The Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת; Malayalam: കടവു൦ഭാഗ൦ മട്ടാഞ്ചേരി ജൂതപള്ളി), also known as the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue, is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Mattancherry, a locality in Kochi, in the Ernakulam district, in the coastal state of Kerala, India.
| Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The former synagogue interior, now part of the Israel Museum, in Jerusalem | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism (former) |
| Rite | Nusach Sefard |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status |
|
| Status | Under restoration |
| Location | |
| Location | Mattancherry, Ernakulam district, Kerala |
| Country | India |
  Location of the former synagogue in Kerala | |
| Geographic coordinates | 9°57′11″N 76°15′37″E / 9.953125°N 76.2603797°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Cochin Jewish |
| Founder | Malabar Jews |
| Completed | 1544 CE |
| Direction of façade | South |
Abandoned in the 1950s, the former synagogue in to be preserved as a Jewish museum.
History
editCompleted in 1544 CE by the Malabar Jews, it is one of the oldest extant synagogues in India.[1][2][3] The Malabar Jews are the earliest Jewish settlers in India, believed to have arrived as traders in the ancient port city of Muziris.[4][5][6][7] It was the second to be built in Mattancherry, and is one of three synagogues in the area.[5][7][6]
The name of the synagogue is believed to refer to a much older synagogue that once stood in Kodungaloor.[6][7][5][4] The former Kadavumbhagam Synagogue is considered as one of the most ornately carved and decorated of the Malabar Synagogues in Kerala, particularly its wooden furnishes and interior sanctuary.[8][9][7] The name means "by the riverside" and refers to a boat dock that stood opposite the complex until the 1960s.[6][10][8][7] This palli (synagogue) was renowned for its divine miracles and stories associated and was revered by both the Malabar Jews and non Jewish locals.[11][10][12]
In 1955, the entire congregation made aliyah to Israel leaving the synagogue in disuse. It was initially encroached upon and later made into a warehouse for coir storage.[7][2][6][5] The interior furniture and women's bimah were shipped and preserved in the Israel Museum while it's hekal is presently in moshav Nehalim in Israel.[6][7][8][10]
In September 2019, after decades of neglect, the entire front portion of the sanctuary collapsed in the heavy monsoon rainfall.[13] After much public outcry,[14] the Kerala Archaeology Department took possession of the monument to save it.[12][13] The former synagogue is being restored to function as a Jewish heritage museum.[9][15][12]
See also
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References
edit- ^ "Home page". The Synagogues of Kerala. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ a b Daniel, Ruby (2002). Ruby of Cochin : an Indian Jewish woman remembers. Varda Books. ISBN 1-59045-649-1. OCLC 1243580690.
- ^ "Cochin Jews", Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, Encyclopedia of Indian Religions, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 181, 2018, doi:10.1007/978-94-024-1267-3_100544, ISBN 978-94-024-1266-6, retrieved 11 October 2021
- ^ a b Johnson, Barbara C. Barbara C. Johnson collection of Malayalam Jewish songs from Kerala, India. OCLC 1082267935.
- ^ a b c d Katz, Nathan (1993). The last Jews of Cochin: Jewish identity in Hindu India. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 0-87249-847-6. OCLC 246707556.
- ^ a b c d e f Fernandes, Edna (2009). The last Jews of Kerala. Portobello. OCLC 705537625.
- ^ a b c d e f g Waronker, Jay (20 October 2010). "The Synagogues Of Kerala, India: Their Architecture, History, Context, And Meaning".
- ^ a b c Rabinowitz, Isaac Louis (1952). Far East mission. Eagle Press. OCLC 1116199220.
- ^ a b Kumar, M. K. Sunil (3 July 2021). "Synagogue should be a hub of Kerala Jews history: Experts". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Koder, S. (1974). History of the Jews of Kerala. OCLC 3415398.
- ^ אופירה, גמליאל (2009). Jewish Malayalam women's songs. OCLC 457121154.
- ^ a b c Kumar, M. K. Sunil (13 September 2021). "Ernakulam: Archaeology department erects a roof over synagogue in Mattancherry". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ a b Harigovind, Abhinaya (11 September 2019). "Piece of Jewish history reduced to rubble in rain in Kerala". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ Kumar, M. K. Sunil (29 June 2021). "Kochi: Call to protect Malabari synagogue gets louder". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Kadavumbhagam Synagogue on a path to revival". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
External links
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Media related to Kadavumbagam Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons