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After centuries in India, the last Cochin Jews try to keep their history alive
Summary by The Odessa Editorial Desk Associated Press , as published by Odessa American (oaoa.com)
· August 7, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: Odessa American (oaoa.com) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Odessa Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Associated Press, as published by Odessa American (oaoa.com) Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 7, 2026 Indexed here Aug 7, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway A solitary figure, Keith Hallegua, walks to the Paradesi Synagogue to pray during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
In Kochi, India, efforts are being made to preserve the history of the Cochin Jews. A solitary figure, Keith Hallegua, walks to the Paradesi Synagogue to pray during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. He is the last local congregant of the synagogue, located in the historic Jew Town neighborhood.
Another individual, Elias "Babu" Josephai, recalls traditional foods made by his grandmother for the holiday. Further details about the Cochin Jews and their history are available from the source, including personal stories and descriptions of the synagogues in Kochi.
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As published by Odessa American (oaoa.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local Published: August 7, 2026 Source: Odessa American (oaoa.com) Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In Kochi, India, efforts are being made to preserve the history of the Cochin Jews. A solitary figure, Keith Hallegua, walks to the Paradesi Synagogue to pray during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. He…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 7, 2026 by Odessa American (oaoa.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Associated Press at Odessa American (oaoa.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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