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{{short description|Bharatpedia list article}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
A synagogue was called "'''Beit Knesset"''' ('''[[Malayalam|Mal]]:''' ''ബേത് ക്‌നേസേത്'' '''| [[Hebrew language|Heb]]:''' ''בית'' ''כנסת'') in [[Judeo-Malayalam]] or "'''Jootha Palli'''" ('''[[Malayalam|Mal]]:''' ''ജൂതപള്ളി'') with ''joothan'' meaning Jew in [[Malayalam]] and -''palli'' a suffix added to prayer houses of the [[Abrahamic religions|Abrahamic faiths]]. There are at least 8 known synagogues in [[Kerala]] in recorded history, even though most of them are not operating anymore. 7 of them belong to the [[Cochin Jews]] and 1 belongs to the [[Paradesi Jews]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Mandelbaum |first=David G.
|title=The Jewish Way of Life in Cochin
|journal=[[Jewish Social Studies]] |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=423–460 |date=1939
|jstor=4464305}}</ref>
Each of these is quite unique in its construction and architecture; nevertheless, they retain very similar aesthetics, blending in both the Jewish and Keralite traditions rarified over centuries.<ref name=cochinsyn_arch>[https://cafedissensus.com/2014/12/31/indias-synagogue-variety-architecture-history-and-context/ India’s Synagogue Variety: Architecture, History, and Context], Jay A. Waronker, Café Dissensus, 31 December 2014</ref>

Only the [[Paradesi Synagogue|'''Paradesi Synagogue''']] in Mattancherry and the [[Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue|'''Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue''']] in Ernakulam downtown still functions as a synagogue and are popular tourist destinations. The [[Parur Synagogue|'''Parur Synagogue''']], [[Chendamangalam Synagogue|'''Chendamangalam Synagogue''']], [[Mala Synagogue|'''Mala Synagogue''']] are open to public visit, even if they do not serve their originally intended religious purposes anymore. They remain as souvenirs representative of Kerala's rich cosmopolitan heritage, religious tolerance and cultural magnificence.

Many old synagogues are completely lost, a notable example being the [[Kochangadi Synagogue]] built in 1344 (the foundation stone of which is still retained in the Paradesi Synagogue) mostly likely after the Jews had to abandon [[Muziris]] due to the [[Muziris#Great .22floods.22 of Periyar|great flood of Periyar river]] in 1341
.<ref name=firstpost_ind_jews_01>[http://www.firstpost.com/living/indian-jews-this-little-known-minority-community-has-a-rich-heritage-2855590.html Indian Jews: This little known minority community has a rich heritage], Sifra Lentin, First Post, 26 June 2016</ref><ref name=cochinsyn_lostsyn>[http://cochinsyn.com/page-lostsyn.html Lost Kerala Synagogues], Jay A. Waronker, Friends of Kerala Synagogues, 2011</ref>

== List of Synagogues in Kerala ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Location
! Photo
! Current state
|-
| [[Paradesi Synagogue]]
| [[Mattancherry]], [[Kochi]]
| [[File:Jewish_synagouge_kochi_india.jpg|center|frameless|545x545px]]
| Operational
|-
| [[Mala Synagogue]]
| [[Mala, Kerala|Mala]], [[Thrissur]]
| [[File:Synagogue_at_Mala_-Kerala.jpg|center|frameless|511x511px]]
| Non-operational for worship, open to visits
|-
| [[Chendamangalam Synagogue]]
| [[Chendamangalam]], [[North Paravur]]
| [[File:Chandeliers at Chendamangalam synagogue (15211859014).jpg|center|frameless|578x578px]]
| Non-operational for worship; Open to public visits as [http://www.muzirisheritage.org/kerala-jews-lifestyle-museum.php Kerala Jews Life Style Museum].
|-
| [[Paravur Synagogue]]
| [[North Paravur]] (Parur) <ref name=jpost_parur_syn>[http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/A-revival-of-Jewish-heritage-on-the-Indian-tourism-trail A revival of Jewish heritage on the Indian tourism trail], Shalva Weil, Jerusalem Post, 16 July 2010</ref>
| [[File:Interior of Paravur Synagogue.jpg|center|frameless|578x578px]]
| Non-operational for worship; Open to public visits as [http://www.muzirisheritage.org/kerala-jews-historical-museum.php Kerala Jews History Museum]
|-
| [[Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue]]
| Market Road, Ernakulam; 
At the center of the crowded market area
on west side of Market Road,
 just south of where it intersects with [http://jewishmonumentskerala.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-jew-street-or-jews-street-of.html Jew Street] <ref name=cochinsyn_kada_erna_01>[http://cochinsyn.com/page-kada-erna.html Kadavumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam], Jay A. Waronker, Friends of Kerala Synagogues, 2011</ref><ref name=haaretz_2016>{{cite news | url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/features/.premium-1.711807 | title=Only 26 Jews left in this Indian city — and they still can't get along | first=Danna | last=Harman | work=Haaretz | date=31 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=haaretz_2003>[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/the-last-jew-on-jews-street-1.12209 The Last Jew on Jews Street], Karen Saul, Haaretz, 21 April 2003</ref>
|
| Non-operational for worship (was functional until 1972, when its membership could no longer support it <ref name=syn360_kada_erna>[http://www.synagogues360.org/synagogues.php?ident=india_007 Synagogues360: Kadavumbagam Synagogue], SYNAGOGUES360, A Visual and Historical Record of Synagogues from Around the World - 360° panoramas of Jewish Culture, 2013</ref>);
currently hosts a business "Cochin Blossoms" by the present owner Mr. Elias (Babu) Josephai; 
it is undergoing restoration as of 2018;<ref name="thehindu_feb2018_kadavum_restore">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/a-synagogue-comes-to-life/article22698388.ece|title=A synagogue comes to life|last1=Abraham|first1=Tanya|date=2018-02-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-02-09|last2=Abraham|first2=Tanya|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> 
open to visits <ref name=potliwalas_blog>[https://potliwalas.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/history-preserved-cochin-blossoms/ History preserved – Cochin Blossoms], Potliwalas, 2013</ref><ref name=indianjews_kada_erna>[http://indianjews.org/en/research/jewish-sites-in-india/105-kadavumbagam-ernakulam-synagogue Kerala - Kadavumbagam Ernakulam Synagogue], Indian Jewish Heritage Center, 2014</ref>
|-
| [[Thekkumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue]]<ref name=cochinsyn_tekku_erna>[http://cochinsyn.com/page-tekku.html Tekkumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam], Jay A. Waronker, Friends of Kerala Synagogues, 2011</ref>
| Jew Street, Ernakulam; 
On the north side of Jew Street, between Market Road and [[Broadway (Ernakulam)|Broadway]] and to the west of the Juma Masjid, a landmark mosque.
|
| Non-operational for worship;
It has served as a gathering hall for community events in recent years. 
Currently, it is a locked property; access has to be prearranged with the present owner "Association of Kerala Jews", who can be contacted through Mr. Elias (Babu) Josephai, the caretaker of the nearby [[Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue]].
|-
| [[Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue]]
| Mattanchery
| [[File:Museu de Israel P1130210 (24400166033).jpg | Interiors of Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue displayed in Israel Museum, Jerusalem|center|frameless|560x560px]]
| Non-operational for worship; in ruins; served as coir storage facility; [[Torah ark|Heckal]] (Holy Torah Ark) was moved to Israel and remains at the Synagogue in [[Nehalim|moshav Nehalim]]; interior moved to Israel, restored and displayed in Israel Museum at Jerusalem <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://museum.imj.org.il/imagine/galleries/viewItem2E.asp?case=33&rm=&itemNum=199804|title=The Israel Museum Permanent Galleries: '''Interior of the Kadavumbagam synagogue'''|website=museum.imj.org.il|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishmonumentskerala.blogspot.com/2011/11/normal-0-false-false-false.html|title=Jewish Monuments of Kerala: Journey of the 'Holy Ark' of Kadavumbagam Synagogue from Mattancherry to Jerusalem.|last=K|first=Laju Paul|date=2011-11-02|website=Jewish Monuments of Kerala|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianjews.org/en/research/jewish-sites-in-india/106-kadavumbagam-mattancherry-synagogue|title=Kerala - Kadavumbagam Mattancherry Synagogue|last=Isaac|first=Ido|website=indianjews.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref>
|-
| [[Thekkumbhagam Synagogue|Thekkumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue]]
| Mattancherry
|
| Non-operational and not existing anymore; 
Bought by a Paradesi Jew after the congregation left to Israel in 1955, it was later demolished to build a 2-storeyed house at the same site. <ref name=indianjews_thekku_matta>[http://indianjews.org/en/research/jewish-sites-in-india/113-tekkumbagam-mattancherry-synagogue Kerala - Tekkumbagam Mattancherry Synagogue], Indian Jewish Heritage Center, 2014</ref> 
Through the efforts of anthropologist Professor [[David G. Mandelbaum]] and [[Seymour Fromer]] of the former [[Judah L. Magnes Museum]], many relics from this synagogue have been preserved at the [[Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life]] at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] and the most important antiquity being the restored Torah Ark (Heckal).<ref name="thehindu_magnes_berkley_201309">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/reliving-the-glorious-days-of-kochis-jews/article5125478.ece|title=Reliving the glorious days of Kochi's Jews|last=Surendranath|first=Nidhi|date=2013-09-14|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-07-22|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|}

== List of Lost Synagogues in Kerala ==
Throughout their history numerous synagogues have been constructed and lost to time. in their first settlement at Shingly ([[Kodungallur|Cranganore]]) , there were 18 synagogues as per their oral traditions. Today no archaeological evidence has been yet uncovered to validate these traditions. However the custom of naming their synagogues as "''Thekkumbhagam''" (lit: south side) and "''Kadavumbhagam''" (lit: River side) is cited as a cultural memory of two such synagogues that once stood in Muziris. Several oral songs sung by Cochini women also contain references to these synagogues.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cochin: Jewish Women's Music|url=https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/cochin-jewish-womens-music|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Jewish Women's Archive|language=en}}</ref> Apart from these, numerous Syrian Christian churches of the [[Saint Thomas Christians|St. Thomas Christian]] community in Kerala claim to have been [[Ezharappallikal|built on old synagogues]], though archaeological evidence is scarce.

Synagogues believed to have existed or speculated on basis of oral traditions include:

* '''Madayi Synagogue''', [[Madayi]]
* '''Kodungaloor Synagogue/ Makotai Synagogue''', [[Kodungaloor]]
* '''Thekkumbhagam synagogue''', [[Kodungaloor]]
* '''Kadavumbhagam Synagogue''', [[Kodungallur|Kodungaloor]]

Synagogues in recorded history whose location and/or remains have been lost in time:<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Waronker|first=Jay|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/173844321|title=Jay Waronker : India's synagogues ; March-April 7, 2007.|date=2007|publisher=Handwerker Gallery, Ithaca College|oclc=173844321}}</ref>

* '''[[Palayoor Synagogue]]''', [[Palayoor|Palur]] ''(known only from a rimon (ornament) bearing its name)''
* '''Kokkamangalam Synagogue''', [[Kokkamangalam]]
* '''[[Kochangadi Synagogue]]''',(1344 A.D - 1789 A.D) [[Kochangadi]] ''(oldest synagogue in recorded history)''
*
*
* '''Saudi Synagogue''', (1514 A.D-1556 A.D), Saude, a locality south of [[Fort Kochi]].
* '''Tir-Tur Synagogue''', (1745 A.D-1768 A.D) Thiruthur, Kochi
* '''Muttam Synagogue''' (1800A.D), [[Alappuzha|Muttam]], Alappuzha
* '''Fort Kochi Synagogue''', (1848 A.D), [[Fort Kochi]] ''(congregation of [[Meshuchrarim|meschuhrarim]])''
*
*
*
*
*
*

== Architectural Similarities ==
{{commons category|Synagogues in Kerala}}
All the 8 synagogues in Kerala built during the recent centuries have similar traditional [[Synagogue Architecture|architectural]] features that include:
* a central [[Bema#Judaism|Bimah]] of brass or [[silver]] metal on a [[concrete]] or stone base
* an [[Ark of the Covenant|Ark]] or ''heckal'' on the western wall facing [[Jerusalem]].
* a [[Mechitza|balcony]] above the eastern entry to the sanctuary that is used by the [[hazzan]] (reader) on certain holidays.
*A second ''bimah'' on the upper gallery for women, unique to kerala synagogues. Often integrated into the wooden railing of the balcony.
* a women's gallery behind the balcony, with a stairway leading up to it, usually from outside the building.

==See also==
* [[Synagogues in India]]
* [[Architecture of Kerala|Kerala Architecture]]
* [[Synagogue architecture]]
* International [[Jewish Architectural Heritage Foundation]], New York, USA

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Synagogues in Kerala}}
[[Category:Synagogues in Kerala| ]]
[[Category:Lists of synagogues in India|Kerala]]
[[Category:Lists of religious buildings and structures in India]]

List of synagogues in Kerala - Revision history

>CommonsDelinker at 12:59, 13 October 2021