History
Standing proud at the far end of Jew Town, Kochi, the Paradesi Synagogue, is a testament to Kerala's Jewish heritage. Built in 1568 by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, Efrahim Sala, and Joseph Levi on land granted by the Maharaja of Travancore at that time, it's the oldest in the Commonwealth.
Named "Paradesi" (meaning 'foreigner' in Malayalam) due to its Portuguese speaking Sephardic Jewish builders, the synagogue is emblematic of the historical amalgamation of cultures. Referred to as "our palli" (a place of worship in Malayalam) by Cochin Jews, it was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1662 but rebuilt by the community two years later under the Maharaja's patronage.
The story of how and why the Jewish community started settling in Kochi in the first place, however, dates as far back to 1300 AD when they left their original settlement in Cranganore.
Jewish Festivals
As with any Jewish community in the diaspora, the Paradesis observe and celebrate the Jewish festivals in Kochi as dictated in the scripture.
These festivals are the subject of endless nostalgia, and are an integral part of the efforts to preserve the community’s unique culture and history.