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Kerala
Jews come to relive past, as present fades
Thursday December 02, 2010 11:59:33 AM ,
Sanu George, IANS
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Kochi:
From thousands, the number of Jews in Kerala has dwindled to a
mere 10 and they too live only in Kochi. The exodus of the
community started over 60 years ago, though many visit this city
to discover their roots and relive the past.
Sarah Cohen, 89, the oldest Jewish
woman here who became a widow a decade back, talks wistfully about
the fast dwindling numbers of the community - just five Jew
families reside here now.
"Our community members started leaving here right from the time
Israel was formed in 1948. All my sisters and brothers left long
back. I don't have children but decided that I won't leave this
place because I have been born and brought up here," Cohen told
IANS.
"Of course, most of those who left do come back and visit us
frequently to relive their past, because for them it is a
discovery of their roots," she said.
But things are pretty difficult for the community.
"Today, the situation is such that the weekly Sabbath (prayers in
the synagogue) takes place only if Jews from outside are
visiting," Cohen said.
"According to rule, 10 (Assara) men have to be present in the
synagogue. But only six women and four men are left in the Jew
Town in Kochi," said Cohen, who lives in a 300-year-old home built
by her ancestors.
The Jews are classified into two categories which have been there
since their arrival here - "white Jews", who are descendants of
traders, and "black Jews", who the fairer complexioned say are the
descendants of slaves.
The ancestors of "white Jews" came from Europe and Baghdad, it is
said. And even today, white Jews do not allow their daughters to
marry into the darker families.
Joy, a 47-year-old caretaker of the Paradeshi Synagogue for the
past two decades, said the "black Jews" live away from Jew Town
and till recently they were not welcomed by the "white Jews" into
their Paradeshi Synagogue.
"To have the Sabbath, the 'black Jews' now at times come over to
this synagogue to make up the number of 10 men. They are also a
mere eight in total," he said.
Recently, the happiness of many Jews knew no bounds when they got
a new rabbi (religious teacher of Judaism).
"Those who know Jewish traditions know how orthodox we are when it
comes to prayers. We are lucky because some Jews living in America
were kind enough to send us a new rabbi who now lives permanently
in Kochi," Cohen said.
"But with 10 Jewish men living permanently here not being always
available, our Sabbath takes place only if we have visiting Jews.
Last week on two days we had our Sabbath because 20 Jews came on a
visit tracing their roots," she added.
According to Jewish customs, they don't eat meat and fish from
other homes.
The availability of "Kosher meat", according to Jewish guidelines,
is now impossible because there is none who knows how to slaughter
animals that chew cud and have cloven hooves.
"We are so orthodox that even our new rabbi does not eat from my
home, so you can gauge how orthodox we are," said Cohen.
With the Jewish population dwindling, all eyes are on what would
happen to the Paradeshi Synagogue - the oldest synagogue in the
Commonwealth nations - that was built in 1568 by the Malabar Yehudan people or Cochin Jewish community in the Kingdom of
Cochin.
"Barring every Friday and Saturday, it is open for visitors who
come in large numbers to see the building. On Fridays and
Saturdays, it is out of bounds for all and only Jews are allowed
inside to conduct their prayers if they have the required
numbers," Joy said.
Asked what would happen to the synagogue a few years from now,
Cohen's answer was quick: "Your guess is as good as mine!"
(Sanu George
can be contacted at sanu.g@ians.in)
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