There are at least 8 known synagogues in

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

in recorded history, even though most of them are not operating anymore. Seven of the synagogues are used by the

Cochin Jews Cochin Jews (also known as Malabar Jews or Kochinim, from ) are the oldest group of Jews in India, with roots that are claimed to date back to the time of King Solomon. The Cochin Jews settled in the Kingdom of Cochin in South India, now pa ...

, with one used by the

Paradesi Jews Paradesi Jews were Jewish people who immigrated to the Indian subcontinent during the 15th and 16th centuries following the expulsion of Jews from Spain. ''Paradesi'' refers to the Malayalam word that means ''foreign'' as they were newcomers ...

. 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.India’s Synagogue Variety: Architecture, History, and Context
Jay A. Waronker, Café Dissensus, 31 December 2014 A synagogue was called "Beit Knesset" (

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

: ''ബേത് ക്‌നേസേത്'' ,

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: ''בית'' ''כנסת'') in

Judeo-Malayalam Judeo-Malayalam ( ml, links=no, യെഹൂദ്യമലയാളം, '; he, links=no, מלאיאלאם יהודית, ') is the traditional language of the Cochin Jews (also called Malabar Jews), from Kerala, in southern India, spoken today ...

or "Jootha Palli" (Malayalam: ''ജൂതപള്ളി'') with ''joothan'' meaning Jew in Malayalam and -''palli'' a suffix added to prayer houses of the

Abrahamic faiths The Abrahamic religions are a group of religions centered around worship of the God of Abraham. Abraham, a Hebrew patriarch, is extensively mentioned throughout Abrahamic religious scriptures such as the Bible and the Quran. Jewish traditi ...

. Only the

Paradesi Synagogue The Paradesi Synagogue aka Cochin Jewish Synagogue or the Mattancherry Synagogue (Malayalam: പരദേശി ജൂതപള്ളി) is a synagogue located in Mattancherry Jew Town, a suburb of the city of Kochi, Kerala, in India. It wa ...

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 The Chendamangalam Synagogue (Malayalam: ചേന്ദമംഗലം ജൂതപള്ളി) (Hebrew; בית הכנסת צ'נמנגלם) is one of the oldest known synagogues built by the Malabar Jews,in Chendamangalam, a village in the ...

, 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 Muziris ( grc, Μουζιρίς, Old Malayalam: ''Muciri'' or ''Muciripattanam'' possibly identical with the medieval ''Muyirikode'') was an ancient harbour and an urban centre on the Malabar Coast. Muziris found mention in the ''Periplus of ...

due to the great flood of the Periyar river in 1341.Indian Jews: This little known minority community has a rich heritage
Sifra Lentin, First Post, 26 June 2016
Jay A. Waronker, Friends of Kerala Synagogues, 2011

List of synagogues in Kerala

List of destroyed synagogues in Kerala

Throughout their history numerous synagogues have been constructed and lost to time. in their first settlement at Shingly (

Cranganore Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in Thr ...

), 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. 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. Synagogues believed to have existed or speculated on basis of oral traditions include: * Madayi Synagogue,

Madayi Madayi (a.k.a. Madai). is a Census Town and Grama panchayat in Kannur district of Kerala state, India. Bhagavathy shrine, Madayi Kavu (Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi Temple) where devotees worship Bhadrakali, is located here. The Goddess is on ...

* Kodungaloor Synagogue/ Makotai Synagogue,

Kodungallur Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in Th ...

* Thekkumbhagam synagogue, Kodungallur * Kadavumbhagam Synagogue, Kodungallur Synagogues in recorded history whose location and/or remains have been lost in time: * Palayoor Synagogue, Palur ''(known only from a rimon (ornament) bearing its name)'' * Kokkamangalam Synagogue, Kokkamangalam * Kochangadi Synagogue,(1344 A.D - 1789 A.D)

Kochangadi Kochangadi is a small area in west Kochi in Ernakulam district of Kerala state south India. It is reputed for Chempittapally which is an old Mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), a ...

''(oldest synagogue in recorded history)'' * Saudi Synagogue, (1514 A.D-1556 A.D), Saude, a locality south of

Fort Kochi Fort Kochi, Fort Cochin in English, Cochim de Baixo ("Lower Kochi") in Cochin Portuguese creole, is a neighbourhood of Cochin (Kochi) city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the Fort Manuel of Cochin, the first European for ...

. * Tir-Tur Synagogue, (1745 A.D-1768 A.D) Thiruthur, Kochi * Muttam Synagogue (1800A.D), Muttam, Alappuzha * Fort Kochi Synagogue, (1848 A.D),

''(congregation of meschuhrarim)''

Architectural similarities

All the 8 synagogues in Kerala built during the recent centuries have similar traditional architectural features that include: * a central Bimah of brass or

silver Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...

metal on a

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most wid ...

or stone base * an

Ark Ark or ARK may refer to: Biblical narratives and religion Hebrew word ''teva'' * Noah's Ark, a massive vessel said to have been built to save the world's animals from a flood * Ark of bulrushes, the boat of the infant Moses Hebrew ''aron'' * ...

or ''heckal'' on the western wall facing

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

. * a

balcony A balcony (from it, balcone, "scaffold") is a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade, usually above the ground floor. Types The traditional Maltese balcony ...

above the eastern entry to the sanctuary that is used by the hazzan (reader) on certain holidays. *A second ''bimah'' on the upper gallery for women, unique to kerala synagogues. Often integrated into the wooden railing of the balcony. * a women's gallery behind the balcony, with a stairway leading up to it, usually from outside the building.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Synagogues in Kerala

Lists of religious buildings and structures in India

List of synagogues in Kerala

List of destroyed synagogues in Kerala

Architectural similarities

See also

References