List of synagogues in Kerala

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There are at least eight known synagogues in Kerala in recorded history, even though most of them are not operating anymore. Seven of the synagogues are used by the Cochin Jews, with one used by the Paradesi Jews. [1] Each of these is quite unique in its construction and architecture; nevertheless, they retain very similar aesthetics, blending in both the Jewish and Keralite traditions rarified over centuries. [2] A synagogue was called "Beit Knesset" (Malayalam : ബേത് ക്‌നേസേത്; Hebrew : בית כנסת) in Judeo-Malayalam or "Jootha Palli" (Malayalam: ജൂതപള്ളി) with joothan meaning Jew in Malayalam and -palli a suffix added to prayer houses of the Abrahamic faiths.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Only the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry and the Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue in Ernakulam downtown still functions as a synagogue and are popular tourist destinations. The Parur Synagogue, Chendamangalam Synagogue, Mala Synagogue are open to public visit, even if they do not serve their originally intended religious purposes anymore. They remain as souvenirs representative of Kerala's rich cosmopolitan heritage, religious tolerance, and cultural magnificence.

Many old synagogues are completely lost, a notable example being the Kochangadi Synagogue built in 1344 (the foundation stone of which is still retained in the Paradesi Synagogue), mostly likely after the Jews had to abandon Muziris due to the great flood of the Periyar river in 1341. [3] [4]

List of synagogues

NameLocationImageCurrent state
Paradesi Synagogue Mattancherry, Kochi Jewish synagouge kochi india.jpg Operational
Mala Synagogue Mala, Thrissur Synagogue at Mala -Kerala.jpg Non-operational for worship, open to visits
Chendamangalam Synagogue Chendamangalam, North Paravur Chandeliers at Chendamangalam synagogue.jpg Non-operational for worship;
Open to public visits as Kerala Jews Life Style Museum.
Paravur Synagogue North Paravur (Parur) [5] Interior of Paravur Synagogue.jpg Non-operational for worship;
Open to public visits as Kerala Jews History Museum
Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue Market Road, Ernakulam;

At the center of the crowded market area on west side of Market Road,
just south of where it intersects with Jew Street [6] [7] [8]

Chanukkah in Ernakulam 3.jpg Non-operational for worship (was functional until 1972, when its membership could no longer support it [9] );

currently hosts a business "Cochin Blossoms" by the present owner Mr. Elias (Babu) Josephai;
it is undergoing restoration as of 2018; [10]
open to visits [11] [12]

Thekkumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue [13] Jew Street, Ernakulam;

On the north side of Jew Street, between Market Road and Broadway and to the west of the Juma Masjid, a landmark mosque.

Non-operational for worship;

It has served as a gathering hall for community events in recent years.
Currently, it is a locked property; access has to be prearranged with the present owner "Association of Kerala Jews", who can be contacted through Mr. Elias (Babu) Josephai, the caretaker of the nearby Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue.

Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue Mattanchery Museu de Israel P1130210 (24400166033).jpg Non-operational for worship; in ruins; served as coir storage facility; Heckal (Holy Torah Ark) was moved to Israel and remains at the Synagogue in moshav Nehalim; interior moved to Israel, restored and displayed in Israel Museum at Jerusalem [14] [15] [16]
Thekkumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue MattancherryNon-operational and not existing anymore;

Bought by a Paradesi Jew after the congregation left to Israel in 1955,
it was later demolished to build a 2-storeyed house at the same site. [17]
Through the efforts of anthropologist Professor David G. Mandelbaum and Seymour Fromer of the former Judah L. Magnes Museum, many relics from this synagogue have been preserved at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at the University of California, Berkeley and the most important antiquity being the restored Torah Ark (Heckal). [18]

List of destroyed synagogues

Throughout their history numerous synagogues have been constructed and lost to time. in their first settlement at Shingly (Cranganore), there were 18 synagogues as per their oral traditions. Today no archaeological evidence has been yet uncovered to validate these traditions. However the custom of naming their synagogues as "Thekkumbhagam" (lit: south side) and "Kadavumbhagam" (lit: River side) is cited as a cultural memory of two such synagogues that once stood in Muziris. Several oral songs sung by Cochini women also contain references to these synagogues. [19] Apart from these, numerous Syrian Christian churches of the St. Thomas Christian community in Kerala claim to have been built on old synagogues, though archaeological evidence is scarce.[ citation needed ]

Synagogues believed to have existed or speculated on basis of oral traditions include:

Synagogues in recorded history whose location and/or remains have been lost in time: [20]

Architectural similarities

All the eight synagogues in Kerala built during the recent centuries have similar traditional architectural features that include:

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Mandelbaum, David G. (1939). "The Jewish Way of Life in Cochin". Jewish Social Studies . 1 (4): 423–460. JSTOR   4464305.
  2. ↑ India’s Synagogue Variety: Architecture, History, and Context, Jay A. Waronker, Café Dissensus, 31 December 2014
  3. ↑ Indian Jews: This little known minority community has a rich heritage, Sifra Lentin, First Post, 26 June 2016
  4. ↑ Lost Kerala Synagogues, Jay A. Waronker, Friends of Kerala Synagogues, 2011
  5. ↑ A revival of Jewish heritage on the Indian tourism trail, Shalva Weil, Jerusalem Post, 16 July 2010
  6. ↑ Kadavumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam, Jay A. Waronker, Friends of Kerala Synagogues, 2011
  7. ↑ Harman, Danna (31 March 2016). "Only 26 Jews left in this Indian city — and they still can't get along". Haaretz.
  8. ↑ The Last Jew on Jews Street, Karen Saul, Haaretz, 21 April 2003
  9. ↑ Synagogues360: Kadavumbagam Synagogue, SYNAGOGUES360, A Visual and Historical Record of Synagogues from Around the World - 360° panoramas of Jewish Culture, 2013
  10. ↑ Abraham, Tanya; Abraham, Tanya (9 February 2018). "A synagogue comes to life". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  11. ↑ History preserved – Cochin Blossoms, Potliwalas, 2013
  12. ↑ Kerala - Kadavumbagam Ernakulam Synagogue, Indian Jewish Heritage Center, 2014
  13. ↑ Tekkumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam, Jay A. Waronker, Friends of Kerala Synagogues, 2011
  14. ↑ "The Israel Museum Permanent Galleries: Interior of the Kadavumbagam synagogue". museum.imj.org.il. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  15. ↑ K, Laju Paul (2 November 2011). "Jewish Monuments of Kerala: Journey of the 'Holy Ark' of Kadavumbagam Synagogue from Mattancherry to Jerusalem". Jewish Monuments of Kerala. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  16. ↑ Isaac, Ido. "Kerala - Kadavumbagam Mattancherry Synagogue". indianjews.org. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Kerala - Tekkumbagam Mattancherry Synagogue, Indian Jewish Heritage Center, 2014
  18. ↑ Surendranath, Nidhi (14 September 2013). "Reliving the glorious days of Kochi's Jews". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Cochin: Jewish Women's Music". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  20. ↑ Waronker, Jay (2007). Jay Waronker : India's synagogues ; March-April 7, 2007. Handwerker Gallery, Ithaca College. OCLC   173844321.
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