Watch: Kochi's first Jewish wedding in 14 years
2 min read . Updated: 22 May 2023, 11:08 AM IST
PremiumFor the first time in fifteen years, a Jewish wedding took place in Kochi, Kerala on Sunday. The couple married at a resort and the rituals were officiated by a Rabbi from Israel
Known for the presence of Judaism culture, Kerala is a go to state for Indians to experience the tinge of Jewish culture there. Jewish population continued to flourish in past centuries. But the population is dropping significantly due to their migration to Israel, their promised land. This is the main reason, why Kerala witnessed its another Jewish wedding after a gap of fifteen-long-years.
A Jewish couple tied knots at a resort in Kochi on Sunday. Notably, this was the first Jewish wedding in 15 years in Kerala. The Jewish couple, Rachel and Richard tied their knots in the presence of a Rabbi from Israel.
Rachel is the daughter of former Crime Branch Superintendent Binoy Malakhai. Her husband, Richard, is a US citizen. The two tied knots in a closed ceremony in the presence of 300 guests. The ceremony was attended by the family, friends, and community members.
Rachel Malakhai is a data scientist by profession. She is currently working in the US. She married to Richard Zachary Rowe, an American citizen and a NASA engineer.
The wedding took place under a canopy, (that symbolised the home) called Huppah. According to ANI, this was the first wedding in Kerala that happened outside a synagogue. The event garnered nationwide spotlight because of its rare nature in Kerala. The last jewish wedding in the state took place in 2008. Notably, that wedding was also a rare function which happened at a gap of two decades at the Thekkumbhagam synagogue, Mattancherry. The ceremony was held inside the synagogue and the number of participants were also limited. Due to which the ceremony was held at a private resort to allow other family members to witness the ritual.
Going by the History, Jews reached Kerala for the first time as traders. They reached the state during the reign of King Solomon. Which marks their entry in India to be a 2,000-year-old incident.For Jews, Israel is their permanent and promised state of land. That's why India is seeing a constant decline in their population. There are very limited families left in the state.