Seder Tephiloth Shevachoth Veshirim

First edition of prayerbook containing festival and occasional prayers according to the rite of the Jews of Cochin and Cranganore. Zedner (p.455) amusingly notes this liturgy to be according to the rite of Ceylon! - Perhaps linking the Hebrew “Shingli” with that of Singhalese, the language spoken in Ceylon. The volume ncludes prayers and customs unique to the Cochin Community. Particularly, the inordinate importance paid to the Festivals of Shemini Atzereth and Simchath Torah. Also includes prayers relating to the conversion and circumcision of non-Jews. Although Halachic practice strongly discourages conversion, since slavery was an acceptable practice of Cochini life, Gentile slaves were apparently converted to Judaism with a minimum of delay. See O. Slapak, The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities (1995), pp. 27-35, 63, 68