Who were the Paradesi Jews and how did they settle in India?

Paradesi Jews were Sephardic and Mizrahi migrants who arrived in the Indian subcontinent during the 15th and 16th centuries, fleeing persecution and expulsion from Spain and Portugal. Settling among the established Cochin Jewish community in Kerala and trading in regions like Madras, they maintained distinct cultural and linguistic traits while contributing to local commerce. Following Indian independence and the creation of Israel, most Paradesi Jews chose to migrate to Australia and other Commonwealth countries rather than making Aliyah.

What we know

• Paradesi Jews are Jewish immigrants who arrived in the Indian subcontinent during the 15th and 16th centuries following the Alhambra Decree and King Manuel's 1496 expulsion decree from Portugal. [2]
• The Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry, Kochi, was built in 1568 by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, and Joseph Levi, and it remains the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations. [3]
• Paradesi Jews in Madras traded in Golconda diamonds, precious stones, and corals, maintaining good relations with local rulers due to their useful foreign language skills and trade connections. [2]
• After India gained independence in 1947, most Paradesi Jews chose to migrate to Australia and other Commonwealth countries rather than emigrating to Israel like the Malabar Jews. [2, 5]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhen were Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal?
• how we knowHow did the Paradesi Synagogue come to be built in Kochi?
• the bigger pictureWho are the Cochin Jews of Kerala?
• compared withHow did the migration patterns of Paradesi Jews differ from Malabar Jews?
• whenWhat was the broader history of Jewish communities in India?
• an unexpected connectionWhy did European refugees trade in Golconda diamonds?Refugees fleeing religious persecution in the Iberian Peninsula ended up leveraging their international ties to trade precious gems in Southern India.

Sources

• [1]Paradesi Jews (Wikidata Q8046801) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Paradesi Jews · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Paradesi Synagogue · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]History of the Jews in India · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Cochin Jews · CC BY-SA 4.0