Thread by @TrueIndology

Jews, Hindus and ethnicity. (A thread)

Kerala had considerable number of Jews till 1948.

These Jews belonged to two very distinct classes.

1) White Jews

2)Black Jews

According to Jewish records, the so called 'black Jews' were slaves with 'filthy Hindu complexion' . They were originally drawn from native Hindu population. The 'black Jews' of Hindu descent were subjected to worst form of discrimination.

Buchanan visited Jewish settlements in 19th century

He noticed that

1) White Jews looked down upon black Jews as 'inferior race' as they had 'Hindu complexion'.

Moses Paiva was a Jewish leader.

According to him, the 'black Jews' (whom he calls Malabari) were 'slaves of slaves'.

They were mixed with Kanhanites ( A Jewish word for idol worshipers)

So bad was the discrimination that a black Jew slave of Hindu descent was not allowed to eat or pray with White Jew.

In 1843, a Black Jew had concealed his slave status in Kolkata. For this offense, he was punished with a fine.

Mind you, this was in 1843 when slavery was 'abolished'

White Jews considered themselves a 'great disgrace' to marry black Jews of Hindu descent

There was no brotherhood even in religion.

The Black Jews were not allowed in White Jewish synagogues. The White Jews refused to eat meat touched by Black Jews

Even in 1948, Black Jews were fighting for their rights.

A Black Jew named AB Salem threatened to fast to death.

But then the state of Israel was formed and almost every single Jew left India in a second to migrate to Israel.

This thread tells us what happened next