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Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue

Coordinates: 9°57′11″N 76°15′37″E / 9.953125°N 76.2603797°E / 9.953125; 76.2603797
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Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue
  • Hebrew: בית הכנסת
  • Malayalam: കടവു൦ഭാഗ൦ മട്ടാഞ്ചേരി ജൂതപള്ളി
The former synagogue interior, now part of the Israel Museum, in Jerusalem
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism (former)
RiteNusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organizational status
StatusUnder restoration
Location
LocationMattancherry, Ernakulam district, Kerala
CountryIndia
Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue is located in Kerala
Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue
Location of the former synagogue in Kerala
Geographic coordinates9°57′11″N 76°15′37″E / 9.953125°N 76.2603797°E / 9.953125; 76.2603797
Architecture
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleCochin Jewish
FounderMalabar Jews
Completed1544 CE
Direction of façadeSouth

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.

Abandoned in the 1950s, the former synagogue in to be preserved as a Jewish museum.

History

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Completed 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

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  1. ^ "Home page". The Synagogues of Kerala. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Daniel, Ruby (2002). Ruby of Cochin : an Indian Jewish woman remembers. Varda Books. ISBN 1-59045-649-1. OCLC 1243580690.
  3. ^ "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
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Barbara C. Barbara C. Johnson collection of Malayalam Jewish songs from Kerala, India. OCLC 1082267935.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Fernandes, Edna (2009). The last Jews of Kerala. Portobello. OCLC 705537625.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Waronker, Jay (20 October 2010). "The Synagogues Of Kerala, India: Their Architecture, History, Context, And Meaning".
  8. ^ a b c Rabinowitz, Isaac Louis (1952). Far East mission. Eagle Press. OCLC 1116199220.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b c Koder, S. (1974). History of the Jews of Kerala. OCLC 3415398.
  11. ^ אופירה, גמליאל (2009). Jewish Malayalam women's songs. OCLC 457121154.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Kumar, M. K. Sunil (29 June 2021). "Kochi: Call to protect Malabari synagogue gets louder". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Kadavumbhagam Synagogue on a path to revival". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
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Media related to Kadavumbagam Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons

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