The earliest Jews in India and their history starts from 587 BC, some Jewish exiles came to Cranganore, an ancient port near Cochin, now Kodungallur. The Paradesi Jews settled in the Cochin region in the 16th century and later built the Paradesi Synagogue and White Jew town here.

2. History Starts from King Solomon's Time
The earliest Jews in India were sailors from King Solomon's time. It has
been claimed that following the destruction of the First Temple in the
Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BC, some Jewish exiles came to India. But it
was after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE that there are
records of numerous Jewish settlers arriving at Cranganore, an ancient
port near Cochin. Cranganore, now transliterated as Kodungallur, but
also known under other names, is a city of legendary importance to
this community. They known as the Malabari Jews, they built
synagogues and Jew Town in Kerala beginning in the 12th and 13th
centuries.

3. A Jew Family in Kochi - An Old Image

4. The Paradesi Jews, also called "White Jews", settled in the Cochin region in the 16th century
and later, following the expulsion from Iberia due to forced conversion and religious
persecution in Spain and then Portugal. The Paradesi Jews (also called White Jews) built one,
the Paradesi Synagogue and White Jew town here.

5. Jew Street

6. The sleepy
bylane of
Burgher
Street in
Fort Kochi

7. Pardesi
Synagogue
lane in
Kochi

8. Old style shops in Pardesi Synagogue lane

9. Old style
buildings
in Pardesi
Synagogue
lane

10. Street leads to Pardesi Synagogue

11. A Jew House in the Street

12. Mrs. Selam her name was, and she was Cochin Jew herself. Many of the Jews went back to
Israel and some even chose to move to America. The Jewish population in Fort Kochi now
number less than a hundred, and the Cochin Jews could very well be an extinct ethnicity in a
few years time.

13. A Sign Board in Street

14. At the Entrance of Pardesi Synagogue
The Paradesi Jews, also called "White
Jews", settled in the Cochin region in the
16th century and later, following the
expulsion from Iberia due to forced
conversion and religious persecution in
Spain and then Portugal. The Paradesi
Jews (also called White Jews) built one,
the Paradesi Synagogue and White Jew
town here.

15. A native Kerala guy
standing near Pardesi
Synagogue

16. Jewish Clock Tower with Pardesi Synagogue

17. One of the gate
outside Pardesi
Synagogue with
Jewish Symbols

18. Inside Pardesi Synagogue

19. Ancient Inscription on the wall of Pardesi Synagogue

20. Pardesi Jewish Synagogue Interior

21. Pardesi Jewish Synagogue Interior

22. Torah scroll in
Pardesi Jewish
Synagogue

23. Tombstones displayed at the courtyard of Pardesi Jewish Synagogue

24. Another Ouside
View to Pardesi
Synagogue

25. There is a 'Gate of Faith' in Beit Hatfutsot, the Museum of the Jewish
People, located within the campus of Tel Aviv Univerisity in the
northern suburb of Ramat Aviv has magnificent display of 18 miniature
synagogue reproductions from across the Jewish world. This one is the
miniature of Paradesi Synagogue, Fort Kochi

26. synagogue in Mattanchery

27. Handicrafts shops near Pardesi Synagogue

28. Warning Board about Handicrafts Sales Men

29. Antiques, Jew Town, Fort Kochi

30. Tree Park near Pardesi Synagogue

31. Mattancherry Dutch palace

32. A Dutch cemetery in Fort kochi

33. Backwater side view in Fort Kochi

34. Fort Kochi Beach

35. Chinese Fishing Net in Fort Kochi, an ancient and traditional way of fishing followed by natives
here.

36. The cool thing here is that you can buy fresh fish from the fishermen, then take it to select
restaurants and ask them to prepare it as you wish

37. Ferry Service to Fort Kochi Island

38. By the 18th century, there were 8 synagogues in five
different Kerala towns and villages: 3 in Cochin, 2 in
Ernakulam and one each in Parur and 2 other towns.
Next some of the preserved Synagogues in Kerala. >>>

39. 1. 'Chendamangalam Black Jewish Synagogue' in Ernakulam

40. Recreated Women gallery in 'Chendamangalam Black Jewish Synagogue’

41. The Chendamangalam Synagogue built in 1614 AD was restored and opened for visitors in
February, 2006. The Synagogue opened as a museum with an exhibition on the Jewish culture
and heritage .

42. The ark in Chendamangalam Synagogue

43. Tomb Stones in Chendamangalam Synagogue

44. Jew Families photos in Chendamangalam

45. 2. Parur Synagogue, 1615

46. The collonaded walkway in the Parur Synagogue

47. Women Gallery of
The
Jewish
Synagogue
in
Paravoor

48. 3. Kadavumbagam synagogue, Mattancherry

49. Interior of
Kadavumbagam
synagogue

50. 4. Mala synagogue near Cochin

51. Mala synagogue, located in the Kerala State of India, near Cochin. On December 20, 1954, 300 members
of the Jewish community in Mala moved en masse to Israel. Control of the Synagogue was given over to
the local municipality, with the agreement that it would be maintained, and not used as a slaughterhouse,
or as a house of prayer. The building has been readapted as a venue for cultural, educational and
communal functions. The furnishings and religious artifacts have been lost.

52. Mala Jewish Cemetery

53. Mala Jewish Synagogue Interior

54. 5. Kadavumbagam Synagogue, Mattancherry
Kadavumbagam
Synagogue was
constructed in the
medieval period in the
port town of
Cranganore to the
north of Kochi.

55. Kadavumbagam
Synagogue
Interior,
Mattancherry

56. A Malabari Jewish narrative goes that
the Tekkumbagam Synagogue was
constructed in 1200 after some of the
community, seen as competitors in the
lucrative spice industry, were forced out
of Cranganore in 1154 by the powerful
Moors.
6. Tekkumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam

57. Interior of Tekkumbagam Synagogue, Ernakulam

58. The Kerala Jews lived in safety, but it seems that
most opted to emigrate to Israel after the new state
was established in 1948. Some 75,000 Indian Jews
left their homes, synagogues, schools and
cemeteries behind; few families remained to look
after...