Hanukka Lamp (″Hanukkiya″) from Cochin

Hanukka Lamp from Cochin
Hanukka Coin, 1990/5751

In the city of Cochin and within a 70 km. radius, eight beautiful synagogues were vibrant centers of Jewish life. The roots of this Jewish community in the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent date back to around 1,000 C.E when the local maharajah granted the Jews a nearly autonomous "merchant principality" in the Shingil-Cranganore enclave (north of Cochin). It lasted for 500 years, longer than any Jewish autonomy in the Diaspora. In the early 1950s, 3,000 Malabari and Pardesi Cochin Jews immigrated to Israel. To this day, they preserve the Jewish Shingli melodies, sung in Hebrew to Shingli tunes, which they incorporated over the generations into their Sephardi synagogue liturgy.

Obverse:
Face value in Hebrew and English, "1 New Sheqel" on the Silver B.U. Coin, 2 New Sheqalim on the Silver Proof Coin. . Right of the face value is the Israel State Emblem, around the border is the word "ISRAEL" in Hebrew, English and Arabic and the mint year, 1990 / 5751.

Reverse:
A 19th century Hanukka Lamp from Cochin from the collection or Mr. Yitzchak Einhorn. The Hebrew inscription above reads "Hanukka Lamp from Cochin" and below, centered in the lower border, "19th Century"

Edge:
B.U. Coin - smooth
Proof Coin - milled

Mint Marks:
Beneath the Israel State Emblem:
Silver B.U. Coin - Star of David
Silver Proof Coin - Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer:
Eliezer Weishoff
Plaster models - Tidhar Dagan

Mint:
Stuttgart Mint