They came from far and wide. From the Promised Land and around the world, to Kochi, the place where they once belonged to.
Now living in different parts of the world, the Cochini Jews, who were born and raised here, came down to celebrate the 450 years of the renowned Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry.
The Paradesi Jews , as they are called, were given a warm reception by the ‘Friends of Jew Town’ at the Ginger House in Jew Town. From the 150 Cochini Jews who arrived for the event, nearly 30 turned up for the reception. They shared their nostalgic memories and interestingly many of them spoke mostly in Malayalam.
Early memories
David Hallegua, who lives in Los Angeles, said that the earliest memories of Kochi, dear to his heart, includehearing the siren of passing vessels, the sight of the Chinese fishing nets and sea gulls flying across the beach. “These were the visuals I see through the windows when I wake up in the morning. We really wish to join the 500th year celebration of the Synagogue,” he says.
Dr Essie Sassol, a gynaecologist, says: “This is the place where we were born, grew up and studied. We cannot forget our Indian roots. When I was in school, if the public examinations fell on the day of Sabbath (Saturday), the Jewish students were allowed to observe the Sabbath in an isolated room and they were allowed to write the examination in the evening, after the Sabbath was over. Where else would you find such religious amity?
“Our friends were from all religions. While working at Calicut Medical College, I stayed with a Muslim family for a long time. We still keep in touch. When I come to Kochi, I become sentimental.” Most of the speakers spoke of the communal harmony that exists in Kerala.
“When we reach Kochi, we feel we are at home,” says Kenneth Salem who came down from Canada to attend the event.
He is the grandson of the renowned community leader AB Salem, who was popularly known as Jewish Gandhi. “Every evening, after school, we used to play football in the ground near Jew Town. Occasionally, we used to play a match with the Fort Cochin football teams. We can’t forget Kochi and I visit every year,” he says.
Nima Hallegua Regee grew emotional when she shared her memories. “ I studied in St. Mary’s Girls School, in Fort Cochin, at St. Teresa’s College and Maharaja’s College and keep in touch with my classmates. My childhood memories include the Ulsavam (temple festival), the Chendamelam and the elephants,” said Nima . “I visit Kochi every couple of years and I am in tears whenever I pass by Maharaja’s College.”
“My home at Petah Tikva in Israel is named ‘Kerala House’ and there is a full grown neem tree in front of my house; I took the sapling from here,” says Metilda Hallegua Davidson. Metilda, who retired from her bank job last year, adds that one of the Synagogues in Navatim, Israel, is built in Kerala’s traditional architectural style.
Parliamentarian Prof. KV Thomas, legislator John Fernandez, writer Anitha Pratap and entrepreneur Jose Dominic also spoke at the event recounting the long association between the communities in Jew town. The gathering concluded with the singing of the national anthem of Israel and India.
