ARCHEOLOGICAL HERITAGE
Synagogues
Synagogue is a community house of worship that serves as a place not only for liturgical services but also for assembly and study. The oldest dated evidence of a synagogue is from the 3rd century BCE, but experts are of opinion that synagogues have an older history.
Right from the era of King Solomon, Jews used to visit Kerala. Most of them were sailors during the era of King Solomon. After the siege Jerusalem and destruction of the first temple, in BC 587, some of them came down to settle in India. But in BC 70, when the second temple was destroyed, there was a huge flow of Jews to India. Of them, many settled in Kerala too, where foreigners are always welcomed. It was these Jews established synagogues in Kerala. There are 35 synagogues in India and 7 of them are in Kerala.
Kerala synagogues differ from those in the west in terms of architecture. These synagogues are strongly influenced from earlier Hindu religious buildings on its design and construction. They are characterized by high slope roofs, thick laterite-stoned walls, large windows and doors, balcony and wood-carved ceilings. A Kerala synagogue consists of a ‘Gate House’ at the entrance that leads through a Breezeway to the Synagogue Complex. The synagogue complex is made of a fully enclosed Azara or Anteroom and a double-storeyed sanctuary - the main prayer hall.
The most important Jewish heritage structures in Kerala are the synagogues (Juda Palli in Malayalam), cemeteries and residences.
Synagogue
A typical ‘Kerala Synagogue’ consists of:- Tebah/Bimah:Located at the center of the sanctuary, Tebah is usually an elevated wooden platform or pulpit from which Torah, the holy book of Jews is read.
- A Heichal (Ark): Represents the altar. It is a chest or cupboard in the synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept. It is usually carved intricately and painted/gilded with teak wood. Unlike in the European Synagogues, where the ark is placed on the eastern wall, the synagogues in Kerala have the arks on the western wall facing Jerusalem.
- A Balcony/Second Tebah: It is unique to the synagogues of Kerala. The balcony has two portions one for men and the other for ladies. Women’s seating area is placed directly above the azara.
- A Staircase: Leads to the balcony and is generally spiral in shape and made of wood. At times there are two staircases, one for men from the main hall inside the synagogue and the other for the ladies from a staircase room outside the synagogue;
A Jewish School:
Is actually a classroom for Jewish children usually located behind the women’s section on the first floor. Pardesi Synagogue at Mattancherry (1568), Kadavumbagam Synagogue at Mattancherry (1130 or 1539), Kadavumbagam Synagogue at Ernakulam (1200), Thekkumbagam Synagogue at Ernakulam (1200 or 1580, Paravur Synagogue (750 or 1164 or 1616), Mala Synagogue (1400 or 1597) and Chendamangalam Synagogue (1420 or 1614) are the Synagogues of Kerala (The various speculated dates of establishment in parenthesis are taken from www.cochinsyn.com, courtesy Prof. Jay A. Waronker.
Cemeteries
Cemeteries or resting place of ancestors means a lot to the Jewish community. Sometimes they even carried tombstones from their old settlements while migrating to a newer place. Unlike Christian tombs in Kerala with Malayalam and English engravings, the Jewish graves have mostly Hebrew inscriptions. Pardesi Jewish Cemetery at Mattancherry, Malabari Jewish Cemetery at Mattancherry, Old Jewish Cemetery at Ernakulam, New Jewish Cemetery at Ernakulam, Paravur Jewish Cemetery, Mala Jewish Cemetery and Chendamangalam Jewish Cemetery are the Jewish cemeteries.
Jewish Residences
Though most of the early Jewish homes sold to non-Jews are substantially modified or refurbished, there are a few features that still make them identifiable. The best way to locate the home of a residing Jew is to look for the Mezuzah on the door post. Nailed to the doorpost of a Jewish home, Mezuzah is a small container made of wood, plastic or metal having a piece of parchment with the most important words from the Jewish Holy Book, Torah. It is customary among religious Jews to touch the mezuzah on entering or leaving the home. A few homes in the Synagogue Lane of Mattancherry with mezuzah are the residences of the remaining 9 Paradesi Jews.
Jew Street at Mattancherry (Jewish residences with Mezuzah and Magen David), Jew Steet at Ernakulam (today all shops in non-Jewish hands), Jew Street at Paravur (Twin Pillars), Jew Street at Mala (Gate House and Breezeway of synagogue turned into shops), Jew Street at Chendamangalam (used to be a Jewish Market or Judakambolam), and Jew Street, Calicut [identified in July 2011 as Jootha (Jew) Bazar] are the Jewish residences of Kerala.
There were a good number of Jewish colonies were there in Kerala at Kodungallur (Thrissur), Palayur (Thrissur), Pullut (Thrissur), Kunnamkulam (Thrissur), Saudhi (Ernakulam), Tir-tur (Ernakulam), Chaliyam (Kozhikode), Pantalayani Kollam (Kozhikode), Thekkepuram (Kozhikkode), Muttam (Alappuzha), Kayamkulam (Alappuzha), Dharmadom (Kannur), Madayi (Kannur), Kollam, Pathirikunnu at, Krishnagiri (Waynad), and Anchuthengu (Thiruvananthapuram). All these colonies have been perished.
Chendamangalam Synagogue
Chendamanalam Synagogue is 40 kilometers North of Mattancherry. It isbuilt in Kerala vernacular style. A tombstone dated 1268 which belongs to a Jewish woman named Sarah, inscribed in Hebrew, was restored in 1936. This tombstone can today be found at the front entrance of the Synagogue. This stone was said to brought from Kottapuram. The synagogue is presently maintained by the archaeology department. There is also an abandoned Jewish cemetery behind the mosque, about 400 m from the synagogue, which has not been restored yet. The oldest Jewish tomb in India (dated 1269 AD) preserved in front of Chendamangalam synagogue is one such transferred from Kodungallur.
Kadavumbhagam Synagogue, Ernakulam
This synagogue is in Jew Street near broadway, Ernakulam. During the 1950s and 60s, many members of the Synagogue immigrated to Israel, and membership in the congregation became thin. Until the early 1970s, the Kadavumbagam Synagogue was still substantially intact. By 1972, the synagogue had closed and within two years the Torah scrolls were transported to Israel.
Kadavumbhagam Synagogue, Mattancherry
In Mattancherry, other than the touristic Paradesi Synagogue, two others houses of prayer were once alive in heart of Jew Town. The Synagogue served the Jews for centuries, and were closed down in 1955 when their congregations immigrated to Israel. After about four decades, the synagogue’s interior finishes were purchased by an English Jew and were shipped to Jerusalem, and then meticulously restored by the Israel Museum to represent Asian synagogues.
Mala Synagogue
Mala Synagogue was built in 1000 AD, the new structure was renovated in 1909. In 1954, a formal agreement was signed by the trustees of Mala Synagogue to hand over the control of the building to the local panchayat. The agreement mentioned that the synagogue building would be cared for, and it would not be used as house of prayer or slaughterhouse. The decommissioned synagogue was converted to government offices, and it was re-adapted as a venue for cultural, educational, and communal functions. The synagogue’s tebah, heckal, and all furnishings and fittings were removed many years ago and are now lost, although the balcony with its second tebah remains with less damage. Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry.
Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry
The oldest functioning Jewish house of prayer in India, the Paradesi Synagogue is located at the North end of Synagogue Lane, a narrow street lined on both sides with houses which were once occupied by Jews The synagogue was constructed in 1568 by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, and Joseph Levi. The famous clock tower in the synagogue has three existing dials facing the maharajah’s palace at north, with Malayalam characters to the South, with Roman numbers to be viewed from Jew Town and in Hebrew letters from the west. It is said that there once was a fourth dial on the East side with number. The only existing pointer is on the Roman dial.
Parur (Paravur) Synagogue
Parur Synagogue is believed to be the first synagogue which was built in 750. It was rebuilt rebuilt in 1164 when the first building was destroyed. During Tipu Sulthan’s period Paravur Synagogue was also attacked and heavily damaged.
Tekkumbhagam Synagogue, Ernakulam
Tekkumbhagam Synagogue was built in I200 AD. The Jews in Ernakulam maintained the synagogues at Thekkumbhagam and Kadavumbhagam and a Jewish school for years. A new building was constructed in 1930s. The synagogue was closed for the past decades it served as a gathering hall for community events. Today it stands locked and unused. Recently the government has decided to renovate and restore the abandoned Jewish cemetery located located near Jew Street and Broadway.
Source: https://jewishmonumentskerala.blogspot.com/2020/12/kottayl-kovilakom-chendamangalam-jewish.html