Accuntpayable1 at 16:21, 18 January 2026

2026-01-18T16:21:46Z

New page

{{Short description|Former synagogue in Kochi, Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{page numbers needed|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue
| native_name = {{ubl|{{langx|he|בית הכנסת}}|{{langx|ml|കടവു൦ഭാഗ൦ മട്ടാഞ്ചേരി ജൂതപള്ളി}}}}
| religious_affiliation = {{nowrap|[[Judaism]] {{small|(former)}}}}
| image = Museu de Israel P1130210 (24400166033).jpg
| image_upright = 1.4
| caption = The former synagogue interior, now part of the [[Israel Museum]], in [[Jerusalem]]
| location = [[Mattancherry]], [[Ernakulam district]], [[Kerala]]
| geo = {{coord|9.953125|N|76.2603797|E|region:IN_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| rite = [[Nusach Sefard]]
| country = [[India]]
| map_type = India Kerala
| map_size = 250
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the former synagogue in [[Kerala]]
| consecration_year =
| status = {{ubl|{{nowrap|[[Synagogue]] {{small|(1544–1950s)}}}}|[[Jewish museum]] {{small|(in development)}}}}
| functional_status = '''Under restoration'''
| leadership =
| website =
| founded_by = [[Cochin Jews|Malabar Jews]]
| architect =
| architecture_type = [[Synagogue architecture]]
| architecture_style = Cochin Jewish
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = 1544 [[Common Era|CE]]
| construction_cost =
| facade_direction = South
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
| width_nave =
| height_max =
| materials =
}}
The '''Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue''' ({{langx|he|בית הכנסת}}; {{langx|ml|കടവു൦ഭാഗ൦ മട്ടാഞ്ചേരി ജൂതപള്ളി}}), also known as the '''Kadavumbhagam Synagogue''', is a former [[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 ==
Completed in 1544 [[Common Era|CE]] by the [[Cochin Jews|Malabar Jews]], it is one of the oldest extant synagogues in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home page |url=http://cochinsyn.com/ |access-date=2021-09-28 |website=The Synagogues of Kerala }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |author=Daniel, Ruby |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1243580690 |title=Ruby of Cochin : an Indian Jewish woman remembers|date=2002 |publisher=Varda Books |isbn=1-59045-649-1 |oclc=1243580690}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Cochin Jews |date=2018 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1267-3_100544|work=Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism |series=Encyclopedia of Indian Religions |pages=181 |place=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Netherlands |doi=10.1007/978-94-024-1267-3_100544 |isbn=978-94-024-1266-6 |access-date=2021-10-11|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Malabar Jews are the earliest Jewish settlers in India, believed to have arrived as traders in the ancient port city of [[Muziris]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |author=Johnson, Barbara C. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1082267935 |title=Barbara C. Johnson collection of Malayalam Jewish songs from Kerala, India |oclc=1082267935}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |author=Katz, Nathan |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/246707556 |title=The last Jews of Cochin: Jewish identity in Hindu India |date=1993 |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |isbn=0-87249-847-6 |oclc=246707556 }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |author=Fernandes, Edna |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/705537625 |title=The last Jews of Kerala |date=2009 |publisher=Portobello |oclc=705537625}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |author=Waronker, Jay |date=2010-10-20 |title=The Synagogues Of Kerala, India: Their Architecture, History, Context, And Meaning |url=https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/17604 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was the second to be built in Mattancherry, and is one of three synagogues in the area.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" />

The name of the synagogue is believed to refer to a much older synagogue that once stood in [[Kodungallur|Kodungaloor]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> The former Kadavumbhagam Synagogue is considered as one of the most ornately carved and decorated of the [[List of synagogues in Kerala|Malabar Synagogues in Kerala]], particularly its wooden furnishes and interior sanctuary.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |author=Rabinowitz, Isaac Louis |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1116199220 |title=Far East mission |date=1952 |publisher=Eagle Press |oclc=1116199220}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |author=Kumar, M. K. Sunil |date=3 July 2021 |title=Synagogue should be a hub of Kerala Jews history: Experts |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/synagogue-should-be-a-hub-of-kerala-jews-history-experts/articleshow/84075537.cms |access-date=2021-10-11 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> The name means "by the riverside" and refers to a boat dock that stood opposite the complex until the 1960s.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite book |author=Koder, S. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/3415398 |title=History of the Jews of Kerala |date=1974 |publisher= |oclc=3415398}}</ref><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" /> This palli (synagogue) was renowned for its divine miracles and stories associated and was revered by both the Malabar Jews and non Jewish locals.<ref>{{Cite book |last=אופירה |first=גמליאל |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/457121154 |title=Jewish Malayalam women's songs |date=2009 |publisher= |oclc=457121154}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |author=Kumar, M. K. Sunil |date=13 September 2021 |title=Ernakulam: Archaeology department erects a roof over synagogue in Mattancherry |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/ernakulam-archaeology-department-erects-a-roof-over-synagogue-in-mattancherry/articleshow/86159065.cms |access-date=2021-10-11 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /> The interior furniture and women's ''bimah'' were shipped and preserved in the [[Israel Museum]] while its ''hekal'' is presently in moshav [[Nehalim]] in Israel.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" />

In September 2019, after decades of neglect, the entire front portion of the [[sanctuary]] collapsed in the heavy [[monsoon]] rainfall.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |author=Harigovind, Abhinaya |date=2019-09-11 |title=Piece of Jewish history reduced to rubble in rain in Kerala |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/piece-of-jewish-history-reduced-to-rubble/article29386464.ece |access-date=2021-10-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> After much public outcry,<ref>{{Cite web|author=Kumar, M. K. Sunil |date=29 June 2021 |title=Kochi: Call to protect Malabari synagogue gets louder |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/call-to-protect-malabari-synagogue-gets-louder/articleshow/83934117.cms |access-date=2021-10-11 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> the Kerala Archaeology Department took possession of the monument to save it.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /> The former synagogue is being restored to function as a [[Jewish museum|Jewish heritage museum]].<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Kadavumbhagam Synagogue on a path to revival |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2021/aug/14/kadavumbhagam-synagogue-on-a-path-to-revival-2344390.html |access-date=2021-10-10 |website=The New Indian Express|date=16 August 2021 }}</ref><ref name=":9" />

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

== References ==
{{reflist}}

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

{{Synagogues in India}}
{{Kochi (India)}}

[[Category:1950s disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:16th-century religious buildings and structures in India]]
[[Category:16th-century synagogues in Asia]]
[[Category:Cochin Jews]]
[[Category:Former synagogues in India]]
[[Category:Mattancherry]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Sephardi synagogues in India]]
[[Category:Synagogues completed in 1544]]
[[Category:Synagogues in Kerala]]
[[Category:Synagogues preserved as museums]]
[[Category:Jewish museums in India]]

Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue - Revision history

Accuntpayable1 at 16:21, 18 January 2026