Bene Israel: India

Overview

Episode 2 of the series turns the spotlight onto the Israelite community (aka Bene Israel) in India. Exactly who are the members of this subset whose Judaism other Jews have previously called into question? Are they in fact, as legend has it, survivors of the great tempest? Are they descendants of King Solomon’s seamen, originally of the Zebulun tribe? The episode explores the customs and culture of the Israelites whose people moved to Israel after the establishing of the state, but then had to wait upwards of 20 years for the country’s orthodox rabbinate authorities to recognise their Judaism.