Chronicles Of Kochi

Situated in a narrow street between the Mattancherry Palace and the Pardesi Synagogue, Jew Town is an antique paradise for people who love collecting outmoded items. The tiny shops and the enormous colonial architecture that lines the streets have an old-world charm to the town. The diversity and rarity of the novelty and souvenir shops along the Boulevard might fascinate tourists. A stroll around Jew Town will transport you back in time.

Jew Town: A town nestled in Kochi; Image Source: Trip Savvy

Written by K S Mathew, One Heart. Two Worlds: The Story of the Jews of Kochi is a lore that emerges from Cochin's dwindling Jewish culture. Comprising the community's folklore, dreams, faith, traditions, and practices, this book is a walk down memory lane. When someone opens the book's pages, they can find the colorful illustrations that intricately trace the fascinating life story of the handful of Jewish people who thrive in God's Own Country.

This book presents a very moving and lyrical tale of the tapering Jewish community living in Kochi. The book poses some critical questions- Could pure love resurrect it? How do you intend to extend that last message to the individuals who matter, who could return in quest of their origins and rekindle the fading cultural embers? Now that we are talking about the famous Jewish culture, how can we forget the famous Jew Town?

Jew town is an ancient Jewish colony in Kochi, Kerala, dating back to the 6th century BCE, according to specific estimations. Filled to the brim with old handicraft and textile shops, this famous Jew town is a testimonial of India's rich and colorful history and reminds us of the amalgamation of taste, traditions, and a Midas touch of humanity.

India has always been that melting pot of diverse cultures and ethnicities; some are pretty new, while others are ancient. When someone enters Jew Town, they can find the famous Paradesi Synagogue, established long back in the sixteenth century—considered one of the old synagogues in India; Jews from all over the world visit this place.

This town is nothing less than a museum showcasing its vibrant cosmopolitan history. The narrow paths paved with grey stones, the beautiful and intricate architectural buildings belonging to the colonial era, and bright and colorful walls filled with intricately painted murals, this town today houses only a handful of Jewish population and reeks of a past like no other city in Kochi.

Fascinating tales of Jew Town; Image Source: Tramp Traveller

Talking about the exact location of this town, it is nestled in the Mattanchery area of Kochi. One can quickly board a bus or cab to reach the place. However, vehicles are strictly prohibited inside the town. If one has to visit the synagogue, then a brisk walk is all that is required. Now let's get into the backstory that led to the evolution of this pretty little town.

Some sources say that the Jewish community arrived on King Solomon's boats at the Malabar Coast for the first time in the first century BCE. Initially, they settled in the port town of Muziris, which is now known by the name of Kodungallur. It is said that the king of Kochi welcomed the Jews wholeheartedly and provided them with everything, starting from land rights to an exemption from taxes to privileges in religious matters to conducting their rituals and festivals.

He tried his best to make them feel at home. In the fourteenth century, when the Periyar River was flooded, the Jews shifted from Muziris to Kochi. Yet again, in the sixteenth century, another fleet of Jewish population came to India from Middle Eastern countries and North Africa to flee from the Spanish and Portuguese intervention. The Mizrahi and Sephardic Jews mingled and formed a community named Paradesi Jews.

As time passed, they settled in the town of Kochi, building a haven for themselves. The famous Paradesi Synagogue too was established in this community. Though in the seventeenth century, it was demolished by the Portuguese, it was reconstructed and brought to life by the Dutch some years later. By the end of the eighteenth century, a clock tower was added to this beautiful synagogue.

The Jewish community established a town and named it Jew Town. They thrived in this town alongside the Malayali community for thousands of years. But soon, the town declined from a bustling hustling settlement to a ghost city since most Jewish people migrated to Israel, wanting to settle down in their original homes in the twentieth century.