The Cochin Jewish community in Kochi, India, has dwindled to just a handful of members, with two individuals representing the final chapter of a centuries-old presence in the southwestern port city. Keith Hallegua, a Paradesi Jew, remains the sole local congregant at the 458-year-old Paradesi Synagogue, while Elias Josephai, a Malabari Jew, maintains the 12th-century Kadavumbagam Synagogue. Both men have chosen to remain in their homeland despite the departure of most community members who immigrated to Israel beginning in the 1950s.
The Cochin Jewish community’s history reflects both religious freedom and internal divisions. The Paradesi Jews, descendants of Sephardic ancestors from Spain and Portugal who fled the Spanish Inquisition in the 16th century, long held a dominant social position. The Malabari Jews, whose ancestors trace roots back more than 2,000 years to the time of King Solomon, faced discrimination from the Paradesi community. While these divisions did not persist after emigration to Israel and elsewhere, the community acknowledges the bitter remnants of this history.
Preservation efforts extend beyond the remaining Jewish residents. M.C. Praveen, a Hindu who spent his childhood in the neighborhood, serves as a synagogue trustee and has made protecting Cochin Jewish history his life mission. Thaha Ibrahim, a Muslim, continues operating an embroidery shop and teaches his son the traditional craft, honoring the legacy of Sarah Cohen, a Jewish community matriarch. A museum opened earlier this year showcasing the community’s history, including a charter from 1000 CE granting the Jewish community religious freedom.
Both Hallegua and Josephai carry deep attachments to their heritage and struggle with the loss of their communities. Josephai has spent years restoring his synagogue and hopes a Jewish organization will eventually assume responsibility for it, along with a library and museum he is building. Hallegua remained in Jew Town to care for family members and, despite moments of anguish, feels bound to his birthplace and history. Both men recognize that their knowledge and memories will disappear with them, yet remain committed to maintaining their faith and community traditions in their ancestral home.
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