On The Identity Of Indian Jews

Indian Jews consist of Cochin Jews, Bene Israel, and Baghdadi Jews. These three Indian Jewish communities absorbed Indian culture and thoughts in a different degree. But were't assimilated by dominant society, and then vanished in the history, Indian Jews have always kept the Jewish identity from the beginning to the end.Though three Jewish communities mentioned above didn't meet with assimilation, their identities were different from each other. Cochin Jews kept their Jewish identity, while they absorbed some Indian culture. Bene Israel absorbed Indian culture so deep that their Jewish identity was suspected for a time by other Jewish communities. Baghdadi Jews were hardly affected by Indian culture. The reasons for the dissimilarities in their identities among these three Indian Jewish communities mentioned above exist in their different situations in India.What should we pay attention to the issue of Jewish Identity is that the dissimilarities among three Jewish communities is only quantitative. Even though Bene Israel, who absorbed Indian culture so deep, they still observed Sabbath, performed circumcision for the infants, and recited Shema. What's the springhead for Indian Jews keeping Jewish identities? Many scholars attributed Jewish identities to their religion. But before modern times, it was a normal phenomenon that many Diaspora Jewish communities which observed Jewish laws, customs, and rituals were assimilated by dominant cultures. Kaifeng Jews were a typical example. Therefore, besides their religion as an internal defense, finding answers in characteristics of India society was also necessary. The author believes that policies of rulers of India towards Jews, the caste system of Indian society are very important factord for Indian Jews to keep their Jewish identity. Jewish religion as an internal and characteristics of India society as external factors led to the preservations of identity of Jews in India.