The Chendamangalam Synagogue (; ) is a former Orthodox

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

congregation and

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

, located in

Chendamangalam Chendamangalam (or Chennamangalam) is a small town and a panchayat in Paravur Taluk, Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala, India. Location It is about 23 km from Kochi, Ernakulam. It has three rivers, seven inlets, hillocks and l ...

, a village in the

Ernakulam Ernakulam () is the central business district of the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. It is the namesake of Ernakulam district. The eastern part of Kochi city is mainly known as Ernakulam, while the western part of it after the Venduruthy Bridge ...

district of the coastal state of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

, in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. Completed in 1420 CE, the building was abandoned in 1950s, and was subsequently repurposed as a

Jewish museum A Jewish museum is a museum which focuses upon Jews and may refer seek to explore and share the Jewish experience in a given area. Notable Jewish museums include: Albania * Solomon Museum, Berat Australia * Jewish Museum of Australia, Melbourn ...

History

Established in 1100 CE, the congregation is one of the oldest known Jewish communities established by the Malabar Jews, though the synagogue structure itself dates from 1420, and was renovated in 1614, making it the oldest synagogue in the

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an International organization, international association of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, 56 member states, the vast majo ...

. A tombstone recovered from

Kodungallur Kodungallur (; formerly also called as Cranganore (anglicised name), Portuguese language, Portuguese: Cranganor; Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of Per ...

was stored in this synagogue and is on display in the front yard, with an inscription of Sarah Bat Israel, dating from 1269, making it the second oldest Jewish epitaph found in India. After the entire congregation made ''

aliyah ''Aliyah'' (, ; ''ʿălīyyā'', ) is the immigration of Jews from Jewish diaspora, the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel or the Palestine (region), Palestine region, which is today chiefly represented by the Israel ...

'' to

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

in the 1950s, the former synagogue was defunct for decades. Today it serves as the Kerala Jews Lifestyle Museum for the Muziris Project, a conservation project by the

Government of Kerala The Government of Kerala (abbreviated as GoK), also known as the Kerala Government, is the administrative body responsible for governing the Indian States and territories of India, state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who ...

. The former synagogue is open to visitors from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays. The hillocks at Kottayil Kovilakam are unique as the site of a

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...

, a Syrian Christian

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

, a

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

and a restored Jewish synagogue, all within of each other. In the area, there are also remains of the Vypeenakotta

Seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...

, built by the Portuguese for Syrians in the 16th century. An old Syrian Catholic Church built in 1201 is nearby and it is also the site of the first

printing press A printing press is a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a printing, print medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby transferring the ink. It marked a dramatic improvement on earlier printing methods in whi ...

in India.

Objects of interest

Tombstone of Sarah bat Israel

A tombstone recovered from

was stored in this synagogue and is presently on display in the front yard. This tombstone with the inscription of "Sarah bat Israel" is the oldest Jewish epitaph found in India, dating to November 1269 (

Kislev Kislev or Chislev (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, Standard ''Kīslev'' Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ''Kīslēw''), is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew c ...

1581

Seleucid era The Seleucid era ("SE") or (literally "year of the Greeks" or "Greek year"), sometimes denoted "AG," was a Calendar era, system of numbering years in use by the Seleucid Empire and other countries among the ancient Hellenistic period, Hellenistic ...

Hekkal

The ''Heichal'' of the former Chendamangalam Synagogue is one of the most ornately carved Torah arks in Kerala. The style of the ark is Italian with gilded filigree work. It bears the crown

insignia An insignia () is a sign or mark distinguishing a group, grade, rank, or function. It can be a symbol of personal power or that of an official group or governing body. An insignia, which is typically made of metal or fabric, is a standalone sy ...

of the

tribe of Judah According to the Hebrew Bible, the tribe of Judah (, ''Shevet Yehudah'') was one of the twelve Tribes of Israel, named after Judah (son of Jacob), Judah, the son of Jacob. Judah was one of the tribes to take its place in Canaan, occupying it ...

Golden Sefer Torah Crown

The Golden Sefer Torah Crown was gifted by the Maharaja of Travancore to the Chendamangalam Jews. The crown weighed and was made of solid gold, studded with

rubies Ruby is a pinkish-red-to-blood-red-colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphi ...

and

emerald Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr., and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991). ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York ...

s. A ''rimon'' from the Palayoor Synagogue was brought and stored in this synagogue. This was later purchased by the Paravur Synagogue, which in turn sold it to the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam. The crown was later taken to Israel and stored in ''moshav''

Nevatim Nevatim () is a moshav in southern Israel. Located in the northern Negev desert around south-east of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bnei Shimon Regional Council. In it had a population of . The nearest settlements are the Bedoui ...

. In 2008, thieves broke into the moshav and stole the crown. The whereabouts of the crown are unknown.

Chendamangalam Jewish Cemetery

There is also an abandoned Jewish cemetery behind the mosque, approximately from the synagogue, which has not been restored.

Gallery

, Synagogue (15712816629).jpg, Chendamangalam Jewish Synagogue at Chendamangalam, North Paravur, Ernakulam, Kerala.jpg, Chandeliers at Chendamangalam synagogue.jpg, Bema at Chendamangalam synagogue1.jpg, Jewish Synagogue Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1917.jpg, Jewish Synagogue Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1920.jpg, Jewish Grave in cemetery Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1940.jpg, Jewish Synagogue Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1894.jpg, Jewish Synagogue Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1903.jpg, Jewish Synagogue Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1898.jpg, Jewish Grave in cemetery Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1937.jpg,

References

External links

{{Synagogues in India 1100 establishments 1950s disestablishments in India 15th-century religious buildings and structures in India 15th-century synagogues in Asia Former synagogues in India Jewish museums in India Portuguese colonial architecture in India Religious buildings and structures in Ernakulam district 15th-century synagogues Buildings and structures completed in 1420 Synagogues in Kerala Synagogues preserved as museums