https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Madras_SynagogueMadras Synagogue - Revision history2026-07-31T03:09:39ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Madras_Synagogue&diff=514568&oldid=prevCarmineJansen at 16:20, 18 January 20262026-01-18T16:20:04Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Synagogue in Chennai, Tami Nadu, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox religious building<br />
| building_name = Madras Synagogue<br />
| native_name = {{langx|he|בית הכנסת במדרס}}<br />
| image = Madras Paradesi Synagogue Seal.jpg<br />
| image_upright = 1.4<br />
| caption = The [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] of the synagogue<br />
| location = [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu<br />
| religious_affiliation = [[Judaism]]<br />
| rite = [[Nusach Sefard]]<br />
| status = [[Synagogue]]<br />
| functional_status = Active<br />
| leadership =<br />
| website =<br />
| architect =<br />
| architecture_type = [[Synagogue architecture]]<br />
| architecture_style = <br />
| established = {{nowrap|{{circa|1600s}} {{small|(as a congregation)}}}}<br />
| groundbreaking =<br />
| year_completed = 1644<br />
| consecration_year=<br />
| construction_cost=<br />
| capacity=<br />
| length=<br />
| width=<br />
| width_nave=<br />
| facade_direction=<br />
| height_max=<br />
| materials=<br />
}}<br />
The ''' Madras Synagogue ''' ({{langx|he|בית הכנסת במדרס}}) is a [[synagogue]], located in [[Chennai]] (formerly known as Madras), in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], India. Completed in 1644, by [[Jacques (Jaime) de Paiva (Pavia)|Jacques de Paiva]], a [[Paradesi Jews|Paradesi Jew]], it is the only synagogue in Chennai. Madras Synagogue was also known as the '''Esnoga''', or '''Snoge'''; ''Esnoga'' means synagogue in [[Judaeo-Spanish|Ladino]], the traditional Judaeo-Spanish language of [[Sephardic Jews]].<br />
<br />
The [[Western Sephardim|Amsterdam Sephardic community]] was among the richest Jewish communities in Europe during the [[Dutch Golden Age]]. They came to Chennai for trading in [[Golconda diamonds]], precious stones and corals, they developed very good relations with the rulers of [[Golkonda]] and maintained trade connections to Europe.<br />
<br />
Stone inscription of the oldest synagogue in Tamil Nadu has been discovered near Valantharai near Ramanathapuram.<ref>{{cite news |author=Reich, Aaron |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/stone-inscription-of-oldest-synagogue-in-tamil-nadu-found/articleshow/92837874.cms |title=Stone Inscription of Oldest Synagogue in Tamil Nadu Found |website=[[The Times of India]] |date=14 July 2022 |access-date=11 November 2024 }}</ref> This inscription dates from the 13th century.<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
The first Madras Synagogue and cemetery was built by Amsterdam Sephardic community in Coral Merchant Street, George Town, in the 1600s. At the time there were a large presence of Portuguese Jews in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Neither the synagogue nor the Jewish population remains today.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LnflUVu0w2QC&q=coral+merchant+street+chennai&pg=PA30 |title=The Unhurried City: Writings on Chennai |first=S. |last=Muthiah<!--chapter author--> |editor-first=C. S. |editor-last=Lakshmi |page=30 |isbn=9780143030263 |publisher=Penguin Books India |year=2004 |access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref><br />
[[File:Plan of Fort St George and the City of Madras 1726.jpg|thumb|A 1726 plan of Fort St George and Madras. Market '' b'', top right, is the [[Jewish Cemetery Chennai|Jews Burying Place]]]]<br />
The Second Madras Synagogue and [[Jewish Cemetery Chennai]] was built in 1644 by Jacques de Paiva, also from the Amsterdam Sephardic community, in Peddanaickenpet, which later became the South end of [[Mint Street, Chennai|Mint Street]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-27-no-20/the-last-family-of-pardesi-jews-in-madras/ |title=The last family of Pardesi Jews in Madras |work=Madras Musings |volume=27 |number=20 |date=9 February 2018 }}</ref> In 1934, the second synagogue and the cemetery were partly demolished by the local government. The tombstones were moved to the Central Park of Madras along with the gate of the cemetery on which ''Beit ha-Haim'' were written in Hebrew.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sefarad.org/lm/041/5.html |title=The Portuguese Jewish Community of Madras, India, In The Seventeenth Century |publisher=Sefarad.org |first=Mordechai |last=Arbell |accessdate=6 October 2018 }}</ref> <br />
[[File:Rabbi Salomon Halevi and Rebecca Cohen, Paradesi Jews of Madras.jpg|thumb|Rabbi Salomon Halevi and his wife, Rebecca Cohen]]<br />
The remaining synagogue and cemetery were fully demolished by local government authorities on 5 June 1968. The local government resumed the land for building a government school. The rabbi at that time, Rabbi Levi Salomon, the last Rabbi of the congregation died of a [[heart attack]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2012/oct/31/18th-century-jewish-cemetery-lies-in-shambles-craves-for-attention-420448.html |title=18th century Jewish cemetery lies in shambles, craves for attention |website=The New Indian Express |date=31 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/30/stories/2002093000180300.htm |title=Will Chennai's Jews be there? |website=[[The Hindu]] |date=30 September 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030312192024/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/30/stories/2002093000180300.htm |archive-date=12 March 2003 }}</ref> The remaining tombstones were moved opposite Kasimedu cemetery. In 1983, the tombstones from Central Park and those opposite the Kasimedu cemetery were moved to Lloyds Road, when the Chennai Harbour expansion project was approved.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2012/oct/31/18th-century-jewish-cemetery-lies-in-shambles-craves-for-attention-420448.html |title=18th century Jewish cemetery lies in shambles, craves for attention |date=31 October 2012 }}</ref> In this whole process 17 tombstones went missing, including that of Jacques de Paiva.<ref>{{cite web |first=Janani |last=Sampath |title=Chennai's link to its Jewish past, cemetery in Mylapore fading into oblivion |url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2016/05/09232326/Chennais-link-to-its-Jewish-past-cemetery-in-Mylapore.vpf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610164606/http://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2016/05/09232326/Chennais-link-to-its-Jewish-past-cemetery-in-Mylapore.vpf |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 June 2016 |work=DT Next |date=10 May 2016 |access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Present==<br />
After ISIS planned attack,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/120817/isis-planned-attack-on-kodai-jews.html|title = ISIS planned attack on Kodai Jews|date = 12 August 2017}}</ref> Madras Synagogue is at undisclosed location under custody of Isaac and Rosa Charitable Trust, Henriques De Castro family.<br />
<br />
Henriques De Castro family has decided to hand over everything to [[Archaeological Survey of India]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}<br />
<br />
==Objects of antiquity==<br />
Madras Synagogue has eight [[Torah|Scrolls of the Law]], several gold, silver and brass Antique Judaica Items.<br />
<br />
== Gallery ==<br />
<gallery><br />
2 out of 8 Sefer Torah in 2nd Torah ark (or Aron Kodesh).jpg|[[Sefer Torah]] in an ''[[Torah ark|Aron Kodesh]]''<br />
Silver Yad.jpg|Silver [[Yad]]<br />
Menorah.jpg|[[Menorah (Hanukkah)|Menorah]]<br />
Prayer book of Rabbi Salomon Halevi (Last Rabbi of Madras Synagogue)-12.jpg|[[Haggadah]] of Rabbi Salomon Halevi, the last rabbi of the synagogue<br />
Books from Madras Synagogue (2).jpg|Books from the synagogue<br />
Madras Synagogue Mezuzah.jpg|''[[mezuzah|Mezuzot]]'' from the synagogue<br />
Madras Synagogue Office.jpg|The synagogue office<br />
Sefer Torah decoration jewels.jpg|[[Sefer Torah]] decoration jewels<br />
Shabbat Secretary Desk.jpg|[[Shabbat]] Secretary desk<br />
Spice Besamim Box from madras synagogue.jpg|[[Havdalah|Besamim box]] from the synagogue<br />
1873 Filigree Spice Besamim Box from madras synagogue.jpg|1873 filigree spice besamim box from the synagogue<br />
Madras Synagogue Tefillin.jpg|[[Tefillin]] bags from the synagogue<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
{{stack|{{portal|Judaism|India}}}}<br />
* [[History of the Jews in India]]<br />
* [[List of synagogues in India]]<br />
* [[Religion in Chennai]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
{{Commons category|Madras Synagogue}}<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151110060957/http://dailysamsara.com/the-jews-of-chennai/ The Jews of Chennai]<br />
* {{cite AV media |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madras_Synagogue_1.webm |title=A two-minute video (#1) of the synagogue interior |date=October 2020 |work=Wikimedia Commons }}<br />
* {{cite AV media |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madras_Synagogue_2.webm |title=A two-minute video (#2) of the synagogue interior |date=October 2020 |work=Wikimedia Commons }}<br />
<br />
{{Synagogues in India}}<br />
{{Chennai}}<br />
{{Places of worship in Chennai}}<br />
{{coord missing|Tamil Nadu}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1568 establishments in India]]<br />
[[Category:17th-century religious buildings and structures in India]]<br />
[[Category:17th-century synagogues in Asia]]<br />
[[Category:Paradesi Jews]]<br />
[[Category:Sephardi synagogues in India]]<br />
[[Category:Synagogues in Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Synagogues completed in 1644]]<br />
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Chennai]]</div>CarmineJansen