Geri3389994518 at 18:36, 11 January 2025

2025-01-11T18:36:09Z

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{{Short description|Former synagogue, now museum, in Kerala, India}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Chendamangalam Synagogue
| native_name = {{ubl|{{langx|he|בית הכנסת צ'נמנגלם}}|{{langx|ml|ചേന്ദമംഗലം ജൂതപള്ളി}}}}
| religious_affiliation = {{nowrap|[[Orthodox Judaism]] {{small|(former)}}}}
| image = Jewish Synagogue Kottayil Kovilakam North Pravaoor DSC 1900.jpg
| image_upright = 1.4
| caption = The interior of the former synagogue, in 2016
| location = [[Chendamangalam]], [[Kerala]]
| geo = {{coord|10.1797|N|76.2097|E|region:IN_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| rite =
| country = [[India]]
| map_type = India Kerala
| map_size = 250
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the former synagogue, now museum, in [[Kerala]]
| consecration_year =
| status = {{ubl|[[Synagogue]] {{small|(1420–1950s)}}|[[Jewish museum]]}}
| functional_status = {{ubl|'''Inactive''' {{small|(as a synagogue)}};|Repurposed {{small|(as a museum)}}}}
| leadership =
| website =
| architect =
| architecture_type = [[Synagogue architecture]]
| architecture_style = {{ubl|Cochin Jewish|[[Portuguese colonial architecture|Portuguese colonial]]}}
| established = 1100 [[Common era|CE]]
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = {{ubl|1420 [[Common era|CE]] {{small|(first structure)}};|1614 [[Common era|CE]] {{small|(major renovation)}}}}
| construction_cost =
| facade_direction = South
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
| width_nave =
| height_max =
| materials =
}}
The '''Chendamangalam Synagogue''' ({{langx|he|בית הכנסת צ'נמנגלם}}; {{langx|ml|ചേന്ദമംഗലം ജൂതപള്ളി}}) is a former [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] congregation and [[synagogue]], located in [[Chendamangalam]], a village in the [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]] district of the coastal state of [[Kerala]], in [[India]]. Completed in 1420 [[Common Era|CE]], the building was abandoned in 1950s, and was subsequently repurposed as a [[Jewish museum]].<ref name=tourism>{{cite web |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/muziris/museums/kerala-jews-lifestyle-museum |title=The Chendamangalam Synagogue |work=Kerala Tourism |date=2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 }}</ref>

== History ==
Established in 1100 CE, the congregation is one of the oldest known Jewish communities established by the [[Cochin Jews|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]]. A tombstone recovered from [[Kodungallur]] 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.<ref name=tourism/>

After the entire congregation made ''[[aliyah]]'' to [[Israel]] in the 1950s, the former synagogue was defunct for decades. Today it serves as the Kerala Jews Lifestyle Museum for the [[Muziris|Muziris Project]], a conservation project by the [[Government of Kerala]]. The former synagogue is open to visitors from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.muzirisheritage.org/kerala-jews-lifestyle-museum.php |title=Kerala Jews Lifestyle Museum |work=[[Muziris|Muziris Project]] |date= |access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chensyn.com/ |title=Home page |work=The Synagogues of Kerala |date= |access-date= }}</ref>

The hillocks at [[Kottayil Kovilakam]] are unique as the site of a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[temple]], a [[Saint Thomas Christians|Syrian Christian]] [[Church (building)|church]], a [[mosque]] and a restored Jewish synagogue,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cochinsyn.com/page-architecture.html |work=The Synagogues of Kerala |title=Architecture |date= |access-date= }}</ref> all within {{cvt|1|km|mi}} of each other.<ref name=tourism/> In the area, there are also remains of the Vypeenakotta [[Seminary]], built by the [[Portugal|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]] in India.

== Objects of interest ==

=== Tombstone of Sarah bat Israel ===
[[File:Chendamangalam Synagogue 05.jpg|left|thumb|Tombstone of Sarah bat Israel]]
A tombstone recovered from [[Kodungallur]] 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]] 1581 [[Seleucid era]]).

=== 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]] of the [[tribe of Judah]].

=== Golden Sefer Torah Crown ===

The Golden Sefer Torah Crown was gifted by the [[Maharaja of Travancore]] to the Chendamangalam Jews. The crown weighed {{cvt|212|carat|g|lk=on}} and was made of solid gold, studded with [[ruby|rubies]] and [[emerald]]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]]. 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 {{cvt|400|km}}{{clarify|date=November 2024|reason=km or metres?}} from the synagogue, which has not been restored.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minor Synagogues of Kerala |url=http://www.minorsights.com/2016/03/india-minor-synagogues-of-kerala.html |date=March 2016 |access-date=9 April 2016 |publisher=Minor Sights}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<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|
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|Judaism|India}}}}
* [[History of the Jews in India]]
* [[List of synagogues in India]]
* [[List of synagogues in Kerala]]

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Chendamangalam Synagogue}}

{{Synagogues in India}}

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

Chendamangalam Synagogue - Revision history

Geri3389994518 at 18:36, 11 January 2025