Indian Jews in Israel
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Nevatim, Shahar, Yuval, Mesilat Zion, Jerusalem, Beersheba, Ramla, Dimona, Yeruham and many other. | |
| Languages | |
|
Hebrew (Main language for all generations); Older generation: Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi |
|
| Religion | |
| Judaism |
Indian Jews in Israel are immigrants and descendants of the immigrants of the Indian Jewish communities, who now reside within the state of Israel. Indian Jews who live in Israel are primarily Cochin Jews and Paradesi Jews of Kerala and Bene Israel of Maharashtra.
The majority of Indian Jews have "made Aliyah" (migrated) to Israel since the creation of the modern state in 1948. Jews back in the 1940s, were divided into Bene Israel and Baghdadi Jews, though the Baghdadi Jews refused to recognize the B'nei Israel as Jews, and withheld dispensing charity to them for that reason. There are reminders of Jewish localities in Kerala still left such as Synagogues. Majority of Jews from the old British-Indian capital of Calcutta (Kolkata) have also migrated to Israel over the last six decades.
When India became independent of Britain in 1947 and Israel established itself as a nation in 1948 and with the heightened nationalism and emphasis in the Partition of India of Hindu and Muslim identities, most of Cochin Jews emigrated from India. Generally they went to Israel (made aliyah). Many from the migrants joined the moshavim (agricultural settlements) of Nevatim, Shahar, Yuval, and Mesilat Zion. Others settled in the neighbourhood of Katamon in Jerusalem, and in Beersheba, Ramla, Dimona and Yeruham, where many Bene Israel had settled.
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