Jobar Synagogue

Last updated

The Jobar Synagogue was an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May 2014. Also known as the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue it was situated in the village of Jobar now encompassed by the metropolitan area of the City of Damascus. It was once adjoined to a complex with rooms for the rabbi and other functionaries of the community. The synagogue was built atop a cave traditionally thought to have served the prophet Elijah in hiding. The hall center was said to be the place where Elijah anointed Elisa. During the Syrian civil war it was hit by mortar bombs, looted, and later 2/3 of the synagogue were totally destroyed at the end of May 2014. [1]

Contents

History and traditions

The synagogue had a plaque stating it was from 720 B.C.E and was frequently but incorrectly perceived to be a 2,000-year-old synagogue [2] located in the suburb of Jobar, Damascus. The earliest verifiable literary sources indicate that it is at least medieval in origin. It was built in commemoration of the biblical prophet Elijah, and has been a place of Jewish pilgrimage for many centuries. [2] [3] It also is the burial-place of a wonder-working sage of the sixteenth century. [4]

According to tradition, the synagogue was built atop a cave where the prophet Elijah concealed himself during persecution. [5] The synagogue was said to have been built by Elisha and repaired during the first century by Eleazar ben Arach. [6] Another tradition states that the biblical anointing by Elisha of King Hazael of Syria took place at the synagogue. [3]

Though much cited as one of the earliest sources mentioning the existence of a synagogue at Jobar is from the Talmud, there is no incontrovertible evidence to support the reading that states that Rabbi Rafram bar Pappa prayed there. [7] The challenge to this interpretation has also led to discord and controversy (although according to the anthropologist and researcher Dr. Adam Blitz, from the content and comparison with the traditional explanations it is clear that the town of Abi Gobar was in Babylonia and not near Damascus. [8] )

Medieval period

During the medieval period, Jobar was home to a significant Jewish community. [3] Shams Ibn Tulun Al Dimashki (d. 1546) [9] mentions that "Jobar is a Jewish village with a Muslim presence." [3] In 1210 a French Jew, Samuel ben Samson, while visiting Damascus, recounted the "beautiful synagogue situated outside the city", (in Jobar). An anonymous Jewish traveller who arrived a few years after the Spanish immigration (Edict of Expulsion of the Jews of Spain) found 60 Jewish families living in the village of Jobar, who had a very beautiful synagogue. "I have never seen anything like it," says the author; "it is supported by thirteen columns." [6] The Chronicle of Joseph Sambari (1672) says that the Jewish community of Damascus lived chiefly in Jobar, and he knows of the synagogue of Elisha and the cave of Elijah the Tishbite. [6] Benjamin II (d. 1864) described the synagogue as reminding him of "the Mosque Moawiah". "The interior is supported by 13 marble pillars, six on the right and seven on the left side, and is everywhere inlaid with marble. There is only one portal by which to enter. Under the holy shrine ... is a grotto ... the descent to which is by a flight of about 20 steps. According to the Jews, the Prophet Elisha is said to have found in this grotto a place of refuge.... At the entrance of the synagogue, toward the middle of the wall to the right, is an irregularly formed stone, on which can be observed the traces of several steps. Tradition asserts that upon this step sat King Hazael when the Prophet Elisha anointed him king." [10]

19th century onward

Last week the wicked entered the synagogue at Djobar and pillaged the whole edifice. The holy scrolls they have torn into pieces; they even took some of these holy coverings of the scrolls and other sacred writings and used them most contemptuously.

— "A private letter from Damascus", June 4, 1840.
The New Yorker. [11]

Documents from the early 19th century reveal properties in the village that belonged to Jewish wakf (religious endowment), which were leased to members of other communities. [12] During the rioting following accusation of ritual murder against the Jews of Damascus in 1840, the mob fell upon the synagogue, pillaged it and destroyed the scrolls of the Law. [13] In 1847, only one Jewish family was left in the village, and they took care of the synagogue. On festival days, many of Jews from Damascus assembled at the synagogue to worship [14] and during the year, the synagogue was often visited by Jews. [5] A few rooms in the court adjoining the synagogue were used as a retreat by some Damascus Jews for a few days during the spring and summer. [15]

After the establishment of the State of Israel, Jews in Syria faced greater discrimination as the Syrian government enforced tighter restrictions on them. Jewish property could not be sold and those that had been abandoned were confiscated. [16] Part of the land associated with the synagogue was taken over and converted into a school for displaced Palestinian Arabs. [17]

The synagogue is venerated as one of Syria's holiest pilgrimage site for Jews. [3] In the past, sick people were brought into the caveren below the synagogue and left there alone at night in the hope that Elisha's spirit would exercise a healing influence over them. [15] According to an extract from the Syrian cadastre of the Djobar district, its east side is 17–3 m long, itst side 15.7m and the building 12.13m wide. [18] [ full citation needed ]

Syrian civil war

In March 2013, reports surfaced that the synagogue had been burned to the ground during the Syrian civil war, with both government and rebel forces trading blame over which party looted and destroyed the building. [19] [20] [21] [22] However, later during the year photographs were published and a video emerged showing that the synagogue was still standing but had suffered from mortar fire with damage to the ceiling and the bimah. [23] [24] By May 2014 the majority of the structure had been totally demolished with only the right wing remaining. [25] Blame was directed at the Syrian army who mistakenly hit the synagogue while targeting a nearby rebel enclave although some claim rebels were hiding the synagogue complex. [26] Subsequently there has been concern that items from the ruin would be looted and illegally sold. [27] Private funds have been raised in an attempt to restore the synagogue. The restoration project is being undertaken with the approval of the Syrian and Russian governments. [28]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Book of Kings is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It concludes the Deuteronomistic history, a history of Israel also including the books of Joshua, Judges and Samuel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jehu</span> Tenth king of Israel

Jehu was the tenth king of the northern Kingdom of Israel since Jeroboam I, noted for exterminating the house of Ahab. He was the son of Jehoshaphat, grandson of Nimshi, and possibly great-grandson of Omri, although the latter notion is not supported by the biblical text. His reign lasted 28 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synagogue</span> House of worship in Judaism or Samaritanism

A synagogue, sometimes referred to by the Yiddish term shul and referred to by Reform communities as a temple, is a Jewish house of worship. Synagogues have a place for prayer, where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies, have rooms for study, social hall(s), administrative and charitable offices, classrooms for religious school and Hebrew school, sometimes Jewish preschools, and often have many places to sit and congregate; display commemorative, historic, or modern artwork throughout; and sometimes have items of some Jewish historical significance or history about the synagogue itself on display.

Ramoth-Gilead, was a Levitical city and city of refuge east of the Jordan River in the Hebrew Bible, also called "Ramoth in Gilead" or "Ramoth Galaad" in the Douay–Rheims Bible. It was located in the tribal territorial allotment of the tribe of Gad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jehoash of Israel</span> Twelfth king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel

Jehoash, whose name means "Yahweh has given," was the twelfth king of the ancient northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and the son of Jehoahaz. He was the 12th king of Israel and reigned for 16 years. William F. Albright has dated his reign to 801–786 BC, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 798–782 BC. When he ascended the throne, the Kingdom of Israel was suffering from the predations of the Arameans, whose king Hazael was conquering land controlled by Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleppo Codex</span> 10th-century Hebrew Bible manuscript

The Aleppo Codex is a medieval bound manuscript of the Hebrew Bible. The codex was written in the city of Tiberias in the tenth century CE under the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate, and was endorsed for its accuracy by Maimonides. Together with the Leningrad Codex, it contains the Ben-Asher masoretic tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazael</span> Ancient Aramean king

Hazael was an Aramean king who is mentioned in the Bible. Under his reign, Aram-Damascus became an empire that ruled over large parts of Syria and Israel. While he was likely born in the greater Damascus region of today, his exact place of birth is still controversial, with both Bashan and the Beqaa Valley being favoured by different historians.

The holy anointing oil formed an integral part of the ordination of the priesthood and the High Priest as well as in the consecration of the articles of the Tabernacle and subsequent temples in Jerusalem. The primary purpose of anointing with the holy anointing oil was to sanctify, to set the anointed person or object apart as qodesh, or "holy".

<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 Syrian Jews immigrated to Palestine, the U.S. and Latin America. The largest Syrian-Jewish community is now located in Israel and is estimated to number 80,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elisha</span> Prophet and wonder-worker in the Hebrew Bible

Elisha was, according to the Hebrew Bible, a prophet and a wonder-worker. His name is commonly transliterated into English as Elisha via Hebrew, Eliseus via Greek and Latin, or Alyasa via Arabic, and Elyasa or Elyesa via Turkish. Also mentioned in the New Testament and the Quran,[6:86][38:48] Elisha is venerated as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity and Islam and writings of the Baháʼí Faith refer to him by name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cave of Elijah</span> Place described in the Hebrew Bible where the prophet Elijah sought refuge

Cave of Elijah is the name used for two grottoes on Mount Carmel, in Haifa, Israel, associated with Biblical prophet Elijah. According to tradition, Elijah is believed to have prayed at a grotto before challenging the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel, and to have hidden in either the same or in another nearby grotto from the wrath of Jezebel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1834 looting of Safed</span> Attack against the Jewish community

The 1834 looting of Safed was a prolonged attack against the Jewish community of Safed, Ottoman Empire, during the 1834 Peasants' Revolt. It began on Sunday June 15, the day after the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, and lasted for the next 33 days. Most contemporary accounts suggest it was a spontaneous attack which took advantage of a defenseless population in the midst of the armed uprising against Egyptian rule. The district governor tried to quell the violent outbreak, but failed to do so and fled. The event took place during a power vacuum, whilst Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt was fighting to quell the wider revolt in Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jobar</span> Municipality in Damascus Governorate, Syria

Jobar also spelled Jawbar, Jober or Joubar, is a municipality of the Syrian capital Damascus. A once historical village on the outskirts of Damascus, it is now a suburb of the capital city. It lies 2 km northeast of the old city walls. It contains the most venerated site for Syrian Jews, an ancient 2,000-year-old synagogue and shrine in commemoration of the biblical prophet Elijah, which has been a place of Jewish pilgrimage for many centuries. Today 93% of Jobar lies in ruins due to a prolonged battle fought between the Syrian Army and various rebel groups from February 2013 to 23 March 2018. It has been the site of hostilities during Syrian Civil War, including the 2017 Jobar offensive.

In rabbinic Jewish eschatology, the Righteous Priest or Priest of Righteousness is a figure identified with one of the Four Craftsmen in a vision mentioned in the Book of Zechariah. He is found in the Talmud and Midrash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mordechai Kahana</span> Israeli-American businessman

Mordechai (Moti) Kahana is an Israeli-American businessman and philanthropist. He is most notable for his work for the civil war refugees in Syria.

The House of Jehu or Jehu dynasty was a reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Israel. They are depicted in both of the Books of Kings. Their estimated reign is placed from the 9th century to the 8th century BCE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Kings 8</span> 2 Kings, chapter 8

2 Kings 8 is the eighth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter records Elisha's acts in helping the family of Shunammite woman to escape famine, then to gain back their land and in contributing to Hazael's ascension to the throne of Syria (Aram) in verses 7–15; then subsequently records the reigns of Joram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Kings 13</span> 2 Kings, chapter 13

2 Kings 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter records the reigns of Jehu's son, Jehoahaz, and Jehu's grandson, Jehoash, in the kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jehoash, the king of Judah, as well as the events around the death of Elisha. The narrative is a part of a major section 2 Kings 9:1–15:12 covering the period of Jehu's dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 Kings 19</span> 1 Kings, chapter 19

1 Kings 19 is the nineteenth chapter of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the First Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter belongs to the section comprising 1 Kings 16:15 to 2 Kings 8:29 which documents the period of Omri's dynasty. The focus of this chapter is the activity of prophet Elijah during the reign of king Ahab in the northern kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Quarter of Damascus</span> Historical Jewish section of the Old City of Damascus

The Jewish Quarter of Damascus is the quarter in the southeastern part of the Old City of Damascus inhabited mainly by Jews until 1948. The other two quarters are the Muslim Quarter of Damascus in the western half and the Christian Quarter of Damascus in the northeast of the Old City.

References

  1. ↑ Adam Blitz (June 15, 2014). "Jobar synagogue". The Jerusalem Post . Over two-thirds of the synagogue has been destroyed.... All that exists is part of a wing to the right of center and the antechamber to the Cave of Elijah, ostensibly an Early Christian catacomb in form, way below.
  2. 1 2 Cyril Glassé, Huston Smith. The new encyclopedia of Islam, Rowman Altamira, 2003. p. 110. ISBN   0-7591-0190-6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Josef W. Meri. The cult of saints among Muslims and Jews in medieval Syria, Oxford University Press, 2002. p. 33. ISBN   0-19-925078-2.
  4. ↑ Norman De Mattos Bentwich. A wanderer in the Promised land, Soncino Press, 1932. p. 234.
  5. 1 2 Malta Protestant College. Journal of a deputation sent to the East by the committee of the Malta Protestant college, in 1849: containing an account of the present state of the Oriental nations, including their religion, learning, education, customs, and occupations, Volume 2, J. Nisbet and Co., 1854. [Harvard University, December 20, 2005] p. 483.
  6. 1 2 3 Damascus, Jewish Encyclopedia .
  7. ↑ Bab.Ber.50a.
  8. ↑ Adam Blitz. "Damascus Hide and Seek: Synagogues and Sotheby's". The Times of Israel blogs. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  9. ↑ Ibn Tulun, The Mameluk Polymath
  10. ↑ Eight Years in Asia and Africa, pp. 41 et seq.
  11. ↑ Horace Greeley; Park Benjamin, eds. (August 22, 1840). "The Jews of Damascus". The New-Yorker. p. 367.
  12. ↑ Salma Khadra Jayyusi, Renata Holod, Attilio Petruccioli, André Raymond. The city in the Islamic world, Volume 1, Brill, 2008. p. 945. ISBN   90-04-17168-1.
  13. ↑ Damascus affair, Jewish Encyclopedia .
  14. ↑ Wilson, John. The lands of the Bible: visited and described in an extensive journey undertaken with special reference to the promotion of Biblical research and the advancement of the cause of philanthropy, Volume 2, William Whyte, 1847. [University of Michigan, November 8, 2008.] p. 331.
  15. 1 2 Mrs. Mackintosh. Damascus and its people: sketches of modern life in Syria, Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday, 1883. [New York Public Library, August 14, 2007.]
  16. ↑ James A. Paul (1990). Human rights in Syria. Middle East Watch. p.  92. ISBN   9780929692692. aleppo synagogues 1947.
  17. ↑ Zwy Aldouby, Jerrold Ballinger. The shattered silence: the Eli Cohen affair, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1971. p. 285.
  18. ↑ The Jewish quarterly review, Volume 50., Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, 1959, p. 62. (According to Lurya, p. 245, it would be 18.4 m long and 11.6 m wide.)
  19. ↑ Roi Kais (February 3, 2013). "Syria report: Prophet Elijah's synagogue bombed". Ynetnews . Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  20. ↑ Jack Khoury (March 2, 2013). "WATCH: Assad Forces Destroy Oldest Synagogue in Syria, Rebels Claim". Haaretz . Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  21. ↑ Yoel Goldman (April 1, 2013). "Historic Damascus synagogue looted and destroyed". The Times of Israel . Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  22. ↑ Adam Blitz (April 9, 2013). "Jewish sites in Syria are the latest front in propaganda war". Haaretz .
  23. ↑ قصة كنيس جوبر وبشار الأسد !؟. June 23, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2016– via YouTube.
  24. ↑ Avi Issacharoff (December 22, 2013). "Syria's 'destroyed' ancient synagogue is still intact". The Times of Israel . Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  25. ↑ Adam Blitz (January 17, 2017). "The case for Jobar: Syria, synagogues and subterfuge". The Times of Israel . Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Assad forces destroy Syria's oldest synagogue". The Jerusalem Post . Jewish Telegraphic Agency. May 28, 2014.
  27. ↑ Adam Blitz (June 2, 2014). "Who Will Save the Remains of Syria's Ancient Synagogue?". Haaretz . Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Aronow Foundation".

33°31′33.6″N36°20′06.3″E / 33.526000°N 36.335083°E / 33.526000; 36.335083

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.