KOCHI: A Jewish conglomeration from Washington DC visited Kochi 13 years after its first visit, as part of a mission to reach out to the members of its community located in different parts of the world. The delegation would also respect to the Cochin royal family, who upheld the values of secularism and tolerance.
An initiative by the Israeli government, the B’NAI B’RITH International Organisation, celebrating its 150th anniversary, has come a step closer to accomplishing its aim of spreading religious tolerance by solidifying the ties between the Cochin royal family and the Jewish community. The members of the organisation were welcomed with delight by the royal family members, who took them atop the royal gallery -- Tathumaalika -- for showing a panoramic view of the annual temple festival celebrations that usually lasts for around 7 days.
There were no elephants or hustle that accompanies a festival, but the group was not left unsatisfied. There was a display of chendakottu (drum-beat) en route to their visit to the Kalikotta Palace, where most of the family’s celebrations are held.
There they were welcomed by the family elephant much to the marvel of the Jew contingent. The conglomeration was then greeted by other family members who took them inside the Palace for an interaction. The friendly call-on ceremony began with Dr Kocha Varma, founder of the Cochin Royal Family Historical Society and organiser of this meet, addressing the gathering by thanking the Palace Administration Board, BNAI BRITH for the initiative. Daniel S Mariaschin, executive vice-president and CEO of the organisation spoke about the organisation which was founded in 1843 with the objective of creating ‘tolerance and understanding in a world of rising intolerance’.
He presented a gift of 3 coins from Israel to the royal family as a token of appreciation. He also spoke about the rising intolerance in societies due to religion. Other members of the group also spoke, naming Kochi as the ‘cleanest, brightest and most festive looking city’ they had been to in India. Mazal Marischin, an Indian origin Jew from Calcutta, had moved back to Israel in the 1950s but grew up on stories about India and she relived them. Daniel S Maraschin said it is not the size of the community but the values and mutual trust they share helped their community survive throughout the course of unfavourable episodes. Kochi, he added, was one of the few places where Jews did not meet persecution.
David Michaels, the travel advisor of the Organization and a member of the group that came to Kochi 13 years ago, said Jews in the US had found out about their kins in Kochi through intensive research. David added that he has a lot to share about this visit in a monthly photo magazine of the organisation. The B’NAI B’RITH International Organisation, in its 3-day stay plans to make its next stop at the Jewish Synagogue before leaving for its next destination in India -- Mumbai and they have a bigger plan to set up one of its centre there.
But for now, a photo exhibition of the beautiful cities that they have visited so far with a special focus on Kochi is their takeaway back home, showing to the world how Jewish communities inhabit in places where religious tolerance is practised.