| Kochangadi Synagogue
בית הכנסת קוצ'נגאדי കൊച്ചങ്ങാടി ജൂതപള്ളി | |
|---|---|
 Hebrew inscription on a tablet from the Kochangadi Synagogue, now placed at the eastern wall of the Paradesi Synagogue | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Sephardi |
| Status | Extinct (lost) |
| Location | |
| Location | Kochangadi, Kerala |
| Country | India |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue |
| Style | Cochin Jewish Architecture |
| Completed | 1344 A.D |
| Demolished | 1789 A.D |
| Direction of façade | Unknown |
The Kochangadi Synagogue, or Misro Synagogue ( Mal: കൊച്ചങ്ങാടി ജൂതപള്ളി or മിസ്രൊ പള്ളി) (Hebrew: בית הכנסת קוצ'נגאדי ) (A.D. 1344 - 1789 A.D) was a historic synagogue located in Kochangadi, south of Jew Town in Kochi, in the coastal state of Kerala. It was built in 1344.[1][2][3][4] by the Malabari Jews after fleeing from Cranganore, making it the oldest synagogue in India in recorded history. It was lost and never rebuilt. The subsequent Kadavumbhagam Synagogue (1544) and Thekkumbhagam Synagogue (1647) were built after this congregation was established. The name "Kochangadi" is an abbreviation of "Kocha Angadi" or "Jew Market", as jews were addressed as Kocha in colloquial Malayalam.
The synagogue in its history underwent multiple stages of destruction and restoration. The ruins of this synagogue was believed to have been intact until the late 20th century. The compound had at least one intact wall and was colloquially called "Misro Palli" though the entomology of the name is lost to time.[4][3] The foundation stone is still retained in the courtyard wall of the Paradesi Synagogue of Mattancherry, maintained by the Paradesi Jews.[5][6]
- ^ Jay., Waronker (2010). The synagogues of Kerala, India : their architecture, history, context, and meaning. OCLC 671537518.
- ^ Jussay, P.M. (1990). "The Origins of the Kerala Jews - An Evaluation of their Traditional Sources". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 51: 66–74. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44148189.
- ^ a b Daniel, Ruby (2002). Ruby of Cochin : an Indian Jewish woman remembers. Varda Books. ISBN 1-59045-649-1. OCLC 1243580690.
- ^ a b Nathan., Katz (1993). The last Jews of Cochin : Jewish identity in Hindu India. Univ. of South Carolina Press. ISBN 0-87249-847-6. OCLC 246707556.
- ^ "Indian Jews: This little known minority community has a rich heritage". Firstpost. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ S., Koder, S. (1974). History of the Jews of Kerala. [publisher not identified]. OCLC 3415398.
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