Under Hindu patronage and Muslim domination, Baghdadi Jews generally ran important companies all over India.
Fiddler on the Roof is the source of the discourse, which has centuries-old variations in every continent and culture. The iconic 1971 musical presented the story of a Jewish peasant family coping with anti-Semitism in pre-revolutionary Russia by using their native songs, comedy, and sarcasm. Everyone has a chicken story to tell. It allows people to add beliefs, even mythology, to their collective or individual identities. India is awash in various flavors of chicken broth, the country’s most popular delicacy flavored with saffron. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently promoted one such recipe in Israel. He reminded an audience of Israelis who originally belonged to South Asia that Jews have discovered peace and love in India like nowhere else. Mr. Modi was only partially correct, and there is a more accurate way of expressing what he stated. Under Muslim authority, Jews enjoyed a “golden period” in Spain, from which they were driven in 1492 when Christianity was restored. As people of the book, the Moorish kings held the community in great regard.
