For centuries, particularly during the Middle Ages, Jews were involved in international trade, especially in the transportation of spices from India and the Far East to Europe. During this period, Jewish merchants served as a cultural hub, including between the Islamic and Christian worlds. This trading network owed its stability not least to the Jewish communities that emerged in key trading centers in Egypt (Cairo), in the area of present-day Iraq (Baghdad), in the port city of Aden in Yemen, and in India, the source of spices.
An important trading center was located in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. In the region of Kerala, approximately 40 kilometers from the city of Kochi, a Jewish community was established. According to local Jewish tradition, they were descendants of the tribe of Reuben, one of the ten tribes that went into exile after the fall of the Kingdom of Israel (722 BCE).
The Jews in this region acted as merchants and intermediaries between their Jewish brethren and the local inhabitants of India, earning them respect and significance. Due to their importance to...
Become a Member
-
Read all member content
Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel.
-
Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel
Connect with Israel, right from your home.
-
Lift up the voice of truth and hope
Support Jerusalem-based Zionist journalism.
Already a member? Login here.
