Ancient Jewish Synagogues in Kerala and History

ISRAEL IN INDIA

History Starts from King Solomon's Time

The earliest Jews in India were sailors from King Solomon's time. It has been claimed that following the destruction of the First Temple in the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BC, some Jewish exiles came to India. But it was after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE that there are records of numerous Jewish settlers arriving at Cranganore, an ancient port near Cochin. Cranganore, now transliterated as Kodungallur, but also known under other names, is a city of legendary importance to this community. They known as the Malabari Jews, they built synagogues and Jew Town in Kerala beginning in the 12th and 13th centuries.

History Starts from King Solomon's Time

A Jew Family in Kochi - An Old Image

The Paradesi Jews, also called "White Jews", settled in the Cochin region in the 16th century and later, following the expulsion from Iberia due to forced conversion and religious

persecution in Spain and then Portugal. The Paradesi Jews (also called White Jews) built one, the Paradesi Synagogue and White Jew town here.

Jew Street

The sleepy bylane of Burgher Street in

Fort Kochi

Pardesi Synagogue lane in Kochi

Old style shops in Pardesi Synagogue lane

Old style buildings in Pardesi Synagogue

lane

Street leads to Pardesi Synagogue

A Jew House in the Street

Mrs. Selam her name was, and she was Cochin Jew herself. Many of the Jews went back to Israel and some even chose to move to America. The Jewish population in Fort Kochi now number less than a hundred, and the Cochin Jews could very well be an extinct ethnicity in a few years time.

A Sign Board in Street

At the Entrance of Pardesi Synagogue

The Paradesi Jews, also called "White Jews", settled in the Cochin region in the 16th century and later, following the expulsion from Iberia due to forced conversion and religious persecution in Spain and then Portugal. The Paradesi Jews (also called White Jews) built one, the Paradesi Synagogue and White Jew town here.

A native Kerala guy standing near Pardesi Synagogue

Jewish Clock Tower with Pardesi Synagogue

One of the gate outside Pardesi Synagogue with Jewish Symbols

Inside Pardesi Synagogue

Ancient Inscription on the wall of Pardesi Synagogue

Pardesi Jewish Synagogue Interior

Pardesi Jewish Synagogue Interior

Torah scroll in Pardesi Jewish

Synagogue

Tombstones displayed at the courtyard of Pardesi Jewish Synagogue

Another Ouside View to Pardesi

Synagogue

There is a 'Gate of Faith' in Beit Hatfutsot, the Museum of the Jewish People, located within the campus of Tel Aviv Univerisity in the northern suburb of Ramat Aviv has magnificent display of 18 miniature synagogue reproductions from across the Jewish world. This one is the miniature of Paradesi Synagogue, Fort Kochi

synagogue in Mattanchery

Handicrafts shops near Pardesi Synagogue

Warning Board about Handicrafts Sales Men

Antiques, Jew Town, Fort Kochi

Tree Park near Pardesi Synagogue

Mattancherry Dutch palace

A Dutch cemetery in Fort kochi

Backwater side view in Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi Beach

Chinese Fishing Net in Fort Kochi, an ancient and traditional way of fishing followed by natives here.

The cool thing here is that you can buy fresh fish from the fishermen, then take it to select restaurants and ask them to prepare it as you wish

Ferry Service to Fort Kochi Island

By the 18th century, there were 8 synagogues in five different Kerala towns and villages: 3 in Cochin, 2 in Ernakulam and one each in Parur and 2 other towns.

Next some of the preserved Synagogues in Kerala. >>>

1. 'Chendamangalam Black Jewish Synagogue' in Ernakulam

Recreated Women gallery in 'Chendamangalam Black Jewish Synagogue’

The Chendamangalam Synagogue built in 1614 AD was restored and opened for visitors in February, 2006. The Synagogue opened as a museum with an exhibition on the Jewish culture and heritage .

The ark in Chendamangalam Synagogue

Tomb Stones in Chendamangalam Synagogue

Jew Families photos in Chendamangalam

2. Parur Synagogue, 1615

The collonaded walkway in the Parur Synagogue

Women Gallery of The Jewish Synagogue in Paravoor

3. Kadavumbagam synagogue, Mattancherry

Interior of Kadavumbagam

synagogue

4. Mala synagogue near Cochin

Mala synagogue, located in the Kerala State of India, near Cochin. On December 20, 1954, 300 members of the Jewish community in Mala moved en masse to Israel. Control of the Synagogue was given over to the local municipality, with the agreement that it would be maintained, and not used as a slaughterhouse, or as a house of prayer. The building has been readapted as a venue for cultural, educational and communal functions. The furnishings and religious artifacts have been lost.

Mala Jewish Cemetery

Mala Jewish Synagogue Interior

Kadavumbagam Synagogue was

constructed in the medieval period in the

port town of Cranganore to the

north of Kochi.

5. Kadavumbagam Synagogue, Mattancherry

Kadavumbagam Synagogue Interior, Mattancherry

A Malabari Jewish narrative goes that the Tekkumbagam Synagogue was

constructed in 1200 after some of the community, seen as competitors in the

lucrative spice industry, were forced out of Cranganore in 1154 by the powerful

Moors.

6. Tekkumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam

Interior of Tekkumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam

The Kerala Jews lived in safety, but it seems that most opted to emigrate to Israel after the new state was established in 1948. Some 75,000 Indian Jews

left their homes, synagogues, schools and cemeteries behind; few families remained to look

after...