In the early 1980s, Thaha Ibrahim’s life took a significant turn when he was just 13 years old and selling postcards to tourists in Jew Town, Kochi, India. Growing up in the bustling spice trade hub of Mattancherry, Thaha was always more interested in exploring the world outside of his classroom. After leaving school in the sixth grade, he dabbled in various trades, but his fascination with the tourists who visited the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town remained constant.
Despite being an Indian Muslim, Thaha would spend his days selling postcards on the streets to tourists visiting the synagogue, always maintaining a respectful distance from the Jewish neighborhood. However, a chance encounter in 1982 with Jacob Elias Cohen, a member of the Paradesi Jewish community, would change everything.
When Thaha found his usual storage space locked up, Jacob offered to help by allowing him to store his things at his house. This act of kindness from a stranger opened up a new world of possibilities for Thaha, eventually leading him down a different path in life.