Home > Blog > Arts & Culture > “The Last Jews of Cochin” Spotlights the Jewish Diaspora
On a Friday night in Cochin, India, Joshua Cogan found himself outside of a beautiful stupa, or shrine, when he saw some local Hindu and Muslim kids lighting candles. “I asked them why,” Cogan recalls, “they said, ‘Shabbat.’” In that moment, Cogan’s career as a photographer truly began. 24 years later, Cogan is revisiting his first gallery show, The Last Jews of Cochin, in an exhibit on display in Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Kreeger Lobby from Friday, January 10 through the end of March.
When Cogan first picked up a camera in Jerusalem during his junior year abroad in 1997, he had no idea his work would one day be seen in National Geographic, The New Yorker, or on-screen at the Tribeca Film Festival. But photography has always been more than a career — it’s been a journey of self-discovery, cultural connection, and storytelling.
“It was a way for me to understand myself and my own faith traditions,” Cogan shared during a recent interview about his upcoming exhibit, as well as explore “the depth and breadth of Jewish life in the world.”
A Journey Sparked by Family and Tradition
Cogan’s passion for photography and Judaism was profoundly influenced by his grandmother, whose tales of travel and exploration ignited his curiosity about the world. After studying abroad in Israel, Cogan’s desire to look deeper into his heritage and the broader Jewish story led him to Cochin, a city in southern India which has had a Jewish community since 70 C.E. He aimed to delve into the lives of the few remaining members of the community while uncovering the interplay of Jewish and local cultural traditions.
Cogan says he was struck by the unique pluralism of this place where, unlike many parts of the world, “Muslims and the Jews and Hindus and the Christians … all just kind of look out for each other. And that was really beautiful to me.”
This coexistence is vividly depicted in Cogan’s photographs, which capture the remnants of Cochin’s Jewish life — from its historic synagogue to the centuries-old cemetery, in addition to the shrine dedicated to 16th Century Kabbalist Nehemiah ben Abraham Mota. Commenting on the Shabbat he witnessed at the Mota shrine, Cogan says, “It’s something you see happening a lot throughout India. There’s a blending and syncretism of these different faith traditions.”
A Timely Message for Today
The decision to revisit this body of work comes at a moment when conversations around faith, belonging, and pluralism are as relevant as ever. Cogan hopes the exhibit will spark dialogue among Washington Hebrew congregants and visitors, inviting them to reflect on the beauty of Jewish tradition and its intersections with other cultures. “In times of collective trauma, we often pull inward,” he says. “I love our people. There’s a living richness in who we are, and this exhibit is a way to celebrate that while exploring what it means to belong and engage with our stories in different ways.”
Coming Full Circle
For Cogan, bringing this exhibit to Washington Hebrew Congregation feels like coming full circle. “I feel an urgency to share this work again. This was one of the projects that launched my career. And to think about it in the context of 10/7, in the context of rising religious struggles, it feels like it has a message in it.”
Whether you’re drawn to the stories of Cochin’s Jewish community, the stunning images, or the broader themes of cultural connection, this is a show not to be missed.
Mark your calendars for the January 14 opening of Joshua Cogan’s exhibit at WHC, and prepare to be moved, inspired, and engaged by his journey into the farthest reaches of the Jewish diaspora. As Cogan puts it, “The beauty of this story is to remember we have many friends, and we are friends to many.”
Join photographer Joshua Cogan on Tuesday, January 14, 7:00 pm, at Temple for the exhibit’s opening reception. RSVP Required. Visit whctemple.org, search “Cogan.”
