The Jewish community of Kochi, India, has experienced significant decline following mid-20th century emigration to Israel, leaving behind a sparse population dedicated to maintaining religious and cultural heritage. Keith Hallegua, a Paradesi Jew, and Elias Josephai, a Malabari Jew, represent the final local members of their respective Jewish groups in the southwestern coastal city. Hallegua serves as the last local congregant of the 458-year-old Paradesi Synagogue, often praying without the minyan—the quorum of 10 males traditionally required for communal Jewish services. Josephai has spent years restoring the centuries-old Kadavumbagam Synagogue, the last functioning place of worship for Malabari Jews, and frequently conducts solitary prayers there.
The Cochin Jewish community’s history reflects both periods of peaceful coexistence with Hindu, Muslim, and Christian neighbors and internal tensions rooted in historical class and racial divisions. Paradesi Jews, whose ancestors from Spain and Portugal arrived in the 16th century after fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, historically held dominant status, while Malabari Jews, whose ancestry traces back over 2,000 years, and Meshuchrarim Jews, descendants of enslaved people brought by Paradesi settlers, faced discrimination within the community. Though these divisions largely dissipated after members migrated elsewhere, the historical legacy remains complex.
Efforts to preserve Cochin Jewish heritage extend beyond the remaining Jewish community members. A museum opened earlier this year showcasing the settlement’s history, including copper plates bearing a Hindu king’s charter from 1000 CE granting the community religious freedom. Synagogue trustee M.C. Praveen, a Hindu who grew up in the neighborhood, works to document and protect the community’s legacy. Thaha Ibrahim, a Muslim, continues traditional Cochin Jewish embroidery practices learned from a longtime community member, teaching the craft to his son to ensure its continuation.
The transformation of Jew Town reflects broader changes in Kochi’s economy and demographics. Former Jewish residences have converted into spice warehouses and shops selling antiques and handicrafts, echoing the community’s historical prominence in the spice trade. Former residents and diaspora members, including trustee Shulamit Kotzer who was born in Jew Town and emigrated to Israel as a young child, maintain emotional connections to their ancestral home and seek to contribute to its preservation and development. Fewer than 5,000 Jews remain throughout India overall, according to available data.
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