| Kochangadi Synagogue | |
|---|---|
 Hebrew inscription on a tablet from the former Kochangadi Synagogue, now placed at the eastern wall of the Paradesi Synagogue | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism (former) |
| Rite | Nusach Sefard |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue (1344–1789) |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Location | |
| Location | Kochangadi, Kerala |
| Country | India |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Cochin Jewish architectur |
| Completed | 1344 |
| Destroyed | 1789 (2nd Anglo-Mysore War) |
The Kochangadi Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת קוצ'נגאדי; Malayalam: കൊച്ചങ്ങാടി ജൂതപള്ളി), or Misro Synagogue, was an historic Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Kochangadi, south of Jew Town in Kochi, in the coastal state of Kerala, India.
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. "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 the synagogue were 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 retained in the courtyard wall of the Paradesi Synagogue of Mattancherry, by the Paradesi Jews.[5][6]
- ^ Waronker, Jay (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. University 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.
- ^ Koder, S. (1974). History of the Jews of Kerala. OCLC 3415398.