History of the Jews in India
Indian Jews are a religious minority of India. Judaism was one of the first non-Dharmic religions to arrive in India in recorded history. The better-established ancient communities have assimilated a large number of local traditions through cultural diffusion. The Jewish population in India is hard to estimate since each Jewish community is distinct with different origins; some arrived during the time of the Kingdom of Judah, others are seen by some as descendants of Israel's Lost Ten Tribes. Of the total Jewish population in India, about half live in Mizoram and a quarter live in the city of Mumbai. Unlike many parts of the world, Jews have historically lived in India without anti-Semitism from Indians (though they have been victims of anti-Semitism from the Portuguese[1] and the Christian Goa Inquisition during their colonial rule). The majority Hindu community have been relatively tolerant towards most other religions in India, except for notable instances such as the Partition of India into India and Pakistan, and communal riots in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, etc. Jews have held important positions under Indian princes in the past and even after independence from British Rule, they have risen to very high positions in government, military and industry.
In addition to Jewish members of various diplomatic corps, there are five native Jewish communities in India:
- The Cochin Jews arrived in India 2,500 years ago and settled down in Cochin, Kerala as traders.
- The Bene Israel arrived in the state of Maharashtra 2,100 years ago.
- The Baghdadi Jews arrived in the city Mumbai from Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, and Arab countries about 250 years ago.
- The Bnei Menashe are Mizo and Kuki tribesmen in Manipur and Mizoram who claim descent from the tribe of Menasseh.
- The Bene Ephraim (also called Telugu Jews) are a small group who speak Telugu; their observance of Judaism dates to 1981.
Cochin Jews
The oldest of the three Jewish communities, traders from Judea and Israel arrived in the city of Cochin, in what is now Kerala, 2,500 years ago. Assimilated with the local population, the community built synagogues and colonies there. The synagogue in Cochin, is a protected heritage site and is a popular tourist destination although it actually doesn't belong to the Cochin Jews, but rather to Pardesi Jews. There are currently 53 practicing Cochin Jews in Kerala.
Also see Paradesi Jews and Desi Jews.
Bene Israel
The Bene Israel arrived 2,100 years ago after a shipwreck stranded seven Jewish families from Judea at Navagaon near Alibag, just south of Mumbai. The families multiplied and integrated with the local Maharashtrian population adopting their language, dress and food. They were nicknamed the shanivār telī ("Saturday oil-pressers") by the local population as they abstained from work on Saturdays which is Judaism's Shabbat. The Bene Israel claim a lineage to the Cohanim, which claims descent from Aaron, the brother of Moses. In 2002, a DNA test confirmed that the Bene Israel share the same heredity as the Cohanim.
Baghdadi Jews
Despite the name, the Baghdadi Jews are not exclusively of Iraqi origin: many came from Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen as well. These Jews emigrated to India around 250 years ago and settled down in the city of Mumbai. They were traders and quickly became one of the highest earning communities in the city. As philanthropists, some of them donated their wealth to public structures. The David Sassoon Docks and a Sassoon Library are some of the famous landmarks still standing today.
As well as Mumbai, Baghdadi Jews spread to other parts of India, with an important community in
Kolkata. Scions of this community did well in trade (particularly jute, but also tea) and, in later years, contributed officers to the army. One, Lt-Gen
J.F.R. Jacob PVSM, becoming state governor of, first, Goa and
then Punjab.
Bnei Menashe
An estimated 9,000 people in the northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur started practicing Judaism in the 1970s, claiming to be descendants of the Tribe of Manasseh. They have since been recognized by Israel as a lost tribe, and most have left, or plan to leave India and emmigrate to Israel after undergoing a conversion to Orthodox Judaism from either Hinduism, or Christianity. However, India has taken note of plans to convert the Bnei Manashe to Judaism in order for them to undertake Aliya to Israel, and has since halted conversions to Judaism and exodus to Israel. [1]
Bene Ephraim
The Bene Ephraim are a small group of Telugu-speaking Jews in eastern Andhra Pradesh, whose recorded observance of Judaism, like that of the Bnei Menashe, is quite recent, in this going back only to 1981.
Today
Jews in India typically have not intermarried with gentiles. In recent years, however, Indian Jewish Rabbis such as Ezekiel Isaac Malekar have presided over inter-faith marriage [2].The majority of Indian Jews have "made aliya" (migrated) to Israel since the creation of the modern state in 1948.
See also
- Synagogues in India
- Knanaya and Nasrani, Christian Jewish groups in India with strong historical ties to Judaism
- Religion in India
References
- "India's Bene Israel: A Comprehensive Inquiry and Sourcebook" Isenberg, Shirley Berry; Berkeley: Judah L. Magnes Museum, 1988
- "Indian Jewish Heritage: Ritual, Art and Life-Cycle" Dr. Shalva Weil (ed). Mumbai: Marg Publications
- Indian Jews - Jewish Encyclopedia
- Bene Israel - Jewish Encyclopedia
- Cochin Jews - Jewish Encyclopedia
- Calcutta Jews - Jewish Encyclopedia
- Indian Jews - Jewish Virtual Library
External links
- Bnei Menashe Jews of North East India
- jewish india
- jewish ancestors in india
- Jews in india
- Jews of India - Includes a Photo Gallery & a Forum
- Kulanu's Indian Jews page
- Indian Jew Elected First President Of New York Synagogue
- Sephardic Chief Rabbi recognizes Jewishness of Bnei Menashe
- Kochini Jews of Kerala
- Jews of Kerala
- OUT OF INDIA 12 Indian Jewish students study their history in Israel
- Jews of india An article discusses the current condition of Indian jews
- JEWS IN INDIA adaniel's info site
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