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| Magen David synagogue,Calcutta,India.jewishphotolibrary.smugmug.com |
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| Minara Chabad, Mumbai,India.timesofiseel.com |
Since 2000 BC Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India
without any instances of religious persecution or hatred by the
natives - mostly Hindus throughout history. India is home to more
than 24 million Christians – more than 2.3% of the population, the
third largest religious group - of various denominations.
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| Cochin Synagogue, Kochi. credit en wikipedia.org |
In the 14th century, British,Spanish and Baghdadi Jews arrived in
Madras, – now Chennai to escape from persecution and religious
bigotry. So were the Bene Israel Jews in Maharashtra who arrived
there 900 years ago. There is a famous and one of the oldest
synagogues in Mattancherry, near Cochin, Kerala that belongs to
Paradesi Jews-the decedents of Spanish Jews who were expelled from
Spain in 1492.The then Hindu king of Malabar gave generous grants to
the Jewish community for building temples, houses, etc, to live
freely and comfortably. Currently there are 33 synagogues in India,
many dating back to 6th century through 20th century;many of them do
not function because,as mentioned before, Jewish migration - Aliah to
Israel. Once these synagogues served the Baghdadi, Bene Israel and
Cochin Jews.
Jewish
population: Half of them 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 large-scale anti-Semitism.
However, Jews in India have recently suffered from terrorist attacks
by Lashkar-e-Toiba, which has declared Jews and Hindus to be enemies
of Islam. In Mumbai, two synagogues are located in predominantly
Muslim areas.
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 Baghdadi Jews arrived in the city Mumbai from Iraq, Iran, and
Afghanistan, and Arab countries about 250 years ago.
The Bene Israel arrived in the state of Maharashtra 2,100 years ago.
The
Bnei Menashe are Mizo and Kuki tribesmen in Manipur and Indian
Jews are a religious minority, living among India's predominantly
Hindu populace. However, Judaism was one of the first religions to
arrive in India and assimilate with 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 descendants of Israel's
Lost Ten Tribes.
Of the total Jewish population, Mizoram Jews 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 17th or 18th C.
However,
after the arrival of Portuguese in India in the early 1500
particularly in Goa the Hindus, Goan Jews and Muslims were subjected
to religious persecution and oppression by the Portuguese Christian
fanatics. Religious Inquisition -1560 AD was introduced by Evangelist
Fr. Francis Xavier in the Portuguese territory,
Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_India
The Jews of India: A
Story of Three Communities by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum,
Jerusalem. 2003. ISBN
965-278-179-7.
Weil, Shalva.India's Jewish Heritage: Ritual, Art and
Life-Cycle. Mumbai: Marg Publications [first published in 2002; 3rd
edn.]. 2009.
