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Haim Synagogue

Coordinates: 35°41′34.0″N 51°24′47.6″E / 35.692778°N 51.413222°E / 35.692778; 51.413222
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Haim Synagogue
  • Persian: کنیسه حییم
  • Hebrew: בית הכנסת חַיִּים
The synagogue entrance in 2017
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
StatusLimited activity
Location
Location30 Tir Street, Old Jewish Quarter, Tehran, 12 (Park-e Shahr)
CountryIran
Haim Synagogue is located in Tehran
Haim Synagogue
Location of the synagogue in Tehran
Geographic coordinates35°41′34.0″N 51°24′47.6″E / 35.692778°N 51.413222°E / 35.692778; 51.413222
Architecture
Architect(s)Azizollah Banayan
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleQajar period
Funded by
  • Eshagh Sedgh
  • Eshagh Moradoff
Completed1913
[1]

The Haim Synagogue (Persian: کنیسه حییم, romanized: Kenisā-ye Hayim; Hebrew: בית הכנסת חַיִּים) is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in 30 Tir Street, formerly known as Qavam-os-Saltane, in central Tehran, Iran.[2][3][4][5]

As of February 2016, the synagogue was opened only on the occasions of Shabbat and the High Holy Days, due mainly to emigration and decline in membership.[5]

History

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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

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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, the Ashkenazi Danial Synagogue was built near the Haim Synagogue in 1940.[6]

Operation Ezra and Nehemiah

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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]

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  • A panel in the synagogue, reading "this is the God's gate; the righteous will enter it" (Psalm 118:20).
    A panel in the synagogue, reading "this is the God's gate; the righteous will enter it" (Psalm 118:20).
  • Entrance of the yard.
    Entrance of the yard.
  • Haim Synagogue from the outside.
    Haim Synagogue from the outside.
  • Detail of the synagogue's bema.
    Detail of the synagogue's bema.
  • Synagogue detail
    Synagogue detail

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Massil, Stephen W. (2002). The Jewish Year Book. Vallentine Mitchell. p. 158.
  3. ^ "Different Dining Experience in Downtown Tehran". Financial Tribune. August 21, 2017.
  4. ^ "قدم زدن در خيابان اديان". Hamshahri (in Persian). Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Take a virtual tour of Haim synagogue in Tehran, Iran". The Iran-Israel Observer. February 6, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "خیابانی برای گفتگوی ادیان در تهران". Farda News (in Persian). Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Iran". Momentum Tours & Travel. Florida. Retrieved July 23, 2017.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haim Synagogue.
  • Sohrabi, Narciss M. (2021). "Tehran synagogues: the socio-cultural topographies and architectural typologies". Journal of Modern Jewish Studies. doi:10.1080/14725886.2021.1971934.
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