Ruby of Cochin: An Indian Jewish Woman Remembers

by Ruby Daniel, Barbara Johnson

Ruby Daniel was born in Jew Town, Cochin, India, at a time when the ancient and modern ways of life met. She writes,
"Sometimes I wish I was born 50 years earlier or 50 years later. But it happened in December 1912. Times were beginning to change, and we were in the middle;… [W]omen didn't talk about their lives then; they just kept quiet. If I explain what has happened to me, it may give an idea of other women who were born at that time" Ruby of Cochin is the first book written by a Jewish woman from Cochin. It is a rich description of Jewish life on the Southwest Coast of India, spanning many centuries. It is the story of one woman – yet it is also the story of all the Jews of Cochin, from the earliest settlements, when the Maharajah granted the Jews their land and privileged status, until today, when a transplanted Cochin community is finding new life in Israel. The book is written with a distinctive storyteller's voice and contains historical legends, ghost tales, colorful renditions of Jewish celebrations in Cochin, and translations of Jewish women's songs from Malayalam, the language of the Cochin Jews. The book is also Ruby's own memoir of her dramatic life in India. Ruby relates, "when I began to write down all these stories from the past, my first intention was to show how good the people were in Malabar, how they welcomed the Jews and treated them well for 2000 years. I did not think I would write very much about my own life. But then I thought, I want to write about the situation of women in my generation, about their sufferings and all. I can't bring it out unless I write about myself and what happened to me. It is important for people today to know about what happened... before they were born. To know about the lives of ordinary women, people who were not known in this world. Wildflowers who bloom in the forest. Nobody sees them and they fade."

Genres: Jewish

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Razeen Muhammed rafi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jews settled in Malabar coast of Kerala dates back from the time of King Solomon. They settled in Kerala and even married with local people's and lived as local people of Kerala these people are known as Black Jews and others who are known as Paradesi Jews reached during 15th and 16th century following the expulsion of Jews from Spain . These people are supposed to reach Cranganoore (Kodungaloor) which was famous for its international sea port Muzaris. Paradesi Jews settled in parts of Kochi and build their synagogue and life there.
Ruby one of early educated Jewish lady was a teacher and also worked for defence force during colonial period who made Aliyah (immigration to Israel) in later years describe about Jewish life and tradition of Kochi.
This book's deals on rituals of Jews during festivals ,their homes, marriages, birth of a child,death etc. She even discuss on stories of spirits etc. Book also provide her life after Aliyah and her days and struggle in her kibbutz(collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture) are explained in detailed in this book.

[Meilech · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual memoir from an Indian jew that grew up in Cochin and later on migrated to Israel.

It's written in a very readable form and you feel immersed in her world.

This memoir will give you insights about Jewish life in Cochin which I very much enjoyed as there's not much written about them.

Highly recommend!

[Sandra Bornstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

After living in India and visiting the famous Paradesi Synagogue in 2010, I was interested in learning more about the Cochin Jews. This once thriving Jewish community has now diminished to less than ten Jews. Ruby of Cochin: An Indian Jewish Woman Remembers provides a first-hand account of life in Cochin during the first half of the twentieth century.

Ruby Daniels was born in 1912 and immigrated to Israel in 1951. With the assistance of Barbara C. Johnson, an anthropologist, Ruby describes what life was like during that era. A wide array of black and white photographs enhances this memoir.

Initially, I found it difficult to become engaged in Ruby’s story. The narrative was cluttered with facts and details, but at the same time included information that might be lost without her recollections. Once I started focusing on the major ideas, I began to see how important Ruby’s writing contributes to our understanding of Indian Jewry.

She candidly talked about the clashes between different groups of Jews, discrimination against women, and her experiences working for the Indian government and Women’s Royal Indian Navy. The chapters that focus on traditions and customs enhance our understanding of Indian practices, superstitions, and ethnic songs. Apparently, Hindu superstitions permeated the neighboring Jewish community. The latter part of the book provides insight into why most of the Indian Jews immigrated to the Israel and Ruby shares her vivid memories of adjusting to life on a kibbutz.

In retrospect, I wish that I had read this book before visiting Jew Town in Cochin. Anyone planning to visit the Paradesi Synagogue should definitely read it as well as anyone interested in Indian Jewry or Jewish women around the world.