JEWS OF MALABAR, A MAKE DO MENORAH AND THE
CHANUKKIAH LAMP AMONG THE INDIANS
This invitation arrived from Cochin, India
today:
As the Jewish community is dwindling in
Malabar, more and more interest is taken by sympathetic and kind Hindu and
Christian souls. I was particularly gratified to see that the exhibition would
be displayed at Ethnic Passage, a gallery, antique store, book store and café
strategically located just in front of the Synagogue in Jew Town in Mattanchery
in Cochin.
Yet another reason for my glee. The owner
of Ethnic Passage, an erudite Christian from a prominent local family, opened a
bookstore because he wanted to see his favourite books on display. Thus this
bookstore is not as commercial as the other ones which cater to the tourists or
those who want picture books of Kerala or Kathakali.
I entered the book store, at that time in
various stages of construction, and talked to the man behind the counter. After
an interesting conversation, when I was told that the bookstore is the pet project
of the owner, I left a 5 peso Cuban currency, with a note to the owner that I
had been impressed. Soon the counter clerk returned to say that the owner
wished to see me. He kindly returned the 5 peso note and told me that if he
accepted this gift that would infringe certain archaic tax laws of Indian
government.
Thus began a long friendship with Mr RN,
and wonderful evenings at various clubs in Ernakulam and long chats at his
office over milky teas.
As soon as India institutes Visa on
Arrival, you can expect me to fly into Cochin either via Doha on Qatar or via
Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airways.
Tonight is the first night of Chanukkah,
rather early by the usual standards. I had to make do with a hand drawn menorah
but I had enough dreidls of all sorts to make a decoration. Thus I could remind
myself that tonight, these very same rituals would be repeated from homes from
Auckland to Asuncion and in remote communities such as Cochin, Yangon, La
Habana, Kingston where I would actually know some of the participants!
Shalom Bear had travelled here from Miami
as a gift of Auntie Greta, the Koala and Kangaroo came courtesy of Qantas from
Auntie Sandra in Melbourne.
Then I remembered, there are Cochin
Chanukkia lamps in the Blue House among the Indians, and I have to make sure
that next year I should use it!
For a moment, the universal connection of
my people becomes clear to me. A strong connection is felt all across this
universe, and this connection is what American Indians would define as part of
Spirituality. For a group of people not that well known for their
religiousness, the connection to the history if palapable.
This celebration is not religious, it is
not mentioned in the Bible but it did happen during the Hellenic occupation of
Israel during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. It is to be grateful for the
victory of a small band of guerrilla fighters led by Yehuda Macabee against the
might of Greek Empire in the East.
As I was writing this, I felt the winds
from Yangon and Cochin, La Habana and Kingston, Melbourne and Buenos Aires,
blowing my way. I even made up a ditty as I spun the dreidl…
