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Ruby of Cochin: An Indian Jewish Woman Remembers

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It seems that even before the destruction of the second temple, Jews were trading and settling in southwest India. If you look on a world map, you'll see it was because India and Israel are not really that far away from each other by sea. It turns out that India was good for the Jews. Because of the region's tolerance for ethnic diversity--the Indians saw Jews as just another cast--a Jewish community flourished in Cochin for thousands of years, without prejudice or pogroms. Women had much more equality within the Cochin Jewish community than they have had elsewhere. Anthropologist Barbara Johnson first met Ruby Daniel, one of the outspoken members of that community, when she visited Cochin in the 60s and formed a deep friendship that continues today, although Ruby, now in her 80s, has immigrated to Israel with most of the community (even the synagogue was transported, thanks to wealthy American benefactors, and is now on display in the Jewish Museum). The book is told in Ruby's marvelous voice and is a fascinating tale. I gave it to my mom as a gift and she loved it.

its one of the fantastic reveiw of the jewish life in india and particulary cochin, unknown to the jewish people around the world even in israel

Interesting book. It features the memoirs of a
Jewish woman and describes a Jewish
community living in India.

Deftly written with the assistance of Barbara C. Johnson (Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Ithaca College), Ruby Of Cochin: An Indian Jewish Woman Remembers is the personal memoir of Ruby Daniel, a Jewish woman born in the East Indian community of Cochin in 1912 and educated at a convent school, and then attending St. Theresa's College. In World War II she served as a member of the Women's Royal Indian Navy, and subsequently immigrated to Israel in 1951, and currently resides on an Israeli kibbutz. Ruby Of Cochin is a rich and engaging autobiographical story enhanced with historical legends, folk tales, and women's songs in the local language of Malayalam. Highly recommended reading, Ruby Of Cochin is a simply fascinating window into one woman's life in East India.