Jews first came to the south of India in 72 AD, after the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans and they were chased out of Jerusalem, and became traders in the area around Kochi. Before Israel was established after the Second world War, an estimated 20,000 Jews lived in India, but most of those have left and the synagogue in Kochi now only holds services if there are 10 visiting Jewish men. In fact there are less than 3 so called "white Jews" in Mantacherry, all women, with one of their member recently moving to Israel and another dying last year at the age of 101 (so I was told). Once they are gone, I imagine it will just become another museum.
This Paradisi Synagogue is in Mantacherry, about 3 km away from Fort Kochi, and was built in the 15th century with the support and blessing of the reigning Marahajah at the time, Rama Varma. it is tucked away at the end of a lane through what is known as Jew Town, very close to the Maharajah's Palace. There is a dress code - women must wear clothes that cover their knees and men are to wear shirts and trousers, but the only one that seems to be actually enforced is no shoes. This is to protect the hundreds of wonderful hand-painted blue and white porcelain tiles on the floor, brought from what was Canton in China in the 18th century. there are several wonderful glass chandeliers that hail from Belgium. Photos on the inside were forbidden but the internet obliged.
 |
| inside, with chandeliers above and porcelain tiles below |
 |
| external inscription |
 |
the 18th century clock tower, with the synagogue's
entrance on the left |
No comments:
Post a Comment