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JEWS OF KERALA
Kerala`s Jews were came from Amorite tribes, Hirite tribes and Local converts.
Origin
As long before as the 3rd Century BC, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Chinese and Babylonians had trade relations with Kerala. There is very little information about the origin of Kerala Jews. One belief is that 10 Jewish families released from jail by a Persian king in BC605 came by ship to Kodungallore near Cochin (A business port in Kerala at that time). Another group followed in BC586 when Judea was defeated by Babylon. In AD 68 when the temple of Jerusalem was destroyed another group of migrants Jews reached Kerala. There were subsequent migration from Jerusalem and Mesopotamia, which has got business connections with Kerala . Jewish traders started exporting Kerala's spices to the west.
Historical Facts
In 4th century St.Jerome talks about the Judaism of Malabar coast in his correspondence. The Jews were serving the local rulers providing protection to Bhaskara Ravivarmman the Prince of Kodungallore . It is believed that the early Jewish settlements were in Kodungallore, Pandalayini and Ezhimala. Following a split in the top order of the community a part of the community migrated to Princely state of Cochin .The first Jewish temple was built in Cochin in 1344 AD. A fourteenth century poet and traveler Rabbi Nissim talks about his travels in a song which was popular amongst Cochin Jews. The Portuguese arrived in Kerala (AD 1500) with cross in one hand and sword in the other. The Jews remained at Calicut (Kozhikode) , were the Portuguese landed took refuge with the Raja of Cochin were they built there town and a Synagog on 1568. There references in Portuguese documents about Jewish settlements in Cochin, Goa, Kodungallore, Kozikode and Suratt.The Jewish synagog of Cochin which was established in 1568 came to be known as the 'urch of foreign Jews' (Paradesi Juda Palli ).The Jewish churches in Cochin closed now with most of the community having migrated to Israel.