But Jews from India coming to Israel for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah certainly is. Frankly, I had no idea there were any Indian Jews in the first place. And while their numbers are small, around 6,000 in the entire country, their entry into India can be traced back some 2,000 years.
Indian Express “Israel is in my heart, India is in my blood,” says Ezekiel I Malekar, the Rabbi of the Synagogue Judah Hyam Hall who has been the head secretary and caretaker of the synagogue since 1980. Looking back at the long history of association between Jews and Indians, he claims “India is the most tolerant country in the world and one of the only places where Jews did not have to experience anti-semitism.”
Siddi Nasrani says
Seeing that painting of the Jews landing on the beach in Cochin, brought back lovely
memories of the wedding we had in Cochin Synagogue in 1984, at the time we were told that only a hand full of Jews remain, they said that our wedding will probably be the last wedding in the community. The Synagogue in now a Museum.
Cochin was famous for the spice trade to Europe years ago.
Az gal says
I didn’t know there were any Jews in India either. Thank God!
BLR says
Thanks to BNI my knowledge of Israel and her Jews started with ignorance moved to interested remains today as updated and informed , what goes on in Israel is not entertainment their destiny is our omen of things to come call it blow back , may be even super natural directed with malice to unfriendly’s … beware
BareNakedIslam says
BLR, they are prepping for a major war…and not with the Palestinians.
Ray Jarman says
I had the extreme privilege to visit the Shri Bodgeshwar Temple in Goa in the 1970s. It was so beautiful and the atmosphere was so serene. I had never heard of it before I arrived in India but a person I met on a flight to Madras told me I should visit Goa to see the Jewish Temple and I am so glad to this day that I took his advice.
Linda Rivera says
India’s Jews will be overjoyed to visit God’s nation, the HOLY Land given by the HOLY ONE to Jews thousands of years ago as an everlasting possession
Cleavis Nowell says
Hindus in India can be almost as vicious as crescent hyenas toward Christians, they may be more friendly toward Jews.
Az gal says
Cleavis: That’s what I was wondering.