Synagogue of Savoca

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Synagogue of Savoca
Sinagoga di Savoca
Sinagoga di Savoca1.jpg
Exterior of building
Religion
Affiliation Judaism
Location
Synagogue of Savoca
Interactive map of Synagogue of Savoca
Coordinates 37°57′14″N15°20′25″E / 37.953851°N 15.340170°E / 37.953851; 15.340170
Architecture
CompletedBefore 1408

The Synagogue of Savoca (Italian : Sinagoga di Savoca) was a Jewish synagogue in Savoca, Italy. [1]

Contents

History

The location of the synagogue was established a few steps from the Church of San Michele  [ it ] and the Curia Plaza, which is now the employment office, on the slopes of the hill by the Pentefur Castle  [ it ]. [2] The year of construction is not precisely known, but it was extant by the year 1408. [3]

It was located in a Catholic-inhabited district, and problems arose due to it being too close to churches and residences of nobles. In August 1470, [4] it was confiscated [5] by Viceroy of Sicily Lope Ximénez de Urrea y de Bardaixi, who ordered that a place of worship for the Jews must be built elsewhere [6] in a more central and "better" part of the city. [7] Complaints alleged that the congregation sung hymns on Shabbat that were loud enough to disturb neighboring residences. [8] The building was sold by the Viceroy to a Christian man, Fulippu Sturiali. Sturiali (Italian : Filippo Sturiale), was ordered to pay the Jewish community 1/4th of the property value and transfer a plot of land that the Jews could then have a synagogue on. [9]

Subsequently, Sturiali transformed the building into a residence, [10] although it is not known where the next synagogue was built. [11] In 1492, Jews were banished from the Kingdom of Sicily and the synagogue location remained a private residence. In the 20th century, it was used as a stable, [3] and fell out of use after a roof collapse.

In modern times, the building has been subject to much research. In 1997, the cistern rain catcher used for ritual washing was discovered. In 2014, a plaque with the Star of David was discovered in the synagogue's ruins. [12] On August 7 of that year, Chief Rabbi of Syracuse Stefano Di Mauro led a visit by a group of experts to the location, and the Shofar was blown. On January 29, 2016, the Superintendant for Cultural Heritage in Messina approved a project for restoration of the building to improve conditions there.

Description and status

The synagogue building is in poor condition. It is neglected, and has overgrowth of brushwood and alluvium in the cistern. Two stone arches are visible from the front, and a sandstone window is visible from the side in better condition. Cornerstone ashlars conncet the front wall to the western wall.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Franca, Rosalia La (1994). Architettura judaica in Italia: ebraismo, sito, memoria dei luoghi (in Italian). Flaccovio editore. p. 89. ISBN   978-88-7804-099-1.
  2. ↑ Lombardo 2006, p. 49.
  3. 1 2 "Ruins of Synagogue of Savoca - Sicily". www.enjoysicilia.it. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  4. ↑ Cecil Roth (1946). The History Of The Jews Of Italy. p. 251.
  5. ↑ Scandaliato, Angela; Mulè, Nuccio (2002). La sinagoga e il bagno rituale degli ebrei di Siracusa (in Italian). Casa Editrice Giuntina. p. 72. ISBN   978-88-8057-158-2.
  6. ↑ Lagumina, G. Il Viceré Lopo Nimea Durrea Ordina Che Sia Altrove Fabbricata La Sinagoga Della Terra Di Savoca (PDF). Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  7. ↑ Loewinger, David Samuel; Somogyi, József (1958). Ignace Goldziher Memorial Volume. Globus nyomdai müintézet. p. 26.
  8. ↑ Baron, Salo Wittmayer (1965). Social and Religious History of the Jews: Late Middle Ages and Era of European Expansion, 1200-1650 - Under Church and Empire. Columbia University Press. p. 35. ISBN   978-0-231-08846-6.
  9. ↑ Allegra, Alessandro; Giacopello, Pietro (2006). Signum perdiforum iudeorum: gli ebrei a Messina attraverso i secoli (in Italian). Intilla. p. 43.
  10. ↑ Lombardo 2006, pp. 46–47.
  11. ↑ Simonsohn, Shlomo (2011-04-11). Between Scylla and Charybdis: The Jews in Sicily. Brill. p. 258. ISBN   978-90-04-20361-7.
  12. ↑ "SikilyNews.it - Savoca. Quale soluzione per la sinagoga?". Sikily News. Retrieved 2025-12-03.

Sources

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