Where is the oldest Jewish synagogue in India?

Where is the oldest Jewish synagogue in India?

The Kochangadi Synagogue (1344 A.D. to 1789 A.D.) in Kochi in the Kerala, built by the Malabar Jews, is the oldest in recorded history.

How many synagogues are there in Kerala?

All the 8 synagogues in Kerala built during the recent centuries have similar traditional architectural features that include: a central Bimah of brass or silver metal on a concrete or stone base. an Ark or heckal on the western wall facing Jerusalem.

How much does synagogue cost?

The synagogues send an annual letter to members describing the average cost per family of synagogue operations — ranging from $1,500 to $2,900 — and asking them to pay what they can.

Who built Paradesi Synagogue?

The synagogue, the oldest in the Commonwealth, was built by the Jewish community of Cochin. In 1662, it was destroyed by the Portguese and then reconstructed, two years later, by the Dutch. The word Paradesi means foreigner in many Indian languages.

In which place is Paradesi Synagogue the oldest synagogue in India located?

Kochi
Paradesi Synagogue, oldest synagogue in India, located in Kochi (formerly Cochin), Kerala state.

What are the common features of synagogues?

A typical synagogue contains an ark (where the scrolls of the Law are kept), an “eternal light” burning before the ark, two candelabra, pews, and a raised platform (bimah), from which scriptural passages are read and from which, often, services are conducted.

What are members of a synagogue called?

The service. Synagogue services can be led by a rabbi, a cantor or a member of the congregation. Traditional Jewish worship requires a minyan (a quorum of ten adult males) to take place.

Why was Paradesi Synagogue built?

Paradesi Synagogue, oldest synagogue in India, located in Kochi (formerly Cochin), Kerala state. The synagogue was built in 1568 by the city’s prosperous Jewish trading community, originally consisting of Sephardic Jews who had been exiled from Spain and Portugal decades earlier. …

Where was the Jewish synagogue in Kochi built?

Located in the Jew Town area of Kochi, the synagogue was constructed in 1567 and is one of the seven synagogues of the Malabar Yehudan or Yehudan Mappila. The synagogue shares its walls with the Mattancherry Palace and was built by Spanish- speaking Jews; therefore, it is also known as ‘Paradesi’ meaning ‘foreigners’.

Which is the oldest Jewish synagogue in India?

Also known as Paradesi Synagogue or Mattancherry Synagogue, Cochin Jewish Synagogue is the oldest active synagogue, not just in Kochi but in the Commonwealth of Nations. Located in the Jew Town area of Kochi, the synagogue was constructed in 1567 and is one of the seven synagogues of the Malabar Yehudan or Yehudan Mappila.

How old is the synagogue in Paradesi Kerala?

The Paradesi Synagogue, in a corner of Jew Town, is more than a hundred years old and houses many rare antiques. The synagogue, that woos many visitors, adds to the quaint charm of Mattancherry. The Jewish synagogue was built in 1568, almost 1500 years after the beginning of the Jewish connection with Kerala.

When was the Jewish synagogue in Mattancherry built?

The synagogue, that woos many visitors, adds to the quaint charm of Mattancherry. The Jewish synagogue was built in 1568, almost 1500 years after the beginning of the Jewish connection with Kerala. It was built on the land, adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace, given by the erstwhile king of Cochin.