Kochi: It is going to be a grand homecoming filled with nostalgia, piety and reverence for Kochi Jews who had migrated to Israel when they revisit the Paradesi Synagogue at Mattancherry on December 6.The synagogue is celebrating 450 years and the Jews, along with their successive generations, will have a unique opportunity to see and cherish the century-old golden glass chandeliers, windows, aron kodesh (holy ark) and hand-painted Chinese tiles.The Jewish descendants from Kochi, who had migrated to the Promised Land over a period in the last century, and their successors will gather on the day as part of the celebration of the synagogue’s construction at Mattancherry in 1568.The house of worship of Jews in Kochi will welcome the offspring by decorating the structure with lights and jasmine flowers. The structure will be scented with wick of ‘darbha’ grass and lamps filled with coconut oil and water will be used to light the temple of Jews on the celebration day.The synagogue is called Paradesi Synagogue as it was built by Jews who came from Europe. “The Jewish community who migrated to Israel will come back to Kochi next month to reminisce their life here and to tell their successors about the culture of the community in the heritage area,’’ says K J Joy, who has been working as a caretaker in the synagogue for 30 years. Joy’s father and great grandfather were also caretakers here.Prayer can be held at the synagogue only when 10 Jews congregate here. Unfortunately, only five members of the community live in Kochi now. Currently, the synagogue is run by the micro Jewish community in Kochi supported by descendants who had migrated to Israel years ago.The records showing the age of construction of the synagogue is not kept for public view.The three copper sheets that then Cochin king Parakaran Iravi Vanmar gave to Joseph Rabban, a Jewish leader, signifies rights and privileges granted to them in today’s Kodungallur . The inscription on the copper plates is in ‘vattezhuthu’ scripts.Officials have kept the original records inside and displayed only a copy of it in the synagogue, which is situated on 25.5 cents given by then Maharaja.Interestingly, the synagogue is a stickler for tradition and one cannot wear footwear and enter the inner temple. “A few tourists wanted to enter the temple wearing shoes citing their age. But we did not allow them as the painting on tiles, imported from China, will get damaged. It is difficult to rectify damages on historical objects,” said Joy.The security here has been beefed up following the bomb blasts targeting Jews in Mumbai. The central government has installed surveillance cameras and appointed two police personnel in front of the synagogue.

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