Judaism—South Asia
Judaism, a monotheistic religion with a belief in a transcendent creator of the world, is essentially different from the predominantly polytheistic, iconocentric religions of South Asia. Nevertheless, Judaism and Hinduism share points of similarity. Both possess an orthodox system of codification, embodied in the rabbinical traditions of Judaism and in the Brahmanical traditions of Hinduism. Judaism is also rooted in nonorthodox traditions, as exemplified by Hasidic and cabalistic practices, while Buddhism and Hinduism have developed tantric and devotional traditions.
Judaism was never a significant religious force in South Asia, although throughout the centuries Jews had limited contact with members of local religions. Ancient South Asian Jewish communities have been found only in India, although it is possible that Jews lived in Sri Lanka at some stage. From the nineteenth century on Jewish communities have functioned in Burma (now Myanmar), Singapore, Malaya, Hong Kong and other parts of China, Thailand, and elsewhere. Established by Jews of Iraqi origin, these communities were frequented in the second half of the twentieth century by Jews who found a temporary haven there after the Holocaust as well as by occasional Jewish and Israeli businesspeople, some of whom were transient and some of whom eventually stayed.
