Judaism
Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.11
Judaism is the monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, based on the Torah and the Tanakh, with worship of one God, observance of the Sabbath and law as given to Moses. In India it has an old presence among four groups: the Cochin Jews of Kerala, whose Paradesi Synagogue at Mattancherry dates from 1568; the Bene Israel of the Konkan coast in Maharashtra; the Baghdadi Jews of Kolkata and Mumbai; and the Bnei Menashe of Manipur and Mizoram. Judaism in India is noted for the absence of persecution. Census 2011 recorded about 4,650 Jews.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism
At a Glance
- Text Torah and Tanakh
- Cochin Jews Kerala, Paradesi Synagogue 1568
- Bene Israel Konkan, Maharashtra
- Baghdadi Jews Kolkata, Mumbai
- Bnei Menashe Manipur and Mizoram
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism
Where Does It Fit?
This is the last topic on the religions of India in the macro. It completes the picture of external faiths that came to India peacefully and prepares the shift to the philosophy topics that follow. Previous topic: Zoroastrianism. Next topic: vaisheshika-sankhya-yoga-mimamsa-vedanta/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Name Shad Darshana, Astika schools Logic Nyaya and Vaisheshika Dualism Sankhya and Yoga Vedic schools Mimamsa and Vedanta Opposite…">Philosophy in India – Six Schools (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta).
Which Jewish Communities Live in India?
| Community | Region | Origin and features |
|---|---|---|
| Cochin Jews (Malabari) | Kochi and Kodungallur, Kerala | Said to have arrived after the destruction of the Second Temple, in the first century CE. Copper plates of about 1000 CE, granted by the ruler Bhaskara Ravi Varma, gave Joseph Rabban the rights of the Anjuvannam. Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568 at Mattancherry |
| Bene Israel | Konkan coast, Maharashtra, around Mumbai and Alibag | Tradition says their ancestors survived a shipwreck about two thousand years ago. Earlier known as Shanivar Telis, or Saturday oil pressers, as they rested on the Sabbath. Largest Indian Jewish community |
| Baghdadi Jews | Kolkata and Mumbai | Merchants from Iraq, Syria and Iran who came from the eighteenth century. David Sassoon built a trading house. Magen David Synagogue in Kolkata was built in 1884 |
| Bnei Menashe | Manipur and Mizoram | Claim descent from the tribe of Manasseh; some members have been recognised by Israeli authorities and migrated |
| Bene Ephraim | Andhra Pradesh | A smaller group from Telugu-speaking region |
What Are the Beliefs and Practices of Judaism?
- Monotheism: belief in one God who made a covenant with Abraham and gave the law to Moses
- Tanakh and Torah: the Hebrew Bible, whose first five books form the Torah; the Talmud is the later body of law and discussion
- Shabbat: the day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening
- Festivals: Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and Purim
- Synagogue: the house of prayer and study, led by a rabbi or a cantor
- Language: Hebrew for prayer; Judeo-Malayalam and Marathi in India
- Dietary law: kosher food rules
- Ritual items: the menorah, the Star of David and the mezuzah on doorposts
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate names: Jew Town is a neighbourhood in Mattancherry, Kochi; Paradesi means foreign in several Indian languages; the Anjuvannam was a guild
- Copper plates: the Cochin Jewish copper plates are an early example of a royal grant to a foreign community in Kerala
- Paradesi Synagogue: built in 1568, it is known for Chinese tiles of the eighteenth century, a clock tower and a Belgian glass chandelier; it is described as the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth
- Tolerance: Jews in India have been described as a community that did not face anti-Jewish persecution
- Migration: after the creation of Israel in 1948, large numbers of Cochin and Bene Israel Jews emigrated, leaving small numbers in India
- Other synagogues: Knesset Eliyahoo in Mumbai, Magen David in Kolkata and Magen Hassidim in Mumbai
- Sassoon family: David Sassoon from Baghdad built business in Bombay, and his family built the Sassoon Docks and the Sassoon Library
- Notable Jews: Lieutenant General J F R Jacob, a Baghdadi Jew from Kolkata, took part in the 1971 war and negotiated the surrender at Dhaka
- India and Israel: India recognised Israel in 1950, and full diplomatic relations started in 1992
- Constitutional position: Jews are protected under Articles 25 to 30, though they are not a notified national minority
- Cultural exchange: songs of Cochin Jewish women in Malayalam, called Judeo-Malayalam folk songs, are a rare heritage form
- Notified minorities: six communities are notified as national minorities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians (Parsis)
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Communities: Cochin Jews, Bene Israel and Baghdadi Jews with their regions
- Places: Paradesi Synagogue 1568 at Mattancherry
- Records: copper plates of the Jews of Kerala
- Relations: India and Israel ties from 1992
- Common errors: placing the Paradesi Synagogue in Mumbai, or calling the Bene Israel a Kerala community
As an analytical point, the long and safe life of Jews in India is cited as proof of the civilisational habit of hosting migrants and minorities. It is also a case for heritage protection of small communities’ synagogues, scripts and songs as their numbers fall.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Communities Region matching
- Heritage Synagogues and plates
- Mains Tolerance and minorities
What Came Next?
The next topic begins the philosophy section with the six schools of Indian thought. Next topic: Philosophy in India – Six Schools (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta).
Key People and Terms
- Torah First five books
- Synagogue Jewish house of prayer
- Shabbat Day of rest
- Rabbi Jewish teacher
- Anjuvannam Merchant guild
- Diaspora Scattered community
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Paradesi Synagogue: 1568, Mattancherry.
- Bene Israel: Konkan, Maharashtra.
- Baghdadi Jews: Kolkata and Mumbai.
- Bnei Menashe: Manipur and Mizoram.
- Census 2011: about 4,650 Jews.
Do Not Confuse With
- Cochin Jews and Bene Israel Kerala community versus Konkan community
- Baghdadi and Bene Israel Later merchant migrants versus the old coastal group
- Judaism and Zionism A religion versus a political movement
Memory Hook
Mattancherry for Cochin, Konkan for Bene Israel, Kolkata for Baghdad.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about India’s tradition of hosting minorities and protecting small communities. These points give a balanced frame.
- Tolerance Peaceful settlement
- Heritage Synagogues, plates, songs
- Decline Migration and ageing
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“The history of Jews in India is often cited as an example of tolerance. Discuss.”
How to Answer
- Groups Four communities.
- History Safe settlement.
- Decline Migration after 1948.
- Way Heritage care.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Judaism?
Judaism is the ancient monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, based on the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and the Talmud. It teaches belief in one God, the covenant with Abraham and the law of Moses, and observes the Sabbath and festivals such as Passover and Yom Kippur.
Which Jewish communities live in India?
Four main groups are known: the Cochin Jews of Kerala, the Bene Israel of Maharashtra, the Baghdadi Jews of Kolkata and Mumbai, and the Bnei Menashe of Manipur and Mizoram. Census 2011 counted about 4,650 Jews, because many emigrated to Israel after 1948.
What is the Paradesi Synagogue?
The Paradesi Synagogue is a synagogue in the Jew Town of Mattancherry, Kochi in Kerala, built in 1568 by the Malabar Jews. It is known for hand-painted Chinese floor tiles, a clock tower and Belgian chandeliers, and is described as the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations.
What is the difference between Cochin Jews and Bene Israel?
Cochin Jews live in Kerala and trace their settlement to the early centuries CE, recorded in copper plates of about 1000 CE and the Paradesi Synagogue. The Bene Israel live on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra and say that their ancestors survived a shipwreck about two thousand years ago.
Why is Judaism in India important for UPSC?
Jews in India are asked in Prelims through the groups, synagogues and the Kerala copper plates, and in Mains as an example of India's tolerance and composite culture. The topic also links with India–Israel relations, which began formally in 1992, and with the idea of minority heritage protection.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Paradesi Synagogue is located at Mattancherry in Kochi.
It was built in 1568.
2 The Bene Israel are mainly a community of Kerala.
They live on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra.
3 Full diplomatic relations between India and Israel began in 1992.
India had recognised Israel in 1950.
4 The Torah consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
It is the core Jewish law.
Related Topics
Browse the full Art & Culture index