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Religious Places in Kerala
Kochi Jewish Synagogue - The secular space of green Kerala has indulged religions for many centuries, thereby creating claim for both devotion and devotee amongst its masses.
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The Jewish Synagogue in Kochi is the faultless blend of tradition with architecture with loopholes from where the rich culture of India can seep in.
The Kochi Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568, and conserved till today.
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The population of the Jews has dropped radically with the establishing of the Jewish State of Israel, many Jewish settlers in Cochin and other parts of Kerala left the country for Israel.
There are only about 17 Jews left, and that the number of adult males does not come up to the necessary number for a Priest, the Community
is without one. The Jewish Synagogue will be probably being taken over by a Trust, and because of its historical significance to the history of Kochi, it would be preserved.
The synagogue is covered with beautifully painted Chinese tiles. The amazing fact is that no two tiles resemble each other. The interiors are beautifully decorated with Belgian chandeliers and grand lighting. The synagogue has a collection of the souvenirs that were presented to the kings of Kochi as a token of love and affection.
These souvenirs include the beautifully carved crowns in wrought gold and silver that were gifted by various patrons who visited the place. The synagogue is an important symbol of the religious and cultural heritage of the Jews. One can visit the monument on all days except Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
The rabbi will normally give visitors a full account of the synagogue and the history of the Jews in Kerala.
Although this ancient community of Cochin has now dwindled to a few families, strong elements of their culture and tradition as well as the Hebrew language remain in Jew Town, which is what the area surrounding the Mattancherry Synagogue has come to be called.
The by-lanes that wind around Jew Town offer charming sights of houses built in Dutch, Portuguese and British styles.
The articles of interest at the synagogue are a clock tower, hand painted, willow patterned floor tiles from Canton in China, great scrolls of the Old Testament, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, ancient scripts on copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the former rulers of Cochin were recorded.
At present, the area around the Jewish Synagogue is a center of spice trade and curio shops. The nearest railway station from the synagogue is Ernakulam and Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport.
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