Rain, again!

A month since the monsoon had withdrawn since the start of rainy season in Kerala. It started all over again on Thursday, Friday it was raining good. The empty and lonely street of our Jew Town just before the the Sabbath lights were lit on Friday evening.
Sabbath Shalom

As another Sabbath Day in the off season of July rolls on, our tourist Destinations of Mattancherry and Fort Kochi lay bare . Except for the International Volunteers who come to Kerala every year during these monsoon months there were hardly any tourist on the streets. Looking over the week that went by we were happy to have met Daniella and her family from Israel at the Ernakulam Synagogue who was on visit to her grandparents neighbourhood. Such visits are always high on emotion as they are very about very personal and intimate memories about a generation that went by. Even the new generation inspite of the modern day facilities are not sure whether they could visit again. Its up to us who are here to make their visits more endearing and pleasingly memorable.

We were also overwhelmed by two Jewish Scholars who with their humility and scholarship left us speechless in awe. The day we spent with them was indeed a blessing.

Another high light of the week was the wonderful attitude of an Young Concierge Manager of a very big hotel in Kochi. Such minds truly add to the esteem of the organization they work for. So on this Sabbath day that is our wish and prayer too, "May we all have the grace to be the best in what we do .."

Ever since, Yael and her mother left for Israel, couple of months ago, going to the Synagogue is not so easy emotionally. She has been so much a part of the synagogue its nearly impossible for us to imagine she is not there at all and worse we may never see her again. 

Shamash lighting the Sabbath lamps..

Monsoon has withdrawn for a while and the last two Fridays have been free from rain. Just like any other off season, Mattancherry is very empty, so unlike our always busy Jew town on a sunny day. 

Few tourists walking around the street after the synagogue closed for the Sabbath. 

Away, at Chakkamadam, Nehemia Mootha's tomb continue to be the spiritual resort for the neighbours.

The candle stand from Israel has withstood few weeks of rain, a fond memory of a faithful's visit. 

Sabbath lamps glowing at the Synagogue door

God bless the memories, we pray the tradition and the practice will continue long after the few community members are gone.