In Kochi, India’s southwestern seaport, the remnants of a centuries-old Jewish community face an uncertain future as their numbers dwindle. Keith Hallegua, a Paradesi Jew, remains the sole local congregant of the 458-year-old Paradesi Synagogue in the historic Jew Town neighborhood. Across the city, Elias Josephai, a Malabari Jew, maintains the Kadavumbagam Synagogue, a 12th-century structure he personally restored after vandalism. Both men represent the final generation of a population that once thrived in the region, with the majority emigrating to Israel during the 1950s. Today, fewer than 5,000 Jews live in all of India.
The Cochin Jewish community’s history encompasses both remarkable religious tolerance and internal divisions. The Paradesi Jews, whose Sephardic ancestors fled the Spanish Inquisition in the 16th century, once held dominant status. The Malabari Jews, whose ancestry traces back more than 2,000 years to the time of King Solomon, faced discrimination from the Paradesi community. Though these internal tensions have largely faded since most members immigrated to Israel, their historical legacy continues to shape the community’s narrative.
Despite their solitary circumstances, both Hallegua and Josephai work tirelessly to preserve their heritage. Hallegua participates in religious observances, though he typically prays without the required quorum, relying on tourists to enable communal services. Josephai maintains daily prayers and has invested years in restoration efforts, building a library and museum to document Malabari Jewish history. Earlier this year, synagogue leaders opened a museum featuring historical artifacts, including copper plates from 1000 CE that document a Hindu ruler’s grant of religious freedom to the Jewish community.
Preservation efforts extend beyond the Jewish community itself. M.C. Praveen, a Hindu trustee, spent his childhood in Jew Town and has dedicated himself to documenting the neighborhood’s history. Thaha Ibrahim, a Muslim who runs a Jewish embroidery shop, has adopted traditions including lighting Shabbat candles. Both communities involved in the restoration of Kadavumbagam Synagogue—Muslims, Christians, and Hindus—contributed resources and labor.
Hallegua and Josephai remain emotionally bound to their homeland despite their isolation. Both have declined to emigrate, motivated by family obligations and deep attachment to their ancestral home. Their commitment comes at considerable personal cost, as they witness the gradual disappearance of traditions, languages, and communal practices that defined their community for generations.
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