The Synagogue Itself:

with excerpts from the accounts of Mr. Yossi Oren, Moshav Taoz, Israel

As mentioned earlier in the history page, it was the older son of Yosef Rabban who built this synagogue in 1200 CE, and it is now the oldest active synagogue in all of the commonwealth countries and is managed by Elias Josephai presently.

Once upon a time there used to be a sign bearing an inscription in memory of a renowned Polish Rabbi who had come to teach the Torah to the local community in the 1880s. This signboard stayed in the Azara room of the synagogue till the 1940s, when it was lost during the construction of an underground bomb shelter within the floor of the Azara room. This bomb shelter was built as there was the threat of Nazi German bombardment (it was the height of World War 2 and India was a British Colony).

The signboard is recorded to have read:

“Blessed be the True Judge (Baruch Dayan HaEmet). The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice (Deuteronomy 32:2). This sign honors the memory of a great and God-fearing Rabbi, the scion of a sacred and noble dynasty in Poland, who came to the city of Ernakulam and taught the Torah to the masses with keen perspicuity: Rabbi Abba Yitzhak Yaffe, son of the revered Rabbi Arye Leib Yaffe of blessed memory, was called to join the privileged at the Heavenly Academy on Tuesday, 12 Adar 5650 (March 4, 1890). May he rest with honor, his soul bound up the among the souls of the righteous.”

The demonym ‘Polish’ was called ‘Palasha’ in Judeo-Malayalam, the elders of the community used to refer to the Polish Group as ‘Palasha Koottam’*, an ancestor of Elias Josephai from his great-grandmother’s side was one among the Palasha Koottam.

In another act of commemoration, the first name Abba of the Palasha Rabbi was given to many local new-born boys at the time. The Kadavumbagam Synagogue of Ernakulam’s community once owned much land, buildings and shops, earning a sizable annual income. Charity funs used to be distributed twice a year, before Pesach and Rosh HaShana. Children up to the age of 13 received a designated sum and adults received twice and sum, totalling a handsome amount that ensured joyous celebrations of the holidays. The community later used this money to pay for the ship and flight tickets to migrate to Israel.  Years later, Elias Josephai took over the management of the synagogue and restored it to its current state.

*It should be noted that the bulk of the Palasha Koottam had settled in Mala and had been part of the Mala Synagogue congregation. It is for this reason that many Cochini Jews hailing from Mala had lighter skin tones due to their Polish ancestors.

SIGNIFICANCE OF OBJECTS AND ARCHITECTURE INSIDE THE KADAVUMBAGAM SYNAGOGUE OF ERNAKULAM.

The predominant colors within the synagogue are red and gold, symbolizing the concept of the burning bush; it is also symbolic of the Torah, being the ‘light’ of the world. It is for this reason that visitors to the Kadavumbagam Synagogue describe it as a ‘synagogue of gold’.

THE 13 ATTRIBUTES OF THE SYNAGOGUE:

1. Four entrance doors – The doors to the synagogue are made of teak and rosewood, they are foldable and made of 4 foldable sections. All Cochini synagogues have such doors, this is in honor of the 4 Jewish matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel.

2. Boaz and Yachin Pillars – One sees these pillars on either side as soon as they enter the synagogue. These are made of brass and are symbolically called as the ‘guards of the synagogue’. They are 122 inches in height and are built atop a concrete step.

3. 10 windows – Looking around, one sees 10 arched windows on all four sides, these symbolize the 10 commandments.

4. 7 spokes on the window arches – Atop each of the 10 windows, there are semicircles with 7 spokes, this is a Baghdadi construction style and symbolize the 7 days of the week.

5. Oil lamps – The most famous aspect of the synagogue is a number of exquisite oil lamps. On each lamp there are 12 individual oil cups, these 12 lights that make up 1 lamp symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel.

6. Floor matches the ceiling – The handmade tiles made in Athankudi – Chettinad with technology brought from China in 1200 CE matches the floral pattern on the ceiling.

7. 2 Bhemas – The Bhema, or the pulpit where the Chazzan and Rabbi stands, is usually a single structure on the ground floor of the synagogue; but in the Kadavumbagam Synagogue (and all other Cochini Synagogues) there are 2 Bhemas, the Lower and Upper Bhemas. This is because in the Temple in Jerusalem the Torah was read in the upper portion; the synagogues here emulate that.

8. Upper Bhema’s flowers – Underneath the Upper Bhema, there are flowers made of wood as decoration. This alludes to the Talmudic story of a king deciding against cutting off an entire garden thanks to the merit of a single fragrant rose. Likewise, God is believed to spare an entire nation because of a single rose (righteous person).

9. 14 steps to heaven – The staircase to the top floor (where the Upper Bhema and the Ezrat Nashim (lit: Women’s’ Help) or women’s area are located) has exactly 14 steps. This alludes to the steep climb to heaven, and also the 14 steps in a Pesach (Passover festival) Seder.

10. Mango on Aron Kodesh – The Aron Kodesh or where the Torah is kept, is perhaps one of the most ornate and beautiful in the world. What makes it unique however is the inclusion of the engraving of mangoes on it, which is not a Biblical fruit but rather an Indian fruit and the ‘king of all fruits’. Other Biblical fruits like grapes, custard apples, figs etc are included as well.

11. Small coinholes on the Tzedekah box – The Tzedekah (charity) box kept under the Theba in the Bhema is as old as the synagogue itself, 822 years old. It is made of rosewood and the slit holes on top are only big enough for coins to pass through (this was for during a time when no banknotes existed). Nowadays one has to fold banknotes several times before squeezing them into the Tzedekah box.

12. Contributions from people of all religions – The Kadavumbagam Synagogue of Ernakulam consists of objects donated, sponsored or gifted by people from all walks of life. The wall-curtains are sponsored by a Pentacostal pastor (John Kodiyil), the velvet sheets adorning the Bhemas are stitched by a Catholic nun. The marble tablets on either side of the Aron Kodesh are sponsored by another Christian. The chandeliers are gifted by a Hindu swami (Swam Hari Prasad), some of the ornate lamps are gifted by a Muslim, and the Parochets are stitched by another Muslim (Thaha Ibrahim). The Bhema and the Ezrat Nashim are now being restored by a New York Jew (Mendel Pinson) who’s married to a Cochini. In addition, a Torah observant community from Erode, Tamil Nadu, helped greatly in the restoration.

13. Maybe the only synagogue to be restored fully in the diaspora – Outside of Israel, a synagogue being brought back to life after several decades of disuse is virtually unheard of. Hence the Kadavumbagam Synagogue may be the only one of its kind in the whole world.

How it looks now: