Chendamangalam Synagogue

The Chendamangalam Synagogue (Malayalam: ചേന്ദമംഗലം ജൂതപള്ളി) (Hebrew; בית הכנסת צ'נמנגלם) is one of the oldest known synagogues built by the Malabar Jews, in Chendamangalam, a village in the Ernakulam district of the coastal state of Kerala. It is dated to 1100 A.D., though the synagogue structure itself dates to 1420 A.D or 1614 A.D., making it the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations. A tombstone recovered from Kodungallur was stored in this synagogue and is presently on display in the front yard. This tombstone with the inscription of Sarah Bat Israel is the second oldest Jewish epitaph found in India, dating to 1269 A.D.

After the entire congregation made aliyah to Israel in the 1950s, the synagogue was defunct for decades. Today it serves as a Kerala Jews Lifestyle Museum for the Muziris Project, a conservation project by the Government of Kerala. The synagogue is open to visitors from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.

History
The hillocks at Kottayil Kovilakam are unique as the site of a Hindu temple, a Syrian Christian church, a mosque and a restored Jewish synagogue, all within 1 km of each other.

Here are the remains of the Vypeenakotta Seminary built for Syrians in the 16th century by the Portuguese. Adjacent to the seminary is an old Syrian Catholic Church built in 1201. It is also the site of the first printing press in India.

Tombstone of Sarah bat Israel
A tombstone recovered from Kodungallur was stored in this synagogue and is presently on display in the front yard. This tombstone with the inscription of "Sarah bat Israel" is the oldest Jewish epitaph found in India, dating to November 1269 A.D. (Kislev 1581 Seleucid era).

Hekkal
The Heichal of the Chendamangalam synagogue is one of the most ornately carved Torah arks in Kerala. The style of the ark is Italian with gilded filigree work. It bears the crown insignia of the tribe of Judah.

Golden Sefer Torah Crown
This crown was gifted by the Maharaja of Travancore to the Chendamangalam Jews. The crown weighed 212 carats and was made of solid gold Studded with rubies and emeralds. A rimon from the Palayoor Synagogue was brought and stored in this synagogue. This was later purchased by the Paravur Synagogue, which in turn sold it to the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam. The crown was later taken to Israel and stored in moshav Nevatim. In 2008, thieves broke into the moshav and stole this crown. Its whereabouts are currently unknown.

Chendamangalam Jewish Cemetery
There is also an abandoned Jewish cemetery behind the mosque, about 400 km from the synagogue, which has not been restored yet.