While traveling through Kerala, particularly Mattancherry in Kochi, one of the most striking landmarks is the Jewish Street and synagogue. This centuries-old Jewish place of worship has now become a historical monument. 

Today, nearly everything related to the Jewish community in Kerala exists as a historical memory. This is largely due to the migration of most of Kerala’s Jewish population to Israel after the establishment of the Jewish state.

It is believed that Jews arrived in Kerala as early as the B.C. period for trade. According to historical accounts, after the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 68 A.D., approximately ten thousand Jews, including women and children, sought refuge in Kodungallur.

These Jewish settlers, who established themselves in places like Kodungallur, Chavakkad, Madayippara, and Mala, played significant roles in the region’s social, cultural, commercial, and economic spheres. However, with the arrival of the Portuguese and the subsequent oppression they faced, many Jews fled to the Kingdom of Cochin, where the King of Cochin granted them refuge. This led to the establishment of the Jewish Street and synagogue in Mattancherry.

When Israel declared independence in 1948, the majority of Kerala’s Jewish population migrated there. According to the 1961 census, there were 359 Jews in Kerala. By 1991, this number had dwindled to fewer than 120. As of 2024, only fourteen Malabar Jews and one foreign Jew remain in Kerala.

The story of these remaining Jews has been captured through the lens of Emmy Award-winning photographer Joshua Cogan. His work is being showcased in an exhibition titled The Last Jews of Cochin, on display in the Krieger Lobby of the Washington Hebrew Congregation.

The exhibit opened with a reception ceremony attended by Senior Rabbi Susan Shankman and photojournalist Joshua Cogan. I also attended the exhibit as a representative of the Indian/Kerala community.

Those interested in viewing the exhibit can visit the Washington Hebrew Congregation at 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, D.C. The exhibit will be open until the end of March. 

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