A Small Jewish Community In India

A Small Jewish Community In India

A dying community of Cochini Jews takes pride being Indian India, is also a home to a small Jewish community. In Kochi, the Jewish despite getting reduced to just 51, take pride in being a part of the country on it's 61st Independence Day. The earliest known Jews are believed to have arrived in the Kerala’s coastal town of Cochin (presently called Kochi) over two-and-a-half millenniums ago. Their ancestors were given a good treatment to make them feel at home by the then rulers, which made them stay back in Cochin. They are today known as Cochini Jews.With the passage of time, many of the young Jews left for the United States or Israel, in search of better pastures. Of the 51 Jews in Cochin, only twenty to twenty are here at present. Others are abroad for various personal reasons. The ones left behind are elderly, most of them above 70 years of age. The Jews here find it difficult to organise functions, as it is mandatory to have at least 10 people to organise any ceremony as per Jews’ customs. Alias Josephai, who runs a nursery in the Kadvumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam, admits that they have always been respected in all fields and received same treatment as others.He says: “India is my country and it is beautiful in all sense. Majority of the youth want to leave this place or have already left for Israel for higher studies or for career. But I am not, as I was born here. I am accustomed to the local tradition and culture. If I go anywhere, I will have to start it again from the beginning.” He adds that the Kerala government has given them many privileges apart from various quotas in medical and engineering institutes. The State government has given the Jews community reservation in every medical and engineering college with at least one seat. Besides, the State government does not conduct any public exam on Saturday as it is “Sabbath”, the holy day of Jews. The Government has also issued the voter identity card to them. Jews are a religious minority in the country. Judaism was one of the first foreign religions to have arrived in India and assimilated with local traditions through cultural diffusion. Of the total Jewish population in India, about half live in Mizoram and a quarter live in the city of Mumbai.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.The Cochini Jews arrived in India 2,500 years ago and settled down in Cochin, Kerala as traders. The Bene Israel arrived in Maharashtra 2,100 years ago. The Baghdadi Jews arrived in 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) is a small group who speak Telugu.