's Jewish community welcomed Sablok's decision to rename his restaurant.

"He realized he made a mistake and listened to reason," said Elijah Jacob, a community leader. "Some people have wrong conceptions of history and he realized it was not appropriate."

Bombay's Jews had called the theme of the restaurant offensive and demanded a name change. There are about 5,500 Jews in India, with about 4,500 of them living in Bombay.

"I never wanted to hurt people's feelings," said Sablok.

Some Indians regard Hitler as just another historical figure and have little knowledge about the Holocaust, in which 6 million European Jews were systematically killed during World War II.

The swastika symbol, which was appropriated by the Nazis, was originally an ancient Hindu symbol and it is displayed all over India to bring luck.

Actually the orginal is clockwise. Hitler decided to flip it for some reason, perhaps to distance it from its orgins or to spread bad fortune to his enemies.