Ettefagh Synagogue

Last updated

Ettefagh Synagogue is a synagogue located in the neighborhood of Tehran, Iran. Coordinates: 35°42′16″N51°23′50″E / 35.704513°N 51.397086°E / 35.704513; 51.397086

Contents

History

After the World War II, with the installation of a new government in Iraq, the situation of the Jews in Iraq deteriorated. After prominent members of the Jewish community such as Laura Khozoee were arrested, and Shafiq Adas, a successful Jewish businessman, was hanged, many Iraqi Jews decided to emigrate. Some left for Israel while others decided to settle in Iran. They reached Iran with the help of Kurdish Jews and many arrived at Khorramshahr. With the help of Harun Abdolnabi, a prominent Jew in Khorramshahr, some were able to go to Tehran and obtain legal documents. From 1946 to 1951 many Iraqi Jews moved to Tehran, while others moved to Europe and the United States. At this time, with the help of Iranian Jews, the Iraqi Jews decided to create a cultural center.

In 1946 Meir Abdullah Batson bought a large piece of land with an area of over 5,000 square metres (0.50 ha; 1.2 acres) near the University of Tehran, in Ghods Street. He separated a piece of land of over 865 square metres (9,310 sq ft) and turned it into a synagogue, with the help of Saleh and Davood Mashi, Heskel Haim, and others. The community wanted to name the synagogue after Meir Abdullah, but the government did not accept it because he was a foreign citizen. In Persian, beh ettefagh means "together". [1] Hence the name "Ettefagh" was chosen, and it became the main place of gathering for the Iraqi Jews of Tehran.

The synagogue architecture was designed in the style of Babylonian architecture, and it was fitted with the most advanced cooling system of the time. Most of the Torah scrolls in the synagogue were brought by the Jews who came from Iraq, and a Babylonian Talmud in Aramaic script was dedicated to the synagogue. Many Iraqi Jews emigrated from Iran during the Iranian revolution, and today only a few families (mainly Iranian Jews) still use the synagogue. [2] [3]

Ettefagh School

The synagogue also had a related private high school, the Ettefagh School. [1] In the 1970s, the school was known for the strong English-language coursework. [1] Students from religious minority families in Iran attended the school in the 1970s, including Christian, Baha'i, and Zoroastrian. [1] After the Iranian Revolution the school is now run by the state and is an all-girls school. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish exodus from the Muslim world</span> Mass movement of Jews (1948-early 1970s)

The Jewish exodus from the Muslim world was the migration, departure, flight and expulsion of around 900,000 Jews from Arab countries and Iran, mainly from 1948 to the early 1970s, though with one final exodus from Iran in 1979–80 following the Iranian Revolution. An estimated 650,000 of the departees settled in Israel.

<i>Farhud</i> 1941 anti-Jewish massacre in Baghdad, Iraq

Farhud was the pogrom or the "violent dispossession" that was carried out against the Jewish population of Baghdad, Iraq, on June 1–2, 1941, immediately following the British victory in the Anglo-Iraqi War. The riots occurred in a power vacuum that followed the collapse of the pro-Nazi government of Rashid Ali while the city was in a state of instability. The violence came immediately after the rapid defeat of Rashid Ali by British forces, whose earlier coup had generated a short period of national euphoria, and was fueled by allegations that Iraqi Jews had aided the British. More than 180 Jews were killed and 1,000 injured, although some non-Jewish rioters were also killed in the attempt to quell the violence. Looting of Jewish property took place and 900 Jewish homes were destroyed.

The Jewish Neo-Aramaic dialect of Urmia, a dialect of Northeastern Neo-Aramaic, was originally spoken by Jews in Urmia and surrounding areas of Iranian Azerbaijan from Salmas to Solduz and into what is now Yüksekova, Hakkâri and Başkale, Van Province in eastern Turkey. Most speakers now live in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persian Jews</span> Jewish community of Iran

Persian Jews or Iranian Jews are the descendants of Jews who were historically associated with the Persian Empire, whose successor state is Iran. The biblical books of Esther, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah contain references to the lives and experiences of Jews who lived in Persia. Dating back to biblical times, Iranian Jews constitute one of the world's oldest and most historically significant Jewish communities. Jews have had a continuous presence in Iran since the time of Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus invaded Babylon and freed the Jews from the Babylonian captivity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in Iraq</span> History of the Jews in Iraq

The history of the Jews in Iraq is documented from the time of the Babylonian captivity c. 586 BC. Iraqi Jews constitute one of the world's oldest and most historically significant Jewish communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Ezra and Nehemiah</span> 1951–1952 airlift of Iraqi Jews to Israel

From 1951 to 1952, Operation Ezra and Nehemiah airlifted between 120,000 and 130,000 Iraqi Jews to Israel via Iran and Cyprus. The massive emigration of Iraqi Jews was among the most climactic events of the Jewish exodus from the Muslim World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in Syria</span> Aspect of history

Syrian Jews had predominantly two origins: those who inhabited Syria from early times and the Sephardim who fled to Syria after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 CE. There were large Jewish communities in Aleppo, Damascus, and Qamishli for centuries. In the early 20th century, a large percentage of Jews immigrated to Israel, the U.S., and Latin America. The largest Jewish community is now located in Israel and is estimated to number 80000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in Iran</span>

The history of the Jews in Iran dates back to late biblical times. The biblical books of Chronicles, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, contain references to the life and experiences of Jews in Persia. In the book of Ezra, the Persian kings are credited with permitting and enabling the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple; its reconstruction was carried out "according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia". This great event in Jewish history took place in the late 6th century BC, by which time there was a well-established and influential Jewish community in Persia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yedidia Shofet</span>

Yedidia Shofet was the former Chief Rabbi of Iran and the worldwide spiritual leader of Persian Jewry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yusef Abad Synagogue</span> Synagogue in Tehran, Iran

The Yusef Abad Synagogue is the main synagogue of Tehran, Iran. It is also one of the largest synagogues of the city. The official name of the Yusef Abad Synagogue is Sukkot Shalom Synagogue. The original building that housed the synagogue was completed in the early 1950s. With the growth of the Jewish population of the capital especially in the Yusef Abad neighborhood, it was decided that a newer building was needed. With the help of local community leaders headed by Avraham Yusian, the construction of the new facade was completed in October 1965. The doors of the new synagogue were opened to the public on Rosh Hashanah 5726.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in the Arabian Peninsula</span> Aspect of history

The history of the Jews in the Arabian Peninsula dates back to Biblical times. The Arabian Peninsula is defined as including the present-day countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen politically and parts of Iraq and Jordan geographically.

The Tehran Jewish Committee, formally registered in 1934, is an umbrella group of Jewish organizations that work on behalf of the Persian Jews in Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exodus of Iranian Jews</span> 20th-century population movement event

Exodus of Iranian Jews refers to the emigration of Persian Jews from Iran in the 1950s and the later migration wave from the country during and after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, during which the community of 80,000 dropped to less than 20,000. The migration of Persian Jews after the Iranian Revolution is mostly attributed to fear of religious persecution, economic hardships and insecurity after the deposition of the Imperial government.

Zargarian Synagogue is a synagogue located in the Amir Abad neighborhood of Tehran. The synagogue was created in an area of 1,000 square metres (11,000 sq ft) with the help of Abdullah Eliahu Zargarian. With an increase in the number of Jews in Amirabad street, Abdullah Zargarian decided to create the synagogue in 1350 SH (1971–1972 AD). He found a suitable piece of property south of Keshavarz (Elizabeth) Boulevard and he approached the Tehran Jewish Committee with his proposal. He received help from Musa Barlaavi, Esmail Khodadadi, and Musa Sassooni. The Tehran Jewish Committee and the Jews of Tehran helped him in his endeavors and the head of Alliance Israélite Universelle (AIU) in Iran, Mr. Cohenka, pledged help if Abdullah Zargarian creates an Alliance school as well. The plan was fetched and it was sent to the AIU headquarters in France and after 45 days Manuchehr Kohan was selected as the chief architect. The plan started in 1350 AH and was finished in 1352 AH (1973–1974 AD).

Khorasaniha Synagogue is a synagogue located in the Zartosht street in Valiasr street in Tehran, Iran.

Rah-e Danesh Synagogue is a synagogue located near Yusefabad street in Tehran, Iran.

The 1950–1951 Baghdad bombings were a series of bombings of Jewish targets in Baghdad, Iraq, between April 1950 and June 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum</span>

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is a museum commemorating the Jewish refugees who lived in Shanghai during World War II after fleeing Europe to escape the Holocaust. It is located at the former Ohel Moshe or Moishe Synagogue, in the Tilanqiao Historic Area of Hongkou district, Shanghai, China. The museum features documents, photographs, films, and personal items documenting the lives of some of the more than 20,000 Jewish residents of the Restricted Sector for Stateless Refugees, better known as the Shanghai Ghetto, during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iraqi Jews in Israel</span> Ethnic group

Iraqi Jews in Israel, also known as the Bavlim, are immigrants and descendants of the immigrants of the Iraqi Jewish communities, who now reside within the state of Israel. They number around 450,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haim Synagogue</span> Synagogue in Tehran, Iran

The Haim Synagogue is an Orthodox synagogue in Tehran, Iran. It is located in 30 Tir Street, formerly known as Qavam-os-Saltane, in central Tehran.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ehsanipour, Asal (31 October 2019). "A High School Reunion for Iranian Americans, 40 Years After the Revolution". KQED. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "کنیسای اتفاق". 11 November 2020.