The Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu replicas of 2 sets of relics from Kerala that are regarded as key artifacts in the long Jewish history in India.
They comprise two different sets of copper plates that are believed to have been inscribed in 9-10th century C.E.
The first set of copper plates is a cherished relic for the Cochini Jews in India. It is regarded as a charter describing the grant of hereditary royal privileges and prerogatives by the Hindu King, Cheraman Perumal (often identified as Bhaskara Ravi Varma) to the Jewish leader Joseph Rabban. According to traditional Jewish accounts, Joseph Rabban was later crowned as the Prince of Shingli, a place in or equated with Cranganore. Cranganore is where Jews enjoyed religious and cultural autonomy for centuries, before they moved to Cochin and other places in Malabar. Local Jews once placed in each coffin a handful of earth from Shingli/Cranganore that was remembered as a holy place & a “second Jerusalem”. The replica of these plates was made possible with the cooperation of the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry, Kochi.
The second set of copper plates is believed to be the earliest documentation of the history of Jewish trade with India. These plates describe the grant of land and tax privileges by the local Hindu ruler to a church and oversight of trade in Kollam to West Asian and Indian trading associations. West Asian association included Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, as also a group of Jews who signed in Judeo-Persian and possibly also in Arabic and Pahlavi (Middle Persian). The plates bear their signatures that appear to have been cut into the plates by a local workman unfamiliar with the script. The replica of these plates was made possible with the cooperation of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Thiruvalla, Kerala.
In addition, Prime Minister also presented PM Netanyahu a Torah scroll donated by the Paradesi Jewish community in Kerala. Handwritten over a hundred years ago, the scroll had been dedicated to the Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi that had been built in 1568. The Torah is enclosed on wooden staves in a wooden case adorned with silver sheets and a metal crown covered in gold sheets in floral ornament style, bearing motifs typical of lamps and decorations of south India.
PM Modi presented PM Netanyahu replicas of 2 sets of relics from Kerala that, regarded as key artifacts in the long Jewish history in India. pic.twitter.com/OywLabMQoO
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
They comprise two different sets of copper plates that are believed to have been inscribed in 9-10th century C.E.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
The first set of copper plates is a cherished relic for the Cochini Jews in India. pic.twitter.com/ZcR2AmICyW
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
It is regarded as a charter describing the grant of hereditary royal privileges and prerogatives (1/2)
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
By the Hindu King, Cheraman Perumal (often identified as Bhaskara Ravi Varma) to the Jewish leader Joseph Rabban. (2/2)
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
According to traditional Jewish accounts, Joseph Rabban was later crowned as the Prince of Shingli, a place in or equated with Cranganore.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
Cranganore is where Jews enjoyed religious and cultural autonomy for centuries, before they moved to Cochin and other places in Malabar.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
Local Jews once placed in each coffin a handful of earth from Shingli/Cranganore that was remembered as a holy place & a “second Jerusalem”.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
The replica of these plates was made possible with the cooperation of the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry, Kochi.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
The second set of copper plates is believed to be the earliest documentation of the history of Jewish trade with India. pic.twitter.com/GmWGQPHp1M
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
These plates describe the grant of land and tax privileges by the local Hindu ruler to a church. (1/2)
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
And oversight of trade in Kollam to West Asian and Indian trading associations. (2/2)
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
West Asian association included Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, as also a group of Jews. (1/2)
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
Who signed in Judeo-Persian and possibly also in Arabic and Pahlavi (Middle Persian). (2/2)
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
The plates bear their signatures that appear to have been cut into the plates by a local workman unfamiliar with the script.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
The replica of these plates was made possible with the cooperation of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Thiruvalla, Kerala.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
Handwritten over a hundred years ago, the scroll had been dedicated to the Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi that had been built in 1568.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
The Torah is enclosed on wooden staves in a wooden case adorned with silver sheets. (1/n)
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
And a metal crown covered in gold sheets in floral ornament style, bearing motifs typical of lamps and decorations of south India. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/KWNXltBYBY
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017
