Haim Synagogue
| Haim Synagogue | |
|---|---|
בית הכנסת חַיִּים کنیسه حییم | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| District | 12 (Park-e Shahr) |
| Location | |
| Location | 30 Tir Street Tehran, Iran |
  Shown within Tehran   Haim Synagogue (Iran) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 35°41′34.0″N 51°24′47.6″E / 35.692778°N 51.413222°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Azizollah Banayan[1] |
| Style | Qajar |
| Completed | 1913 |
The Haim Synagogue (Persian: کنیسه حییم, Kenisā-ye Hayim; Hebrew: בית הכנסת חַיִּים) is an Orthodox synagogue in Tehran, Iran.[2] It is located in 30 Tir Street, formerly known as Qavam-os-Saltane, in central Tehran.[3][4][5]
In recent years, the synagogue is only opened on the occasions of Shabbat and the High Holy Days, due mainly to emigration and decline in membership.[5]
History[edit]
The Haim Synagogue was built following the Iranian Constitutional Revolution in 1913, under the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar, by two Iranian Jewish residents Eshagh Sedgh and Eshagh Moradoff.[6] It has often been considered the first urban synagogue in Iran. Prior to its construction, most synagogues in Iran were built in ghettos.[6]
The building was designed by Azizollah Banayan, the only Jewish architect at the time.[1]
World War II[edit]
By the time of World War II, the Haim Synagogue hosted a number of Polish Jewish refugees.[7] After an increase in the number of Polish Jewish refugees, a new Ashkenazi synagogue by the name of Danial Synagogue was built near the Haim Synagogue in 1940.[6]
Operation Ezra and Nehemiah[edit]
In the 1950s, the Haim Synagogue was used as a refugee camp to host a number of Iraqi Jewish refugees, who immigrated to Israel via Iran as part of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah.[7][5]
Gallery[edit]
-
A panel in the synagogue, reading "this is the God's gate; the righteous will enter it" (Psalm 118:20). -
Entrance of the yard. -
Haim Synagogue from the outside. -
Detail of the synagogue's bema. -
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Sohrabi, Narciss M. (2021). "Tehran synagogues: the socio-cultural topographies and architectural typologies". Journal of Modern Jewish Studies: 9. doi:10.1080/14725886.2021.1971934.
- ^ Massil, Stephen W. (2002). The Jewish Year Book. Vallentine Mitchell. p. 158.
- ^ "Different Dining Experience in Downtown Tehran". Financial Tribune. 21 August 2017.
- ^ "قدم زدن در خيابان اديان". Hamshahri (in Persian). Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "Take a virtual tour of Haim synagogue in Tehran, Iran". The Iran-Israel Observer. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "خیابانی برای گفتگوی ادیان در تهران". Farda News (in Persian). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Iran". Momentum Tours & Travel. Florida. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
Further reading[edit]
- Sohrabi, Narciss M. (2021). "Tehran synagogues: the socio-cultural topographies and architectural typologies". Journal of Modern Jewish Studies. doi:10.1080/14725886.2021.1971934.