Cochin Jews at the 450th year celebration of the Paradesi synagogue in India, December 2017 (Photo credit: Prof. Shalva Weil)
A new study by Prof. Shalva Weil from the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University reveals that the unique Purim traditions of the Cochin Jewish community, particularly the use of effigies, Sculpted or crafted representations of a person, as symbols of resistance and social inversion, have disappeared following their migration to Israel. Once deeply embedded in their communal identity in India, these traditions faded as the community integrated into the broader global Jewish experience. While Cochin Jewry no longer exists as a significant presence in India beyond positive memories, their cultural legacy persists in Israel, albeit in a transformed and assimilated manner.
A Unique Purim Tradition
A recent study published in the Journal of Modern Jewish Studies examines the historical and cultural significance of effigies, (sculpted or crafted representations of a person, often created to be publicly displayed, symbolically ridiculed, or destroyed) in Purim celebrations among Cochin Jews, tracing their evolution from the sixteenth century under Portuguese rule to their transformation in modern-day Israel.
The Cochin Jewish community, numbering no more than 2,400 at its peak in 1948, lived in harmony with their Hindu, Christian, and Muslim neighbors. Unlike other Jewish communities, they never experienced antisemitism in India, except during the Portuguese conquest of the sixteenth century. Their unique Purim celebrations featured role reversals that symbolically challenged societal hierarchies based on caste, religion, and gender. This inversion of power structures was most vividly expressed through the construction and destruction of effigies representing adversaries, a practice embedded in the communal and ritualistic fabric of Cochin Jewry.
Migration and Cultural Transformation
By the twentieth century, Cochin Jews increasingly aligned themselves with the global Jewish community. Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the majority of Cochin Jews emigrated to Israel by 1954, leaving behind only a small number of Paradesi and Malabar Jews scattered across the state of Kerala. Today, the once-thriving Cochin Jewish community on the Malabar Coast is nearly extinct, and traditional Purim celebrations have all but disappeared. No longer do the streets of Jew Town, Mattancherry, or Fort Cochin witness the parading of Haman’s effigy. With only one Paradesi Jew remaining there and a handful in other former Cochin Jewish locations, synagogue services now rely on visiting Jewish tourists, and the once-vibrant Purim revelry has faded into history.
The Legacy of Cochin Jewry in Israel
In stark contrast, in Israel, where an estimated 15,000 descendants of Cochin Jews now reside, Purim is celebrated in ways that reflect broader Jewish and Western cultural traditions. Children dress up as superheroes, soldiers, and biblical figures; they participate in school parties and exchange the iconic hamantaschen pastries. Observant Jews continue to read the Book of Esther in synagogue and hold festive meals, incorporating their heritage into mainstream Jewish customs.
Scholarly Reflections on Identity and Change
Prof. Weil, who has been awarded this year’s “Yakir Yerushalayim” honor as a distinguished citizen of Jerusalem due to her lifelong research into ethnicity and gender, highlights in her research the transition of Cochin Jewry from a localized, community-bound identity to an integrated and globalized Jewish experience. The effigy, once a potent symbol of resistance and communal identity, has faded along with the physical presence of Cochin Jewry in India. Yet, as Freud aptly noted in relation to transference theory, “When all is said and done, it is impossible to destroy anyone in absentia or in effigy.”
“When all is said and done, it is impossible to destroy anyone in absentia or in effigy.” - Prof. Shalva Weil
The research paper titled Effigies, Religion, and Reversals in the Celebration of Purim by Cochin Jews is now available in the Journal of Modern Jewish Studies and can be accessed at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14725886.2024.2411344#abstract.
DOI: 10.1080/14725886.2024.2411344
For a century, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been a beacon for visionary minds who challenge norms and shape the future. Founded by luminaries like Albert Einstein, who entrusted his intellectual legacy to the University, it is dedicated to advancing knowledge, fostering leadership, and promoting diversity. Home to over 23,000 students from 90 countries, the Hebrew University drives much of Israel’s civilian scientific research, with over 11,000 patents and groundbreaking contributions recognized by nine Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards, and a Fields Medal. Ranked 81st globally by the Shanghai Ranking (2024), it celebrates a century of excellence in research, education, and innovation. To learn more about the University’s academic programs, research, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en