Jewish matrimony for Indian Jewish families

Communities with distinct histories

Each Indian Jewish community has its own history and customs: the Bene Israel of the Konkan coast and Mumbai, the Cochin Jews of Kerala, the Baghdadi Jews of Mumbai and Kolkata, and the Bnei Menashe of Manipur and Mizoram. Many families now have close relatives in Israel, so a match can involve two countries from the start.

What families often share

Jewish families usually share a few things early, all of them optional:

• Community and the synagogue the family belongs to.
• Observance, such as keeping kosher or Shabbat, in the person’s own words.
• Family members in Israel or elsewhere abroad, and openness to relocating.
• Education, work and hopes for married life.

Marriage and the law

Jewish weddings follow religious law and custom, typically with a ketubah and a ceremony under the chuppah. India has no separate central act for Jewish marriages, and many couples also register under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 to receive an official certificate.