This is a Permanent Pictorial Cancellation (PPC) depicting the Magen David, the six-pointed Star of David, as seen on the Cochin Synagogue in Mattancherry, Kochi. The cancellation is issued at the Mattancherry Jetty Sub Office (SO), serving PIN code 682002 in Ernakulam district, Kerala. It was inaugurated on 9 March 1982 and is currently active.
The Cochin Synagogue, also known as the Paradesi Synagogue, is one of the oldest active synagogues in the Commonwealth and was built in 1568 in Mattancherry, Kochi. It was constructed for the Paradesi Jewish community, Sephardic Jews who had migrated from Spain, Portugal, and the Middle East. The Magen David, or Star of David, displayed prominently on the synagogue, is one of the most universally recognized symbols of Jewish identity and faith. The Cochin Jewish community had a remarkable and peaceful coexistence with local Hindus and Muslims for centuries, and their presence shaped the cultural and mercantile fabric of the region. Today, the Jewish population of Kochi has dwindled to near zero due to emigration to Israel, making this synagogue and its symbols an important reminder of a unique multicultural chapter in Kerala's history.
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