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30 Aug 2025

Jewish Synagogue and Culture: Discovering with The Old Lighthouse Bristow

Did you know? The Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi, built in 1568, is the oldest active synagogue in the commonwealth. A synagogue is a Jewish place of worship. It is a sacred place where Jewish communities gather for prayer, learning and connection. Adorned with hand-painted tiles and Belgian chandeliers, it reflects a rich blend of Jewish heritage and Kerala’s cultural charm. It’s a breath held for centuries. A room still echoing with the prayers of those who once whispered Hebrew under Kerala skies. At The Old Lighthouse Bristow Hotel, we don’t just recommend the synagogue as part of your itinerary; we invite you to experience it as a continuation of your stay. After all, Fort Kochi is home to stories.

A House of Prayer, Painted in Blue and Silence

It was built in 1568 A.D. by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, and Joseph Levi for the flourishing Paradesi Jewish community in Kochi. Cochin Jews were composed mainly of the much older Malabari Jews and the newly arrived Sephardic refugees from the Portuguese religious persecution of Jews in Spain and Portugal. Inside, you’ll find Belgian glass chandeliers catching slants of dusty sunlight. Hand-painted Chinese porcelain floor tiles, each one slightly different, like the lives that passed across them.

The street is named ‘Jew Town’ for this reason.

A Street That Remembers

Jew Street is a bustling market street with antique shops filled with a captivating collection of artefacts. There is also an eclectic mix of cafes and restaurants that offer a delightful culinary experience. For fashion enthusiasts, there is a selection of clothing stores on either side of the street. And exquisite spice shops and a perfume museum.

Sarah Cohen’s Embroidery Shop

Sarah Jacob Cohen (September 4, 1922 – August 30, 2019) was the oldest living member of Kochi’s Jewish community, visited by the British royal family at Mattancherry, Kochi in November 2013. She was a prominent member of the Jewish community that arrived in Mattancherry, Kochi, in the south Indian state of Kerala over 500 years ago, from Europe.

Sarah Cohen was a skilled hand embroiderer who created art on a piece of cloth. Her work was so good that she set up an embroidery Shop with the help of her caretakers and other skilled artisans. They make and sell hand-embroidered kerchiefs, table cloths, kippahs, and other Jewish articles. After she died in 2019, her caretakers have kept her legacy alive by continuing to make and sell embroidery work by other skilled employees.

Her shop still stands strong as an embodiment of Jewish culture and heritage.

From Our Windows to the Synagogue Walls

Back at The Old Lighthouse, as you sip tea in the garden or watch the ships lean into the harbour, think of the trade winds that once brought Jewish traders to this very coast. Pepper. Gold. Stories. When you stay with us, you’re not booking a room. You’re stepping into a long, interwoven narrative, one that takes you back to the diverse heritage of Fort Kochi.

Before You Leave

We recommend visiting the synagogue just after opening, before the cruise-tourists arrive. Walk barefoot if you’re allowed. Sit for a moment in the wooden pews. Don’t take too many pictures. Some memories are better taken home without a lens. Because some places don’t ask for your attention. They ask for your respect.
The Jewish heritage of Fort Kochi is one such feeling that is fading, but fierce in its refusal to be forgotten. Come, discover it with The Old Lighthouse Bristow Hotel.

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Jewish Synagogue and Culture: Discovering with The Old Lighthouse Bristow

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