R. I. Jewish Historical Association 11 Inside: 130 Sessions Street From The Editor, page 4 Providence, RI 02906 Around Town, page 8 ''Third Country'' Report On India: Remark Baffles Israelis Jewish Life In Cochin JERUSALEM - Israeli && WWWWt 'Tra-·•~ officials said that they were by M.D. Japetb Rajahs, who granted them social pattern that enables the baffled by President Reagan's The Cochin Jews point to the complete freedom in which to Jews of Cochin to appear in a ·t 160 years of Portuguese rule as the practice their religion and pursue favorable and impressive light. remark in a magazine interview suggesting that "another country" darkest period in their entire their vocations and ways of life. The Jews of Cochin, like the apparently Israel - had history. For an insight into the Having lived through such a · Bene-Israel, while drawing freely overcharged Iran for weapons and spirit of this self-condemned age colorful and eventful past, the from the inexhaustible wells of then knowingly put the profits in of darkness, we have only to refer Jews of Cochin today show signs India's · culture, have retained bank accounts belonging to to a letter written by Albuquerque of having imbibed the best that intact their religious identity. As Nicaraguan rebel leaders. in 1513 to the king of Portugal, in cultural influences and trends followers of Judaism, they are Asked to comment on the which he enquires of his majesty could offer. The influence of the among the most devout people in President's remarks to Time "whether I may be permitted to Dutch is very evident in the the world, and adhere strictly to magazine, Prime Minister Yitzhak exterminate them (the Jews) one architecture of Jew Town, with the tenets of their religion. Shamir's spokesman Avi Pazner by one as I come across them." quaint house-tops and old-world The center and symbol of their said: "We do not know which is Not satisfied with completing the appearance nestling rather religious life is their synagogue. the other 'country' the President destruction of the Jewish kingdom picturesquely against the blue This ancient place of worship, was referring to. But as regards of Cranganore, the Portuguese skies ··of · Kerala and the without being imposing as a Israel, I can only repeat our overran Jew Town in Cochin, contemporary Indian scene. edifice, is vastly interesting for its statement of last week that the destroying houses and damaging Apart from the use of English as rich and ornate design, its money for the arms transferred to the synagogue, Little wonder, an educational factor and a sign of impressive exterior and its Iran was paid by an Iranian therefore, that when the Dutch intellectual accomplishments, the old-world style, which, judged by representative to a Swiss bank, in came, the oppressed Jews regarded Jews of Cochin use Malalayam as present-day standards, borders on accordance with instructions of them as liberators and accorded their day-to-day language, over the quaint. First constructed in American representatives." them their immediate and which t hey have attained a fluency 1568, it was rebuilt, following the Mr. Pazner went or:i: "These spontaneous support. that is matched only by the ravages of the Portuguese, in 1664. funds did not pass through Israel Fortune, however, still mastery of the Bene-Israel over It was given something of a new and Israel had no knowledge that continued to frown on the hapless Marathi. This use of the local look in 1762, when the flooring any of these funds might be going Jews. The Dutch invasion failed, tongue signifies the extent to was tiled with material specially and the Jews paid a heavy price for which the Jews of Cochin have brought for the purpose from to the contras. We know where we Rabbi Shindler stand on this one." their support to them. It was not merged themselves with the far-off Canton. 'It Wasn't Us' until 1660, when the Dutch staged cultural trends of India. Having Being a highly sociable, gay and In his interview with Time, went considerably farther than a reappearance, that the Jews made the country their home, they fun-loving people, the Jews of President Reagan said about the those by Attorney General Edwin were finally able to settle down in have identified themselves Cochin celebrate their joyous and arms transfers to Iran: "Another Meese 3d, who, when discussing their homes and regain some of completely with the outlook, triumph-commemorating feasts country was facilitating those the money transactions, spoke their past glory under the tolerant disposition, temperament and with more than the usual sales of weapons systems. They only about Israelis - not and even benevolent rule of the philosophy of their part of the merriment and feasting. then were overcharging and were necessarily Israeli officials - Dutch. world, in addition to which one According to a confession made by apparently putting the money into. being involved with establishing Thanks to an unbroken period can discern the latent though very a member of the community, "the bank accounts of the leaders of the the Swiss bank accounts, from of 132 years of this rule, the Jews often eloquent influences of their slightest occasion, or perhaps no contras. It wasn't us funneling which the Nicaraguan rebels, lived in safety and security and original Jewishness. The blending occasion at all, is good enough for money to them. This was another known as contras, were later able prospered a great deal. This happy of the old with the new, the Jewish us to break out into singing and to withdraw funds. Mr. Meese's state of affairs continued under · with the Dutch and the Hindu, has dancing." country.'' (Continued on page 5) President Reagan's remarks ( Continued on page 7) the British and the successive resulted in an over-all cultural and Aftermath Of A Stabbing by Gil Sedan ignite. JERUSALEM (JTA) - An On street corners, Arab atmosphere of tension and hatred shopkeepers and religious Jews pervaded the Old City recently eyed each other with palpable· after a third night of anti-Arab hatred and it was apparent that violence and vandalism by Jews only the heavy police presence reacting to the fatal stabbing of prevented further violence. yeshiva student Eliahu Amdi in the Moslem quarter. Shamir Condemns The violence spread to the The Violence run-down Shmuel Hanavi suburb Premier Yitzhak Shamir of West Jerusalem where the condemned the violent victim had lived. Shots were fired demonstrations that followed in the air and passing vehicles Amdi's funeral. "The rioting were stoned Seven people were harms security and our national arrested. interests," Shamir said on a radio The usually bustling streets of interview. But Likud hardliner the Old City were unnaturally Ariel Sharon, the Minister of quiet Tuesday. Local Arabs staged Commerce and Industry, called for a strike to protest the attacks on harsher measures against Arab property by religious Jews. It terrorists in another radio was only partially effective. But interview. He was echoed by many Arab shops were locked Interior Minister Yitzhak Peretz behind iron gates. Arab schools of the religious Shash Party. dismissed their classes early and About 300 Orthodox Jews live in the cheering youngsters rushing the Old City's Moslem quarter, home seemed to be the only ones despite an official policy to keep oblivious of the grim mood in their Jews, Moslems, Christians and neighborhood. Armenians separated in their own There was fear in the air, too. neighborhoods. One Jewish Arab homes on Khaladiye Street, resident denounced his Arab near the scene of the killing, were neighbors. "They are all attacked by Jews during the night. collaborators," he said. "They all One shop was set on fire . One saw the murder but wouldn't resident, who said he was an help." American citizen but refused to A friend of Amdi, keeping a vigil identify himself further, told at a small torchlight placed on the reporters be saw several yeshiva sidewalk where he was killed, read students throw a kerosene-soaked rag at his borne but it failed to (Continued on page 7) ~ '.:\-.'..!P• ·v:, ' f l)i 2 -THE RHODE ISLAND HERALD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1986 Hospice Relocates Dr. Aviva Doron Hospice Care of Rhode Island To Speak will relocate its offices from 1240 Local News Pawtucket Avenue, Rumford, to Dr. Aviva Doron of the Dept. of 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Hebrew Literature, Tel Aviv Providence (on the grounds of University, will speak at a Motsai Butler Hospital) on December 4, Shabbat (Conclusion of Shabbat) 1986. social hour, Saturday, December JW'I Post 23 Chased Schei Amess The relocation is taking place to 6, at 8 p.m., at Zionist Sen. Pell Af provide an increase in space for House/Israel Cultural Center, 17 The Jewish Veterans Post 23 To Meet Town Meeting medical and office staff. Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, shall sponsor a pre-Hanukah The Chased Schei Amess The new telephone number is Boston. Her topic will be of a celebration at the Jewish Home, · Association will hold its annual A New England Town Hall 272-4900. personal nature: "Feelings, 99 Hillside Ave., Providence, R.I. meeting, election and installation Meeting will take place on Reflections, and Poetry - on on Tuesday, December 16, 1986 at of officers on Sunday, December Sunday, December 14 at 2:30 p.m. Adoptive Families Israel, Spain, and America." 2 p.m. in the Chase Auditorium. 14, 1986 .at 2 p.m. at the Priest in Kingston Congregational Ms. Doron, of a famous Labor There will be prizes, games and Memorial Chapel, Lincoln Park Church Fellowship Hall, Chanukah Zionist family, received her delicious refreshments.