The Cochin Jewish Heritage Center in Nevatim | Jewish History on the Road

[@SamAronow]

Happy New Year. This was filmed Tuesday of last week, in accordance with social-distancing protocols. As of one hour ago (at the time of this video's release), a new lockdown has begun in Israel.

[@MrHazz111]

As a person raised in a Muslim family from Kerala, it was fascinating to find out that there were jews here living up until 60 years ago, the politics between the natives and the Sephardic, or the so called 'Black and white' jews and their aliyah to Israel. It was really cool to hear them speak in Malayalam as well! I would assume quite a few of them forgot, but I could be wrong on that. Thanks for this video.

[@SamAronow]

What did they say? At some point I had it translated into Hebrew but I've since lost that footage.

[@redcoat4348]

I’m not too fluent in the language at this point but the lady is talking about when they say shalom while the man is talking about his life in Israel after moving. I’ll see if I can get a direct translation later, or if the other guy can comment.

[@redcoat4348]

I’m honestly impressed that they still talk without an accent. Hearing them was like listening to relatives. They speak the same dialect as many Christians.

[@SamAronow]

Mira was born and raised in Israel as well. Your help on this would be much appreciated for an upcoming video.

[@redcoat4348]

This is for the man, for the women I could understand little more than roughly what I said in the previous comment. My transcriptions aren't accurate, and I don't know enough Malayalam script to do much more than reading, so take the transcriptions with a grain of salt. "Hello. ... |namaskaram| "Without knowing/just like that" |ayirathi layerthi| "fifty three years ago (or "in '53)," |ampathi munu| "we came to Israel. " |Yisraele vannu| [unintelligible, depends on what "Kuffara" means, though he mentions preparing for the move.] "Another way by dream [we came for a dream]."|Vere... uhh, evride vareyete sohunum vareyte.| "Once we learned of it,"|pariksya vanna,| "we came to the church/synagogue."|saveye poi| "From the synagogue we came here."|Saveye-enum ivrede vannu.| "Fifty-five of us came."| Ivrede vannapa ampathi-anja vannu.| "After those guys came, from then on I was retired." (either that or he means he retired just recently).|Ampathi vanna, annoora ivede njan vrithune. [Pashaka venti- I assume this is Hebrew since it sounds like your friend in the background said it, but if it's Malayalam, it either means "But congratulations" or "like a bird". Both sound pretty similar He then repeats this to himself.] Overall this is vaguely what he said: "Hello... Just like that, fifty three years ago/in '53, we came to Israel. [unintelligible] We came just for a dream. Once we learned of it [probably the foundation of Israel], we went to the temple, and from thence we came here. Fifty-five of us came, and after those guys came, I retired." "Congratulations." "Congratulations." Sorry if this translation is not naturalistic, I haven't spoken Malayalam since I was a child, and so I'm a little rusty. Writing this up took a little longer than I thought because of the piece-by-piece translation, but I wanted to do it since that would give a more accurate idea of what he said, and to make it easier to put in subtitles later on. Now, what is this about an upcoming video? Are you thinking of making a follow-up?

[@mitzvahfilms]

Aronow, you're such a breath of fresh air! No filtering of information, just the right, precise amount of facts and storytelling - you evoke such genuine honesty and curiousity! Also your production quality is always impeccable. Shana Tova! You don't understand how much clarity and understanding you have provided for me - previously unable to understand which account and interpretation of history to believe in an overcrowded and often alterior motive-driven field. Thank you so much once again! Don't stop!

[@redcoat4348]

I’m Keralan and I’m fascinated by the Cochin Jews (Cochin Yehudamaran), especially seeing how I’m likely descended from a few on my father’s side. Great video as always. Looking forward to you continuing the election series though

[@guynehemia4029]

Im half Cochin and I love seeing our group represented. Thank you!

[@tommy-er6hh]

wow! I ask a question about the Indian Jews, and here you have a video about them 2 days later! Thank you! (I know you filmed this before the question, but it is very nice to have released it after.)

[@samuelstern5593]

Had the opportunity to travel to Mumbai and Cochin to meet some of the remaining Indian Jews (thanks to the JDC!) A truly fascinating and vibrant community!

[@PeaceGuyForEarth]

Mira is a blessing. I'm glad you were able to go down to Nevatim and talk to her and other community members.

[@ליאורשטוירמן]

I really love this channel and how it develops

[@glenesis]

Hi Sam. I'm Glenn. I grew up on Long Island near New York City. My family belonged to an Orthodox congregation. Just FYI, in our synagogue, all seats face to the east, due east, which is where our ark is, crowned with an electric eternal flame. It's snazzy. Last time I was in there though was probably in 1978. I'd think things haven't changed. When I attended, had a mixed Ashkenazi & Sephardic congregation, who were westernized - we had no black hats in the shul, but all of my Hebrew School teachers were men and women of the more traditional Orthodox communities in Brooklyn. The women all wore sheitels (wigs), and the rabbis who taught class wore black suits and hats and tzitzit (fringes). I'm very much enjoying your channel. It's a real mitzvah what you do on KZbin! I thank you! Happy Hanukkah!

[@dexterdev]

I am from Kerala, currently staying in Beersheva for postdoctoral research work in BGU. Thanks for this video. I am gonna visit this place soon.

[@elisabeth73]

Thank you for your work. I have studied greco-roman history and the main focus have been from a christian point of view. I have learned more from you. We have focused too much on the fertile crest etc. I have binge watched your episodes and will yet again re-read my books and compare with your sources. I have covid right now and that means I have all the time to enjoy your channel. I will as well share your chanel to fellow former and current students. This makes me want to visit Israel and visit museums and places. Thank you!

[@ikesileth2270]

My best friend is descended from the Indian Jews. The funny thing is, his family left India not for Israel, but for the Caribbean. Turns out there’s a very small community of Indian Jews there (I believe in Trinidad specifically).

[@marksimons8861]

I visited the synagogue in Cochin in 1977/8 and was called up for Levi.

[@xberman]

Minor correction: in 2:13 the hostess says "ze hamakom she HaSHem IVTIAH lanu" which means "that's the place HaShem promised to us" The verb להבטיח, to promise, is different from the noun מַפְתֵחַ, key

[@yko_7313]

שנה טובה-happy new year sam

[@dawoodwaris]

Thank you Sam. I was surprised to see they moved the synagogue from Kochi to Israel. My mother while she was studying medicine in 1950's, her friend and colleague who is also a Kerala Jew migrated back to Israel with her parents. She used to send letters to mom with pictures of curry leaf tree, moringa and banana tree they were growing in their backyard in Israel.

[@constantdrowsiness4458]

Jewish history in South Asia is fascinating.

[@abrahamvinod9804]

Good video!

[@jeffmoncalieri7491]

It's simply amazing I get to learn so much from my own home. Another great video. Thank you Sam.

[@rareword]

There is a document in the synagogue in Cochin (Jew Town, Mattancherry) which explains why most of the Kerala Jews went to Israel. It states that the Maharaja of Cochin, who had protected them until then, declared that after India's independence he had no more power and could not ensure their safety.

[@pompousegg]

that was interesting, is there any plan to cover other lesser known Jewish groups from around the world?

[@SamAronow]

Yes.

[@sanjovlogs2020]

One week before I went to see this kochin jews heritage centre & synagogue. I'm from kerala. So happy to hear the climax (malayalam) 😊👍🏻

[@patrickkelmer6290]

I have been wanting to visit this place since 2014. When I finally make it back to Israel again I absolutely HAVE to visit this time.

[@benjaminromm8184]

1:30 אני אגיד לך. אבל אני יכולה להראות לך סרט, סרטון -- באנגלית... roasted

[@arieljgrasky3370]

Sam, you are amazing! Just an enigma to me… you are the perfect knowledgeable Jew without being observant or religious…. Am I wrong? Keep up the great work. G-d bless you!

[@a.maskil9073]

If you ever do something in Netanya or nearby for a video (though I doubt it lol) let me know! Would love to help out or just talk.

[@SamAronow]

I've been to Netanya twice in my life; once to buy a bookcase from IKEA and once for my book. But Caesarea is very much in the cards, and that's probably the closest site I hope to go for this series.

[@a.maskil9073]

@@SamAronow Haha, IKEA is the main attraction. Some people come for the mall as well, but that's it give or take unless you want to speak French or get shanked. The reason I thought you may be interested is for some more recent history. Yad Lebanim, while an IDF "museum", has a German train car used to transport Jews in the war. Beit Hagdudim, in Aviyhail (attached at the hip to Netanya) is a museum about the British Jewish legion in WW1. There's of course the now famous "Victory Monument" to the Soviets. Lastly and probably most significantly, the whole Sergeants Affair occured here and there's a few commemorations around the city but none in the forest itself. More relevant to this video, there's purportedly a museum for Yemenite culture but presumably it's smaller than that of Rosh Ha'ayin. Caesarea isn't too far, not sure what I could plausibly do to assist a video but we could play some golf ;D Anyway, Shana Tova.

[@tekoanow]

Hi Sam I was listening to your talk on Aaron ben Meir which was facinating . Can you please supply me with the resource to his contribution regarding the development of time zones rather than Fleming. I know of his contibution to the " chalakim" but would appreciate further information if available

[@riva.philip]

Myself is a Syrian Christian (Nazrani) from Kerala. My forefathers were Jews who came. to Kerala from Urfa (Edessa).

[@mew11two]

You look like Aladdin in that Cochin kippah

[@ligener]

By the Chasidim the Aron Koidesh is also towards north/Jerusalem

[@shacharraz9129]

Chag Samech!

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Are you going to make this a series

[@sdelmonte]

Shana tova and keep safe

[@lauriemikhael9920]

What happened to the movie that the woman was going to show? I really wanted to see that. Do you have it? I do a lot of research on the ancient history of Jews in India and would appreciate anything more. Thank you. OmShalom!

[@DrCiju]

The Syrian christians also known as Nasranis or St. Thomas Christians of Cochin and the rest of Kerala, many of whom have Jewish ancestry used to keep the Sabbath just like their Jewish neighbours. We held on to many of our common traditions till the arrival of the Portugese. We were declared heretics due to those traditions. To begin with these were forcefully stopped and later many of us were forcefully converted to Catholisism. Could the Jews of Kerala also have faced this during the time of the Portugese hegemony? Love your channel. Shalom/Solomo from Kochi

[@theoriginalzach4340]

Do you know if they have in possession or where one might find "the 5 lost books" of the Cochin Broader Canon which includes Iddo, Gad, Nathan, Shemaiah, and Ahijah?

[@lennoxt.anderson8966]

Can you continue your Israeli pm election series?

[@historicalminds6812]

Are the other heritage museums like this for other jewish groups?

[@SamAronow]

There's definitely an Ethiopian Jewish center in Beersheba. Most other groups are pretty large though, so there's not much call for an outright museum.

[@historicalminds6812]

@@SamAronow i find that quite surprising to be honest. I thought there would be much more for smaller groups like Romaniotes and Italkim.

[@SamAronow]

HistoricalMinds Looks like there’s a Romaniote synagogue in New York, and it’s the last one in operation.

[@trevor1667]

Ja!

[@philipwatersdeaf]

Hi Sam, could you please enable captions on this video? I’m deaf and rely on them. Thanks in advance 🙏

[@safuwanfauzi5014]

I love to see what medival jews army, weapon and body armor, jews castle, jews palace, jews architecture and jews traditional dress, I got bored to see European castle, Arab castle, citadel, and etc, Japan, Chinese, Thai, India, Persia, Malay, Korea, Turk have great medieval and Ancient history I need learn more about Jewish medival war, castle like European, Persian, Arab, Indian etc

[@dexterdev]

1:18

[@MatheusCayresdeMello]

You look like a little bit like Kaká (brazilian football player) and George Harrison. Both are cool, but George was cooler

[@avishaybm6222]

.

[@sojujoseph8906]

Im from Kerala Kochi not Jewish 🤣🤣

[@psuyog]

Great video.. Only one mistake - Jesus Apostle Thomas never came to India. Malayalis in general have bad habit of distorting history just to prove they are ancient than their parent group Tamil. Another such lie is that Cheraman mosque built before Kaba.

[@navinjanardhanan8578]

We are anicent than tamil ,and we dont have any tamil blood and tamil realations

[@psuyog]

@@navinjanardhanan8578 You do. Such false claims are made by Malayalis to boost Kerala tourism. Historians in general don't agree with such false claims like before Kaba Arabs made mosque in Kerala. All Muslims of Kerala are arabis despite them being darker than local Hindus. Thomas coming to Kerala, Jesus was a Tamil priest.

[@navinjanardhanan8578]

@@psuyog No body claim that cheraman juma masjid is older than kaba , infact kaba is older than islamic religion .

[@navinjanardhanan8578]

@@psuyog All muslims in kerala are not arabs they have arab and malaylis heritage , all arabs came to kerala were mens and they married locals womens , so they are mix of both .

[@navinjanardhanan8578]

@@psuyog Thomas didnt came to kerala ,but some mistook thomas of cannon as apostpal .that how that legend spread