The Last Jews of Kerala: The Two Thousand Year History of India's Forgotten Jewish Community by Edna Fernandes is a readable account of the history and semi-demise of the Indian communities of the southwest coast of India. She handles the historical split between the “white” and “black” Jewish communities of this area, and the influence of the caste and the colonial system on the formation of this division.
Fernandes meets the people involved from both communities, those few remaining in India, and the bulk who have moved to Israel. This is a somewhat sad tale of a vanishing way of life for a special Jewish group, but it is by no means unique. In the post-war period, Judaism has become overwhelmingly dichotomous. Of the 14 million Jewish people worldwide, 6 million live in Israel, while 6 million live in the United States. Jewish people are increasingly either Israelis or Americans.
Jewish groups have gone through tremendous demographic changes in the last hundred years; those changes continue, and this book chronicles one of them with respect and care. Much has been lost and gained.
Fernandes meets the people involved from both communities, those few remaining in India, and the bulk who have moved to Israel. This is a somewhat sad tale of a vanishing way of life for a special Jewish group, but it is by no means unique. In the post-war period, Judaism has become overwhelmingly dichotomous. Of the 14 million Jewish people worldwide, 6 million live in Israel, while 6 million live in the United States. Jewish people are increasingly either Israelis or Americans.
Jewish groups have gone through tremendous demographic changes in the last hundred years; those changes continue, and this book chronicles one of them with respect and care. Much has been lost and gained.
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