A Fond Farewell to - Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

Blurring the Division Between East and West: Indo-Judaic Relations
Article and photos submitted by Ben Piven. Ben (BHC Bar Mitzvah ’96, Confirmand ’99) is currently a U.S. Fulbright Scholar living in India and doing research on
the cultural geography of the caste system in Mumbai (Bombay). After completing his 9-month study, Ben will attend the Columbia University Graduate School of
Journalism starting in Fall 2008.
As a Jewish-American researcher in this exhilarating country of stark contrasts, India strikes me as vivid, voluminous, and variegated. While
the primary focus of my research project is on Dalits (formerly Untouchable castes) in Mumbai, I have also had the opportunity to explore
various Jewish themes during my time in India.
Global Context of Warming Relations
In recent years, there has been a tremendous warming of relations between Jews/Israel and Indians/India, with the U.S. providing a conduit.
The increased linkages have taken on business, tourist, military, and geopolitical dimensions. Relations are more intimate than ever. The
end of the Cold War meant a significant shift in alliances, especially with regards to the
rise of Islam. Moreover, the Indian economy liberalized, and the Indian government has
been moving ever closer to the U.S. on the global stage. Along with increased cross-cultural
understanding, many Indians view America as a land of incredible opportunity, while
Americans often see India as curiously exotic. There is also a very profound Israeli obsession
with India, and Israeli tourists, especially post-military service, are ever-present on the
subcontinent. One further similarity is that the Hebrew and Hindi languages have borrowed
extensively from both English and Arabic.
Jewish Connection with India
The various Semitic/Middle Eastern
influences on Indian culture include Mughal
Islamic influence in North India and Syrian
Christian heritage in South India. Moreover, Ben Piven, center, with a family during the
there is increasing historical knowledge of Diwali celebration (Festival of Lights)
the five Indian groups practicing Judaism in
various ways and whose Jewish descent ranges from literal to far-fetched. In chronological
order of emergence, they are: Cochin Jews (Kerala), Bene Israel (Maharashtra), Baghdadi Jews
(Mumbai, Kolkata), Bnei Menashe (Manipur, Mizoram), and Bene Ephraim (Andhra Pradesh).
I have been fortunate enough to encounter the former three communities, whose Jewish
origins are indubitable – while the latter two communities have emerged more recently.
Nonetheless, many Bnei Menashe have migrated to Israel. The Telugu-speaking Bene
Ephraim are notable because they are members of an Untouchable caste (Madigas) who have
promoted liberation from low-caste Hinduism through Judaism and migration to Israel.
The Star of David, Diwali mandala sand painting
Moreover, there is ongoing Jewish religious interest in Hindu rituals, yoga practice, and
Buddhist meditation. An additional cultural link is the Star of David and the related Sri
Yantra, which are omnipresent symbols in India. Speculative theories about ancestral linkages involve various Semitic-sounding placenames
in India that are attributed to Hebraic rather than Arabic roots and particular Indian castes/communities (Yadavs, Kashmiris)
for whom distant Jewish origin is claimed, generally through some version of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel hypothesis. Another common
theme for Indo-Judaic researchers is Abraham’s purported a-Brahmanism, which attributes the etymology of his name to his being an
“a-Brahm.” Such folks argue that monotheistic Abraham emerged from the ancient Vedic tradition of Northwest India and migrated
westward towards Canaan because he rejected the precepts of Brahmanism. Even if this
theory is far-fetched, the distinction between so-called Dharmic and Abrahamic faiths is
not always so clear-cut.
Jews & Brahmins
There have also been conspiratorial comparisons drawn between the “Jews of India”
(contemporary Brahmins) and actual Jews, which concentrate both on political alliances
and on demographic minority status. Though Brahmin-baiting and anti-Semitism both have
varied avatars, Brahmins are viewed as similar in their attainment of economic resources
and political influence, both in India and abroad. Yet, reactionary sentiment towards Jews
is comparatively very rare in India, due to the lack of Hindu proselytizing and the long
tradition of Indian religious tolerance.
Kohens & Brahmins
One additional area of interest lies in the priestly caste, which exists in both Hinduism and
Judaism. Despite significant difference between Kohens and Brahmins, certain parallels
abound. Although there are more vestiges of Brahminical privilege extant in contemporary
Hinduism, some features of Kohen status still serve to differentiate the priests of the ancient
Hebrew temple. Judaic society was never caste-stratified by lineage in the same way as
Hindu society, but the priestly caste of yesteryear retains special distinction in both cultural
spheres. In conclusion, the numerous connections between Abrahamic and Dharmic The Star of David—an “Om Star” on a temple
cultures blur the divisions between East and West.
in Kerala
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Bulletin • Number 7 • 24 Adar I – 24 Adar I1 5768 • March 2008
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