Beth El Synagogue — Attraction in Kolkata

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE (1856; enlarged in 1885)

26, Pollack Street (off Brabourne Road) Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) West Bengal, INDIA

This sizable synagogue, albeit still fitted and maintained, is no longer a fully-functioning house of prayer due to the diminished local Jewish population.  The building is now under the custodianship of the governmental Archeological Survey of India (ASI).    Synagogue caretakers are regularly on duty to receive guests during the week at regular hours, so a visit should be straightforward and easy.    Guests are invited to have a look at a small exhibition on the women’s gallery level on this synagogue and the Baghdadi Jewish community in Kolkata.    There is no telephone number for this site, however native Jew (yet not always in Kolkata. Completed in 1856, this synagogue in central Kolkata at 26, Pollock Street off Brabourne Road, with shops and residences alongside, has served the city’s Beth El (Hebrew for House of God) Baghdadi congregation for more than one and one-half centuries. Its construction was made possible with funding from David Joseph Ezra and Ezekiel Judah, two local Baghdadi Jews. In 1885, to better serve the needs of a congregation that had grown in size during the 1860s and seventys, the building was enlarged and improved. These changes were paid for by another community member, Elias Shalom Gubbay.

Bath El Synagogue was set up in 1856 and literally means the House of God. It is located on Pollock Street. Surrounded by shops selling electrical goods the Beth El Synagogue is in one of the busiest localities of Calcutta. It is a pity that most of the time it is closed...

Completed in 1856, this synagogue in central Kolkata at 26, Pollock Street off Brabourne Road, with shops and residences alongside, has served the city’s Beth El (Hebrew for House of God) Baghdadi congregation for more than one and one-half centuries. Its construction was made possible with funding from David Joseph Ezra and Ezekiel Judah, two local Baghdadi Jews. In 1885, to better serve the needs of a congregation that had grown in size during the 1860s and 1870s, the building was enlarged and improved. These changes were paid for by another community member, Elias Shalom Gubbay. The pale yellow synagogue, set behind a wall and gate along the busy street, is an eclectic Western-inspired composition made up of many design influences. The façade, finished in polished lime and painted, is a classic tripartite design with recessed panels featuring rounded arched openings, pointed-arched stained glass windows, groupings of engaged pilasters, a pronounced curvilinear ceiling with a clock, and the monumental central stair leading up to a recessed porch that serves as the building’s foyer. Star of David and menorah (candelabra) appliques to the front of the synagogue, highlighted in blue, identify this civic building as a synagogue. Religious prayer services are no longer conducted here, although holiday ones are still led in the sanctuary and on the Sabbath, a lamp is lit in the sanctuary by a resident Jew. Beth El continues to be lovingly watched over by dedicated caretakers who recognize the building as an important religious and civic monument that has been a part of the history and fabric of the Kolkata...

Beth El Synagogue, built in 1856 by David Joseph Ezra and Ezekiel Judah, is a cornerstone of Kolkata’s Jewish heritage. Located on Pollock Street, it is one of the city’s surviving synagogues and a protected monument of national importance... The synagogue features a blend of Baghdadi Jewish and British colonial architecture, with a grand facade adorned with Stars of David, a menorah, and a Cooke and Kelvey clock. Inside, the stained glass windows, chandeliers, and intricate wooden carvings create a serene, reflective atmosphere... Visitors should note that wearing a kippah (head covering) is required when inside...The synagogue is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and maintained with support from Jewish communities abroad, with local Muslim caretakers ensuring its upkeep—a beautiful example of communal harmony... Photography is allowed, but videography is prohibited, and the synagogue is closed on Saturdays for Shabbat. A visit here offers a glimpse into Kolkata’s rich multicultural history and is a must for those interested in heritage and...