ELIAS JOSEPHAI, currently the best known COCHINI JEW in the world (check for him in Google, Youtube, BBC etc) is based in Ernakulam near his beloved synagogue which had been shuttered now for decades.
Single handedly he began the restoration of the synagogue to the splendour it has reached today that on the 6th December 2018, a Torah arrives from Israel and in many decades, Jews are able to pray and attend services here under his caring eyes.
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Kadavumbagam
synagogue getting ready to welcome Torah from Israel on December 6 The
renovated Kadavumbagam synagogue on Market Road in Ernakulam will wake up to
welcome the Torah from Israel on December 6 evening, thanks to the unflinching
efforts of Elias Josephai, Babu to friends, who’s gone the whole hog to see the
beautiful synagogue of his childhood back in shape. The Consul General of
Israel in Bengaluru is expected to arrive for the event, which will also see
opening of a photo exhibition by Meydad Eliyahu, an Israeli artist who traces
his ancestry to Ernakulam. Like several others, his grandparents had migrated
to Israel. Eliyahu had exhibited in a collateral show held as part of the last
Kochi Muziris Biennale. While the renovation of the 818-year-old synagogue is
only half way through, the ceremony is a dream come true for Mr. Josephai.
“Yossi Orel, who had gone to Israel from Chennamangalam, made arrangements for
the Torah to be sent from Moshav Taoz on the outskirts of Jerusalem,” says Mr.
Josephai. It was in June 1969 that Mr. Josephai visited the Paradesi Synagogue
at Mattancherry as a 14-yearold with his father. “It was for the 400
anniversary of the synagogue. I realized that except for its brilliant tiles,
it was no match to the splendour of our [Kadavumbagam] synagogue. The Aron
Kodesh [Torah Ark] of Kadavumbagam is a marvel,” he says. The synagogue closed
for worship in 1972, with the members leaving for Israel, and the Torah scrolls
were transported two years later. “I remember seeing a beautiful hand-painted
Japanese tile that my father had shown me at its strong room. The plan was to
pave the floor with those, but that never happened. “In 1977, after thieves vandalized
it, the synagogue passed into a state of disrepair and disuse. Mr. Josephai
says there was a social boycott of sorts that he faced from the ‘white Jews’ of
the Jew Town after his brother got married to a Christian. “This added to my
desire to bring our synagogue back to its glory. It was an arduous task, but
divine blessings made things happen,” he says. In 2014, three members of the
Orthodox Union Group came to meet him. This also occasioned his meeting with a
man named Samuel Daivasahayam, from Erode, who sent the labourers to work at
the synagogue. The first donation of ₹20,000 came from his wife’s cousin.
Subsequently, university students from Australia and New Zealand and Swami
Hariprasad of Vishnu Mohan Foundation like many others chipped in to support.
Subsequently, he got the floor concreted and paved with Chettinad tiles, the
walls were painted, the pews got a coat of polish and chandeliers came thanks
to Swami Hariprasad. Mr. Josephai also got 16 lamps, each with 12 legs, at a reasonable
rate. “At every critical juncture, someone came to my rescue,” he says
synagogue getting ready to welcome Torah from Israel on December 6 The
renovated Kadavumbagam synagogue on Market Road in Ernakulam will wake up to
welcome the Torah from Israel on December 6 evening, thanks to the unflinching
efforts of Elias Josephai, Babu to friends, who’s gone the whole hog to see the
beautiful synagogue of his childhood back in shape. The Consul General of
Israel in Bengaluru is expected to arrive for the event, which will also see
opening of a photo exhibition by Meydad Eliyahu, an Israeli artist who traces
his ancestry to Ernakulam. Like several others, his grandparents had migrated
to Israel. Eliyahu had exhibited in a collateral show held as part of the last
Kochi Muziris Biennale. While the renovation of the 818-year-old synagogue is
only half way through, the ceremony is a dream come true for Mr. Josephai.
“Yossi Orel, who had gone to Israel from Chennamangalam, made arrangements for
the Torah to be sent from Moshav Taoz on the outskirts of Jerusalem,” says Mr.
Josephai. It was in June 1969 that Mr. Josephai visited the Paradesi Synagogue
at Mattancherry as a 14-yearold with his father. “It was for the 400
anniversary of the synagogue. I realized that except for its brilliant tiles,
it was no match to the splendour of our [Kadavumbagam] synagogue. The Aron
Kodesh [Torah Ark] of Kadavumbagam is a marvel,” he says. The synagogue closed
for worship in 1972, with the members leaving for Israel, and the Torah scrolls
were transported two years later. “I remember seeing a beautiful hand-painted
Japanese tile that my father had shown me at its strong room. The plan was to
pave the floor with those, but that never happened. “In 1977, after thieves vandalized
it, the synagogue passed into a state of disrepair and disuse. Mr. Josephai
says there was a social boycott of sorts that he faced from the ‘white Jews’ of
the Jew Town after his brother got married to a Christian. “This added to my
desire to bring our synagogue back to its glory. It was an arduous task, but
divine blessings made things happen,” he says. In 2014, three members of the
Orthodox Union Group came to meet him. This also occasioned his meeting with a
man named Samuel Daivasahayam, from Erode, who sent the labourers to work at
the synagogue. The first donation of ₹20,000 came from his wife’s cousin.
Subsequently, university students from Australia and New Zealand and Swami
Hariprasad of Vishnu Mohan Foundation like many others chipped in to support.
Subsequently, he got the floor concreted and paved with Chettinad tiles, the
walls were painted, the pews got a coat of polish and chandeliers came thanks
to Swami Hariprasad. Mr. Josephai also got 16 lamps, each with 12 legs, at a reasonable
rate. “At every critical juncture, someone came to my rescue,” he says
The restoration of this synagogue, which is somewhat unique in the history of jewish communities which migrated to Israel (I sadly think of the neglected synagogues of Morocco, fo example). A vibrant Jewish community was reduced to Elias and his family (He is truly the LAST JEW OF COCHIN), now has a chance to show the world the splendour that was.
This is the legacy of this Jew in this isolated corner of the Jewish world, Elias has contributed to the Jewish history by restoring the splendour and memory of this vibrant Jewish community.
Also this restoration as detailed in the HINDU article above shows the cooperation between Hindus, Christians and Jews, along with other people who live peacefully together in Cochin.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, ELIAS JOSEPHAI BABU.
As we pray, may your good name be inscribed in the book and remembered for ever..
I am proud of my friendship with him, In the last 40 years, he has done more for COCHIN JEWRY more than any other single person.
He deserves our respect and admiration. He is a true son of the people of Israel.
Original Blogger URL: https://medicoanthropologist.blogspot.com/2018/11/paying-respects-to-last-jew-of-cochin.html