Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

The1950s brought transformations to Jewish India. As a result of Indian independence in 1947 and the political/economic changes that followed, many Indian Jews chose to emigrate. As a result of the contraction of the Jewish population, membership in the synagogues declined. The Jews who remained in India were confronted by increasing challenges/costs associated with maintaining synagogue buildings. Many synagogues closed, and at the ones that remained open, their physical deterioration escalated in severity. Where synagogues ceased to function while the unused buildings remained in the hands of minute congregations, the architectural and structural integrity of the buildings suffered. Without congregations, and without sustainable resources, many of the buildings became threatened. In recent years, a greater appreciation of India’s synagogues and its Jewish history has blossomed. This has stemmed from a variety of factors including India’s growing appreciation of its cross-cultural/multi-religious national identity. In addition, synagogue congregations have begun to more appreciate the importance of preserving Jewish identity even when they are fiscally and organizationally challenged. Growing tourism, particularly by Israelis of Indian descent wanting to celebrate their heritage, has also helped. The synagogues of India are becoming increasingly recognized as historical and architectural landmarks/destinations. This phenomenon has resulted in a wave of synagogue preservation efforts. This paper addresses this wave of Indian synagogue restorations, including their logic and sustainability merit. While some buildings may have value as functioning synagogues, should a building that serves no larger than a handful of members be maintained and brought back to form?