Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue

Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, also known as the Blue Synagogue, is an active Orthodox Sephardic synagogue located in the Kala Ghoda art district of Mumbai. Completed in 1884 by Jacob Elias Sassoon and designed by British architects Gostling & Morris, it is the second oldest Sephardic synagogue in the city. The heritage structure features Neoclassical and Victorian architecture with stained glass and teakwood interiors. It underwent a UNESCO-award-winning restoration completed in 2019.

Visitors can explore a restored 19th-century synagogue featuring Victorian stained-glass windows, Burmese teakwood furnishings, and original Minton tile floors imported from England. The interior displays a blend of Jewish traditions with Indian and English Victorian architectural influences. As an active place of worship, visitors may observe religious services or view the sanctuary when prayers are not in session. The exterior facade is painted white with indigo borders following its 2019 conservation.

Constructed in 1884 by Jacob Elias Sassoon in memory of his father Eliyahoo Sassoon, the synagogue was built to serve the growing Baghdadi Jewish community in Bombay's commercial hub. It was designed by the British architectural firm Gostling & Morris with a stone masonry basement and brick superstructure. The building represents the prosperity of the Sassoon family, prominent philanthropists and mill owners who significantly contributed to Mumbai's development.

The synagogue serves as the center for Jewish cultural and religious events in Mumbai and remains an active Orthodox congregation following the Nusach Sefard rite. It hosts three daily services except on weekends and is a focal point for festivals like Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The site symbolizes the historic presence of the Baghdadi Jewish community in India and their integration of Jewish traditions with local and colonial influences.