'The Shtetl in the Tropics' is a sound and photographic tale about the ancient Jewish community from southern India.

It was there on the Malabar Coast, in today's state of Kerala, that shtetls and synagogues were established centuries ago. Jews contributed to the rich mosaic of cultural and civilizational life in that region of India.

In his 'Description of the World,' Marco Polo mentioned a kingdom located in the place of the modern city of Kollam:

'Besides this, there live Christians and Jews. They have a separate language. (…) Merchants come to this kingdom (…) and earn very well.' One of them, the merchant Benjamin of Tudela, wrote in the 12th century about: 'A hundred or so Jews of black skin color, like the other inhabitants of this land. These Jews are good people, observing the laws and possessing the Pentateuch; they also have some knowledge of the Talmud.'

Not without reason is contemporary Kerala also considered a melting pot of cultures and traditions.

Elżbieta Dziuk and Krzysztof Renik invite you to the story of 'The Shtetl in the Tropics.'

Admission is free.