Paravur Jewish Synagogue

The Paravur Synagogue is a Jewish place of worship located in Ernakulam district of Kerala. It was patronized by Malabari Jews (also called “Black” Jews), or Jews born of union between the European Jews and the natives. The faithful believe that this synagogue was built in 1616 on the same site as and over the ruins of an earlier one established in 1164. As per the engraving on a stone slab placed outside the synagogue, it was the fourth mudaliyar (community leader of the Jews of Kerala), David Yaacov Castiel, who took the initiative to re-build it.nnOf all the synagogues in Kerala, it has the longest and largest structure. This synagogue is the result of a beautiful amalgamation of Jewish and Kerala architectural designs. While the general layout with the prayer hall, with its the Holy Ark (a niche that houses the holy book of the Jews, the Torah) and the wooden rosettes decorating the ceiling, is that of a typical synagogue, features like the outer Padippura (gateway to the main building), the lamps in the prayer room and the special seating arrangement for female devotees are all indicative of the influence of the adopted land of the Jews. Interestingly, it also carries a few Portuguese elements.nnThe Paravur Synagogue was bombarded during the time of the Portuguese invasion – in 1635 – and later rebuilt by a wealthy family. It was damaged yet again by the invading armies of Tipu Sultan (the ruler of erstwhile Mysore) in the late 1700s during the Second Anglo-Mysore wars. But it was renovated only much later.nnWith the migration of Jewish community of Kerala en masse to the nation of Israel, their Promised Land, by the 1950s and 1960s it became increasingly difficult for the last remaining members of the congregation to conduct religious services and maintain the Paravur Synagogue. The original Bimah (an elevated platform or pulpit for the reading of the Torah) and the Holy Ark were dismantled and taken to Israel in the 1990s and the ownership of the synagogue was transferred to the Government of Kerala in 2009. As part of the Muziris Heritage Project jointly organized and conducted by the Departments of Tourism and Archeology of Kerala, the building underwent substantial renovation between 2010 and 2013. Currently, the Paravur Synagogue is known as the “Kerala Jews History Museum”.

Well preserved. Guide available safe in all respect.

Place of worship, historical monuments and treasure hunt

The first built synagogue in kerala and in India by our fore ever Jweish friends. A nice informative place the guide you get there is so generous gives answer to our doubts also. Lot to know and add to your historical knowledge.ud83dudc4d

Very very comfortable and more interesting