The 450-year-old Synagogue’s keeper is concerned about the Jewish community’s future in Kochi. Joseph Elias Josephai (affectionately known as Babu) is one of the few remaining members of Kochi’s Jewish community. Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, a substantial number of Cochin Jews (also known as Malabar Jews) returned to the holy land. As…
We need to look no further than Kolkata’s Jewish Synagogues for a case study on community peace. The Jewish population in Kolkata, which once numbered 6000 people, has shrunk to less than 20 people. The three main Jewish synagogues in Kolkata have been cared for by Muslims for years. The Maghen David and Beth El…
Sadia Shepard was raised as a Muslim. Her grandma turned out to be Jewish, which is unusual in India. Sadia traveled to India in search of her ancestors’ Jewish tribe, the Bene Israel, to learn more about her roots.
A virtual tour of the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County’s revolving exhibit “Jews of India: The History and Practices of the Bene Israel, Cochin, and Baghdadi Jews” is available. The contribution of books and artifacts by community members Yochanan and Sophie Perry inspired this show. Yochanan Perry leads the tour in this video, discussing…
One of Kochi’s remaining Jewish inhabitants and her Muslim carer have a beautiful friendship. Sarah Cohen’s Hand Embroidery is a world-famous boutique in Kerala’s ‘Jew Town’ that sells Jewish specialty products. Sarah Aunty, who is 95 years old, is one of the city’s last remaining members of the Cochin Jews (also known as Malabar Jews)….
In India, Hitler is well-liked. People on the street describe Hitler as a “wonderful leader,” “a lover,” “a brilliant artist,” and “a great innovator,” among other things. Mein Kampf is available in bookstores along the footpath. Hitler is a heroic character in Bollywood cinema. Academics and others investigate the reasons behind Hitler’s popularity in this…
The incredible story of Alfred Rosenfeld, who founded the Jewish Relief Association in India and generously helped many Central European Jews flee to India during World War II. Jess Rowland, a Lewes local, told him the story.
This week, we meet Shobha (“Fori”) Nehru, an aristocratic Indian woman who is married to BK Nehru, a former Indian ambassador to the United States and nephew of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. She was born and raised a Hungarian Jew, despite being a member of the Indian nobility. Learn how she met Martin…
According to the 2011 census, India has a total population of 4650 Jews. They come from quite different backgrounds and come from very different communities. The Paradesi Jews are one of these various groups. They are the descendants of Sephardic Jews from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) who were forced to flee discrimination in…
For years, Muslims in Kolkata, India’s West Bengal state capital, have looked after the city’s three Jewish temples. As many as 600 Jews lived in Kolkata at one time. The congregation now has just over a dozen members, according to the synagogue’s guardians. Sarah Jones examines how a community has come together in the face…