| Abstract | This thesis help us understand how two great and ancient civilizations, Indic and Judaic, interact and how it had reflected in the life of three major Indian Jewish communities: Cochin Jews of the Malabar Coast, the Bene Israel Jews of Bombay and the “Baghdadi“ Jews of India's port cities (especially Calcutta and Bombay), and the other Jews communities from Central India which were under the rule of the Moghul empire. For Indian Jews, their Jewish (and ancient Israel) origin is important for establishing their firm Jewish identity, and for that reason they have created historical legends and myths that helped them shape their Indian Jewish identity, like the Cocihn Jews claim to have originated in Jerusalem, having fled the Roman invasion and destruction of the Second Temple in 70. C.E. and the Bene Israel's stories about their ancestor's sailing vessel from ancient Israel which was shipwrecked off the Konkan coast. The crucial distinction between India and the rest of the diaspora is that Jews in India weren't assimilated (loss of identity in exchange for acceptance) but were acculturated, fitting into society while retaining one's identity. Also, to achieve higher status in India's society, Indian Jews needed to have their status confirmed by local high-status groups. These groups were different for each Indian Jewish community. Indian society had a great impact on Jewish communities in India. They had divided themselves on the bases of social status, with persistent endeavour to rise that status, and to do so they had to keep themselves apart from lower social groups, even though this breaks the Halacha code, just like Indian Jews did when they forbid another Jewish group to participate in the Synagogue life. Jews in India had developed a great trading route, between India and Europe, and the most important trade was diamond and coral trade, which was held by the Jews from both Indian and European Jewish communities, they were important for strengthen the Indian relations with Europe but also for financially strengthening the West Coast of India. Although Jews never experienced antisemitism or discrimination by Indian hands, after the Israel was founded 1948. g. the Jewish communities in India started slowly to disappear, and the Jews migrated to their ancient land of Israel. 77 Indian Jewish communities contributed to Indian civilization in a variety of secular arts, medicine, commerce and industry, politics agriculture and military. Also, to Judaic civilization they contributed by composing liturgical songs in Hebrew and folk songs in local languages, by writing rabbinical opinions as well as secular poetry and novels, and creative ritual behaviours within the context of Judaic law. The relationship between Jews and Indians can be tried to describe the well-known commandment that occurs in many religions of loving one's neighbor as oneself! This relationship shows that it is a moral principle that we should all abide by, regardless of religion or belief. |
