1
A STUDY ON THE CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN MATTANCHERRY SOORAJ KS MARIAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING KAZHAKUTTOM soorajsabu328@gmail.com a Jew town. The historic Jew Town is the heart of the Abstract: The study entitled as ‘A study on the culture and once-thriving Jewish community and a popular spot for architecture of the Jewish community in Mattancherry’ is a tourists today. complete record of the life and culture of the miniscule Jewish community that were a part of the towns history.The initial part of study deals with the concept, philosophies ,evolution and elements of Judaism.Being one 1.2 Need of the study of the ancient monoesthetic religion,Judaism has spread across countries and its little influence can be seen in the The heritage town of Mattancherry has an immense town of Mattancherry too.The Jewish homes and synagogues in Mattancherry are fine examples of the relation with the Jewish culture and community.It is now losing its importance and needs to be preserved. cultural pluralism that existed in the Kerala society.These historically significant town is currently in a state of underutilized conditionAnalysing the present conditions 1.3 Methodology and conservation strategies of the government and giving recommendations are the final outcome of the study . My study was divide into two sections.The first portion is mainly theoretical research from books,articles,newspapers,internet etc on the Judaism,its Keywords: Cochin Jews,Synagogues,Star of David, evolution,history,philosophies,architecture,people and Palli ,Conservation , Jew town culture.It is purely based on the available existing resources and also from different social medias.The second 1 INTRODUCTION part consists of Live site visits in the Jew Town, Mattancherry.Meeting and interviewing localites to know 1.1 Background about the history and culture of the place was one method adopted.Photographic study and mapping were the other The history of the Jewish people is one of the extreme strategies used.Documentation and recording were also persecution and resilience with which they maintained done as part of the study. their culture and identity.The Jews are an ethno-religious group and a nation originating from the Israelites and 2 DATA ANALYSIS Hebrews of the historical Israel and Judea.Their faith is monotheism and religion called Judaism; people who live The first chapter was basically an introduction to the with the Holy Scriptures are of suggestive that Judaism is a history of Jews of Cochin and highlighting the importance conversation between God and man. of Mattancherry town..The second chapter literature review mainly focused on the origin,history and philosophies in Mattancherry is the epitome of mingling of cultures and Judaism .It also dealt with the Jewish culture , religion , religions from all over world; Jews from Israel,Muslims and architecture prevailing in the different parts of the from Arab countries, Christians from Europe and the world.The difference in construction , materials , resident Hindu population, all found it home under the architectural styles of the synagogues etc was analysed The Cherra kings.It is also home to Konkani community who third chapter is an insight to the history of Cochin Jews.It migrated here from Goa for fear of conversions at Portugue studies in detail their migration , society , and the cause for hands, Tamil speaking community and a Kannada speaking the decline.The fourth chapter introduces the site of the community besides the Gujaratis. Once a hub of the spice study -the Jew town.In this chapter, a detailed study of Jew trade, thispart of the island often gets upstaged by its town is done.The various built typologies , evloution pf the cooler neighbour Fort Kochi. Yet Mattancherry was once a town,major heritage structures, etc was studied in famed spice and tea trading centre till the late 20th century. detail.Some of the unique architectural elements were Today, it has transformed into a melting pot coastal measured and documented for preserving its value.The last enclave where different cultures, beliefs, customs, and part of the chapter deals with the culture , tradition and faiths sprawl together in harmony. It hosts several Jewish customs that existed in the Jewish society and was truly places of worship, such as the Paradesi Synagogue and the unique to them.The final chapter was an analysis on the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue, a Jewish cemetery as well as steps taken by government for conservation and as a