Jerusalem: The Indian Jewish community has strongly protested the description of the word Jew as "a miser, who charges a high rate of interest" in an English dictionary published in 2006.

Page 270 of the 7th Edition of Minerva Publications Little English Dictionary has described "Jew: (n.) a Hebrew, a miser, one who charges a high rate of interest".

"The meaning assigned to the word Jew in the Little English Dictionary published by you is not only false, but is malicious and grossly defamatory of Jews as a community and harmful to the reputation of Jews", a letter sent by the Indian Jewish Federation (IJF) to Minerva Publications said.

The federation said the entry showed total insensitivity to the feelings of the Jewish community and a "regressive attitude".

The exposure of primary and secondary school pupils and other users of your dictionary to such false, malicious and defamatory propaganda concerning Jews cannot be tolerated, it said.

"IJF and the Jewish community have taken serious note of the false, malicious and defamatory manner in which the word Jew is sought to be interpreted in the Little English Dictionary published by you," it said.

The Indian Jewish Federation threatened the Publisher with proceedings for defamation if the publication was not discontinued and an apology issued by September 10 this year.

The Minerva Publications in its response have offered an unconditional apology to the Jewish community for the "hurt, harm to the reputation and bad feelings caused by our wholly inadvertent entry against the word Jew".

"We sincerely state that the meaning against the word 'Jew' has somehow escaped the scrutiny of our publication", a Minerva Publications letter published in the Indian Jewish Congregation of USA newsletter says.

The publishers have also assured the IJF that printing and circulation of copies of Little English Dictionary containing the definition will be discontinued.