Tikvah
Editors’ Pick

August 14, 2026

The Last Jews of Cochin

In 1000 CE, their ancestors received a charter from a Hindu king.

The city of Kochi (formerly Cochin) was once one of the major centers of India’s diverse Jewish population. Today, few Jews remain. Deepa Bharath profiles two of them: Keith Hallegua, who cares for the 458-year-old synagogue in the neighborhood known as Jew Town, and Elias Josephai, who cares for the Kadavumbagam Synagogue on the other side of the city.

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