Relics from Kerala, Torah scroll & metal crown, Narendra Modi gifts Israel signs of friendship

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will meet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on 2nd day of his visit to Israel.

TODAY: PM Narendra Modi to meet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on 2nd day of his visit to Israel

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) July 5, 2017

Meanwhile, Modi gifted Israel a host of things. PM on Tuesday gifted his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu replicas of two sets of relics from Kerala, regarded as key artifacts of the long Jewish history in India. They comprise two different sets of copper plates that are believed to have been inscribed in 9-10th Century, the PMO tweeted. The first set of copper plates is a cherished relic for the Cochin Jews in India. It is regarded as a charter describing the grant of hereditary royal privileges and prerogatives by the Hindu King, Cheraman Perumal (often identified as Bhaskara Ravi Varma) to the Jewish leader Joseph Rabban.

The first set of copper plates is a cherished relic for the Cochini Jews in India. pic.twitter.com/ZcR2AmICyW — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

According to traditional Jewish accounts, Joseph Rabban was later crowned as the Prince of Shingli, a place in or equated with Cranganore. Cranganore is where Jews enjoyed religious and cultural autonomy for centuries, before they moved to Cochin and other places in Malabar. The second set of copper plates is believed to be the earliest documentation of the history of Jewish trade with India.  

The second set of copper plates is believed to be the earliest documentation of the history of Jewish trade with India. pic.twitter.com/GmWGQPHp1M

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

These plates describe the grant of land and tax privileges by the local Hindu ruler to a church. And oversight of trade in Kollam to West Asian and Indian trading associations.  

In addition, Prime Minister @narendramodi also presented PM @netanyahu a Torah scroll donated by the Paradesi Jewish community in Kerala. pic.twitter.com/xCDKBL2s3g — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

 

And a metal crown covered in gold sheets in floral ornament style, bearing motifs typical of lamps and decorations of south India. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/KWNXltBYBY

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017