User:MusthaphaMuslim/Jews of Chennamangalam



We Jews of Kerala lived on the Malabar coast for centuries,from the time of King Solomon. We were the elite class of malabar from first century A.D. after the destruction of the Second Temple.

In a popular knanaya tradition, St.Thomas arrived on the Malabar coast and was invited to the wedding of the daughter of the King of Cranganore. There, St.Thomas sang a Hebrew bridal song which none of the company could understand, except a Jewish flute girl. After the wedding, St. Thomas retired to the Jewish quarter in Cranganore, where he took up residence and he converted us. Knanaya people were wealthy plantation owners, merchants and bankers and greate Musicians. All these are evident from the above photo of Gathering of the Chennamangalam Jewish community, 1952   which was taken by news press of Kottayam.

We we were great! All other nasranis served us; we bought them paying lots of money to local Chera King, with whom used to go Dear hunting.