Maghen Abraham Synagogue

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Coordinates: 33°53′50″N, 35°33′0″E

Maghen Avraham Synagogue
Basic information
Location Flag of Lebanon Beirut, Lebanon
Religious affiliation Orthodox Judaism
Rite Sephardic
Functional status Abandoned
Architectural description
Year completed 1925

The Maghen Abraham Synagogue (Arabic: كنيس ماغن إبراهيم‎; Hebrew: בית הכנסת מגן אברהם‎) is the oldest synagogue in Beirut. Although it is no longer opened for service, it can still be seen in Wadi Abu Jamil Street, the former Jewish quarter in central Beirut.

Contents

[edit] History

See also: History of the Jews in Lebanon

The synagogue brought about many benefits to the Jewish community in Lebanon during the early twentieth century. It was constructed in 1925 and named after the son of Abraham Sason. Because of insufficient funding, the head of the Jewish community, Josef Farhi, helped in completing the interior. The synagogue was also used for Torah and scientific lectures, weddings and other festive events.

With respect to Zionism, the synagogue played an important role in the 1940s. Illegal immigrants were temporarily sheltered within the synagogue while traveling to Palestine, or present-day Israel. [1]

In 1976, a year after the civil war began, Joseph Farhi transferred the Torah scrolls from the synagogue to Geneva and entrusted to renowned Jewish-Lebanese banker Edmond Safra, who preserved them in his bank's coffers. Most of them have since been relocated to Sephardic synagogues in Israel. [2]

The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 sparked backlashes against Lebanese Jews. While the State of Israel offered citizenship, often declined, Lebanese Jews were frequent targets of Islamic militant groups since 1984. Synagogues were often attacked, and eleven Jewish community leaders were kidnapped and executed. In 1991, due to mass emigration of Lebanese Jews into foreign countries, only two Jews remained in Wadi Abu Jimail Street, and with a population of around sixty, the community more or less ceased to exist. [3] Those who still remained now live in Beirut, Aley, Byblos, and Bhamdoun.

Although the greater part of the community had already emigrated after the 1958 Crisis and the Lebanese Civil War, Yasir Arafat's PLO forces who occupied it and the Christian Phalangists actually protected Wadi Abu Jamil during the 1982 Lebanon War. However, the presence of Palestine Liberation Organization forces in the quarter led to an Israeli bombardment that damaged the synagogue itself.

It was decided, by the late former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, that the synagogue would be restored and surrounded by a garden, however the restoration never took place. The neighboring Talmudic school was demolished so that other new buildings would keep the view of the beach nearby. [4]

[edit] Rumours of Demolition

In April 2008, there have been widespread rumours that the Lebanese government plans to demolish the structure along with surrounding buildings. However, the rumours have been criticized by Lebanon as untrue.

[edit] Chief rabbis

Between the years of 1908 and 1978, a series of Chief Rabbis led the Lebanese Jewish community, including that of Beirut:

  • Rabbi Danon 1908-1909
  • Jacob Maslaton 1910-1921
  • Salomon Tagger 1921-1923
  • Shabtai Bahbout 1924-1950
  • Benzion Lichtman 1932-1959
  • Jacob Attiyeh 1949-1966
  • Chaoud Chreim 1960-1978

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Levi, Tomer (November 19, 1998). "Magen-Abraham" synagogue in Beirut, Lebanon. » History - Maghen Abraham in Lebanon. Corporation Maghen Abraham Canada. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
  2. ^ According to the Juifs du Liban.
  3. ^ Tomb, Roland. "Lament Lebanon's lost tribe", » History - Jews In Lebanon, Daily Star (Lebanon), 2004-10-20. 
  4. ^ Martina, Toti (October 27, 2006). When Arafat protected the Jews. Dialogues on Civilizations. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.

[edit] External links