Saturday, December 8, 2018

Links to Media reports on Paradesi Synagogue celebrations

Here are links to media reports about the 450th anniversary of the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry. Some 175 Jews from across the world - and many who settled in Israel decades ago - are visiting Kochi to celebrate Hanukkah and the synagogue celebrations.

The Times of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/synagogue-to-mark-450th-anniversary/articleshow/66959047.cms

The Times of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/jews-reminisce-about-childhood/articleshow/66993899.cms

The Times of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/200-jews-arrive-in-kochi-to-mark-450th-anniversary-of-paradesi-synagogue/articleshow/66979476.cms

The New Indian Express

http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/travel/2018/dec/07/they-descended-on-the-city-to-relive-the-halcyon-days-1908292.html



The Deccan Chronicle

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/081218/kochi-home-for-jews-but-separate-legacies.html

The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/cochini-jews-assemble-to-celebrate-the-450th-anniversary-of-the-synagogue-in-jew-town-kochi/article25732723.ece

Metro Vartha

http://www.metrovaartha.com/news/16854/paradesi-synagogue-kochi-450th-anniversary-special-feature

NewsJizz

https://newsjizz.com/94624-200-jews-arrive-in-kochi-to-celebrate-the-450th-anniversary-of-the-paradesi-synagogue.html

Manorama Online

https://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/travel-news/2018/11/21/mattancherry-synagogue-to-celebrate-its-450th-anniversary.html

Mathrubhumi - English

https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/good-news/jews-return-to-mattancherry-to-celebrate-450th-anniversary-of-synagogue-1.3376949

(In the Mathrubhumi report, the name of David Hallegua is given as David Halligan - obviously an ignorant reporter! Also, he has mixed up the 'Torah'celebrations of the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam with that of the Mattanchery one!)

A short film on the dwindling Jews of Cochin

Here is a seven and a half minute short film on the Jews of Cochin released by Religion and Ethics Newsweekly - Hosted by veteran journalist Bob Abernethy and produced by Thirteen/WNET New York.

 The video features interviews with my friends Elias (Babu) Josephai, caretaker of the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam, and Prof. C. Karmachandran, who heads the Mala Heriage Committe now fighting for preserving Jewish monuments in the beautiful settlement of Mala.

The video and transcript can be seen in full at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/05/13/jews-cochin-india/30450/