What is the history of the Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi?

Built in 1568 in Kochi, India, the Paradesi Synagogue was established by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, and Joseph Levi for the local Paradesi Jewish community. The community consisted of Sephardic refugees fleeing religious persecution in Spain and Portugal, alongside older Malabari Jews. Today, it stands as the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations and the only functioning synagogue among seven originally in the area.

What we know

• The Paradesi Synagogue was built in 1568 A.D. by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, and Joseph Levi in Mattancherry Jew Town, Kochi. [2]
• The synagogue was built on land given by the Raja of Kochi, Rama Varma, adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace temple with which it shares a common wall. [2]
• It is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations and the only one of seven synagogues in Old Cochin still in use. [2]
• The foundation stone of the older Kochangadi Synagogue is retained in the courtyard wall of the Paradesi Synagogue. [4, 5]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureWho were the Paradesi Jews?
• a case in pointWhat happened to the Kochangadi Synagogue?
• whereHow did the Mattancherry Palace temple become connected to the synagogue?
• what followedWhere did Cochin Jews go after India gained independence?
• compared withWhat are the other historical synagogues in Kerala?
• an unexpected connectionHow does a synagogue share a wall with a Hindu temple?The Raja of Kochi granted land directly adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace temple, leading the synagogue and the Hindu temple to share a common wall.

Sources

• [1]Paradesi Synagogue (Wikidata Q3495970) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Paradesi Synagogue · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Paradesi Jews · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Kochangadi Synagogue · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]List of synagogues in Kerala · CC BY-SA 4.0