MATTANCHERRY

Jewish Synagogue

It is also known as the Paradesi Synagogue. The synagogue is located in the quarter of Old Cochin known as Jew Town, adjacent to the Dutch Palace. The Mattancherry Palace temple and the Mattancherry synagogue share a common wall.
History - The oldest in Asia, it was built in 1568 when the Malabar Yehudan Jews settled in Mattancherry after their expulsion from Rahabi. The Malabari Jews formed a prosperous trading community of Kerala, and they controlled a major portion of world wide spice trade. The synagogue was built on land given to them by Paraja, the Raja of Kochi. The original synagogue was built in the 4th century in Kodungallur (Cranganore) when the Jews had a mercantile role in the South Indian region along the Malabar coast now called Kerala. It was later moved to Kochi from Kodungallur. It was partially destroyed in the Portuguese persecution of the Malabari Jews and Nasrani people of Kerala in the 1500s and again in the war of 1662. The second synagogue, built under the protection of the Raja of Cochin along with Dutch patronage, is the present synagogue. It is called Paradesi synagogue because it was built with Dutch patronage at a time when Kochi was under Dutch occupation, thus the name paradesi synagogue or "foreign synagogue".
Synagogue - The complex has four buildings. It has the Scrolls of Law, Grand Scrolls of the Old Testament, several gold crowns received as gifts, many Belgian glass chandeliers, and a brass-railed pulpit. It houses the copper plates of privileges given to Joseph Rabban, the earliest known Cochin Jew, dating from the 10th century, written in Tamil on the two plates, by the ruler of the Malabar Coast. This records king Bhaskara Ravi Varma's 4th century decree that guaranteed the Jewish settlers domain over Cranganore (Kodungalore). The Synagogue itself is elaborately decorated with crystal chandeliers and carved wood with blue and white ceramic tiles. The floor of the synagogue is composed of hundreds of Chinese, 18th century, hand-painted porcelain tiles and beaches, all of which are unique. There is also an oriental rug, a gift from Haile Selassie, the last Ethiopian Emperor. The most visible part of the synagogue is the 18th century clocktower, which, along with other parts of the complex, underwent repair work between 1998 and 1999. A tablet from the earlier synagogue in Kochangadi in Kochi (built in 1344) is placed on the outerwall of the Paradesi synagogue. The inscription states that the structure was built in the year 5105 (in the Hebrew Calendar) as an abode for the spirit of God.
Timings - Opens from 10 am to 12 noon; 3 pm to 5pm, Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.