The history of refugee Jewish migration

Abstract

The Jews of Malabar are indigenous communities of Kerala with a history dating back to the time of King Solomon’s fleet frequenting the shores of Shingli (Muziris-Kodungalloor) for the rich spices. The Malabari Jews consist of White Jews (the Paradesi or foreigner) who migrated to Malabar after the Spanish Inquisition (13–14th C AD) and the Black (Malabari) Jews who migrated to Muziris during 800 BC from the kingdom of Majorca and claims to be the descendants of the Jews who were taken as captives after the destruction of the Great Temple. During the reign of Baskara Ravi Varman (1000 BC), the Jewish leader Joseph Rabban was given privileges and tax reduction and Jews were even considered as the ‘Anchuvannam’ or the fifth caste of the society. With the advent of Paradesi Jews, they soon acclaimed the superior position of counsellor and trade advisors to the king due to their familiarity with the European education and trading patterns leaving back the Black Jews in a state of poverty. The chapter analyzes the reasons for Jewish migration to Kerala, their socio-economic conditions of the migrants in Cochin and their migration back to Israel.