Cochin Jewish in Israel

The Cochin Jewish have only been reported in Israel
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

For over two thousand years, Jews lived on the Malabar Coast of India now in the state of Kerala. These Jews came to India at the times the destruction of the first temple in 586 BC and the second temple in 70 AD. These "Black" Jews were given special privileges by their Hindu rulers and prized for their language skills in trade. These Jews are not as dark as the Dravidian descendants of Kerala.

Another group of Jews came to India at the time of the expulsion of the Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and 1511. These later Jews are called "White" Jews as their complexions are the same as other European Jews. The Black and White Jews of south India had nearly the same customs and religious practices but maintained separate communities and did not intermarry.

When the Portuguese came to south India in the early 16th century they discriminated against the Jews in a similar way as they did in Portugal. Some synagogues were burnt down and many Jews fled to other parts of India. After the Portuguese came the Dutch. They were much more tolerant of the Indian Jews and used them extensively in their business dealings.

With the founding of the State of Israel in 1947, nearly all Indian Jews, both Black and White, immigrated to the new Jewish nation. The Cochin Jews have been incorporated into the Israeli population. Many retain their Malayalam language and spicy cuisine.


Where Are they Located?

The Cochin Jews once lived in India, but moved have now moved to Israel since 1947.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In Israel the Cochin Jews are most famous for bringing a delicious hybrid cuisine that incorporates spicy Indian food. Their lifestyles are no different from other Jewish people in Israel. Some Cochin Jews work on cooperative farms while others live in the cities. There are Cochin neighborhoods in many Israeli cities. Many have opened restaurants that feature hot, south Indian foods.


What Are Their Beliefs?

These people are Jewish, though some are more orthodox in their beliefs than others. Some take the Torah and the prophets very seriously, and they believe these came directly from God. Others believe that religion changes to fit the needs of modern man. Still others doubt the existence of God, but they remain part of the Jewish culture.


What Are Their Needs?

The Jews have a wonderful understanding of their connection with the Abrahamic Covenant. However, they also have a history of rejecting Jesus Christ as Messiah, the one who has fulfilled that covenant. The Cochin Jews need to realize that Jesus is their Messiah.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Cochin Jewish people in Israel for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Cochin Jewish families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Cochin people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Cochin people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.
Pray that the spiritual eyes of the Cochin Jews are opened to see their Messiah.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, Cochin in Israel.


References

https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/149027/cochin-indian-cuisine
https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/.premium.MAGAZINE-only-26-jews-left-and-they-still-cant-get-along-1.5424728
https://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/keralas-cochini-jews-meld-into-israel/
https://psmag.com/social-justice/last-jews-of-cochin
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4970776,00.html
https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Cochin-battles-to-save-its-shul
http://www.hadassahmagazine.org/2017/03/09/kochi-ancient-jewish-treasure-south-india/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Jewish, Cochin
People Name in Country Jewish, Cochin
Natural Name Cochin Jewish
Pronunciation ko-CHIN joo
Alternate Names
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 12,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 20785
ROP3 Code 117177
ROP25 Code 303368
ROP25 Name Jewish
Country Israel
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Israel
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Map of Jewish, Cochin in Israel
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Religion Subdivision: Judaism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.10 %
Ethnic Religions
99.90 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Malayalam
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malayalam
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malayalam Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Roberto Faccenda - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: Web research. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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