mala jewish synagogue, cochin

Mala Synagogue

Mala is a developing town which is situated in the southern part of Thrissur district and lying near the north western side of the

Eranakulm district.

Jews have a very long history in Mala, located in the Kerala State of India, near Cochin. Some believe as early as 72 CE Jews immigrated to Mala for trade and settlement, as it was an

important trading district before the time of Christ. The name Mala may have originated from the Hebrew word “Mal-Aha”, meaning,

“Center of Refuge.”

Jewish Community in Mattanchery

Ferry Service to Mala, The name ‘Mala’ was very popular as a water way for the business to the Musiris which was an important port of the ancient India.

Mala Town

MALA SYNAGOGUEBefore Renovation

Since 1955, no Jews have lived in the city of Mala and that is when then Synagogue closed. 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.

It was just a parking space for the local people

The Synagogue is a two-story structure with a gatehouse, which served as a foyer with communal spaces downstairs and a Jewish school upstairs. It was linked by a covered breezeway (which is now filled-in) to the Synagogue. As is traditional with synagogues in Kerala, Mala Synagogue features a shallow wooden balcony in dark and teal wood, which overlooks the two-story prayer room. The façade is yellow downstairs and white upstairs, with three traditional windows upstairs. Corners of the building, plaster over stone and brick, are broken. Exterior steps (which have now been sealed closed) led to the women’s gallery upstairs, which was separated from the sanctuary by a latticed screen. The two-story women’s gallery is situated at the western end of the prayer room, upstairs, and features balustrades in dark and teal wood. It is accessed by a flight of stairs from inside the sanctuary.

Women Gallery of Synagogue

A view from women gallery

Door of Synagogue

Pepper drying in the Backyard of Mala Synagogue

Entrance to Mala Jewish Cemetery

Mala Jewish Cemetery

Ancient inscription on the tomb in Cemetery

Tombs in Jewish Cemetery

Jews played a significant role in the spice trade as early as the biblical times of Solomon (10th century B.C.E.). We know from I Kings (chapters 5 and 10) that King David bequeathed to Solomon vast lands which gave him control of the major trade routes to Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia as well as routes to the southern Arabian peninsula, where the vast majority of spices were traded from the Far East

Ancient Trade Route to India

Jews and Jewish Synagogue History in Mala72 CE: Jews immigrated to Mala for trade and settlement 1000 CE: The wood used for the synagogue was donated to Joseph Rabaan by the Rajah of Cranganore. 1400AD: Apparently, the original 11th century synagogue was torn down for unspecified reasons and a new building was built in 1817AD: In the beginning of 1817 Missionary Rev. Thomas Dawson visited the Mala Synagogue and observed that it was still in ruins following Tipu Sultan’s attack during the Second Anglo-Mysore War, which took place during the early 1780s. 1792AD: Again renovated 1909AD: The Synagogue was either upgraded or re-built upon the original foundation. 1954 AD: December 20, 300 members of the Jewish community in Mala moved en masse to Israel.

The Government of Kerala has been contemplating the creation of the Muziris Heritage Project from 2006. However, realizing its potential impact, the Government has initiated and ambitious project to encompass a larger area including North Paravur and Kodungallur Taluks, which have various protected monuments.In 1341, the profile of the water bodies in the Periyar River basin, on the Malabar Coast in Kerala underwent a major transformation. The prosperous city-port of Muziris, at the mouth of the Periyar, overlooking the Arabian Sea, suddenly dropped off the map, due to a flood or earthquake, or both.

Synagogue Now Under Renovation Process

Renovation of Mala Synagogue happened as the part of Muziris Excavation Project in Kerala

Painting and Polishing of Interior

Painted Synagogue

Today, the interior is painted terracotta on the lower half of the walls and white above, with paned and shuttered windows, with a teal blue ceiling, and teal woodwork. The sanctuary is now empty, but once a central bema was built on a stone base and the Aron Kodesh was situated on the eastern wall.

After Renovation

Another Old Monuments Near Mala

Old Mosque in Mala, which is established in 640 AD (Hijra 60) is one of the oldest mosques in India

Pambummekkattu Mana is the most famous Serpent worship centre in Kerala. The Pambu Mekkattu (serving of snake) is spread over six acres of land with five "Serpant Kavus" (Kavu is sacred garden). The Pambummekkattu land is kept in its virgin style with huge trees and thick vegetation

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