Derbent Synagogue

Destroyed synagogue in the city of Derbent, Russia

Derbent Synagogue

Russian: Дербентская синагога

The synagogue in 2015, prior to its destruction

Religion
Affiliation| Orthodox Judaism (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status| Synagogue
Status| Destroyed
Location
Location| 94 Tagi-Zade Street, Derbent, Dagestan, North Caucasus
Country| Russia

Location of the destroyed synagogue in Dagestan

Geographic coordinates| 42°03′25″N 48°17′29″E﻿ / ﻿42.05694°N 48.29139°E﻿ / 42.05694; 48.29139
Architecture
Type| Synagogue architecture
Funded by| the Khanukaev family
Groundbreaking| 1913
Completed| 1914; rebuilt 2010
Materials| Limestone blocks
Website
kelenumaz.ru

Error: Invalid designation

Official name| Synagogue
Type| Monument
Criteria| Regional significance
Designated| January 28, 1997
Reference no.|  Cultural heritage site № 0500002721
[1][2][3][4]

The Derbent Synagogue, also known as Kele-Numaz (Russian: Дербентская синагога "Келе-Нумаз", romanized: Derbentskaya sinagoga "Kele-Numaz"; Hebrew: בית הכנסת דרבנט "קל-נומז", romanized: Beit haKnesset Derbent "Kel-Numaz") was a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 94 Tagi-Zade Street, in the city of Derbent[5] in the Republic of Dagestan, in the North Caucasus of Russia.[2]

The only synagogue in Derbent, was destroyed in a terrorist attack on 23 June 2024. In 1997, prior to its destruction, the synagogue was listed on the Russian cultural heritage register as a monument of regional significance.[4]

## History

[edit]

In 19th century Derbent the upper, oldest part of the city, closer to the citadel of Naryn-Kala, was primarily inhabited by Muslims,[6] the central, flat part by Mountain Jews, and the lower part, near the sea by Armenians and Russians.[6][7]

The Kele-Numaz synagogue was opened in 1914[8] and is under the supervision of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FJCR).[6]

At the beginning of the Soviet era there were 11 synagogues in the city,[9] including the Kele-Numaz.[10]

In February 1904 the Mountain Jewish community petitioned the city authorities to allocate land for the construction of a new synagogue.[10] The petition said that during the time of the Derbent Khanate,[10] the Jews built a synagogue on the 2nd Komendantskaya Street (the Midrash Eliyahu synagogue), but the number of congregants had increased beyond the synagogue's capacity.[10]

The city authorities allocated 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft) to the Mountain Jewish community for the construction of a prayer house at the corner of Golitsyn Street (now Buynaksk Street) and Kolodezny Lane (now Chapayev Lane).[10]

### Restoration

[edit]

In 2009 the synagogue was dismantled and reconstructed using old stones and new materials.[9][2] The rebuilt building is called the Jewish Community Center.[9][11] Above the main entrance of the Jewish community center a sign in Hebrew says, "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst."[9] The total area of the Jewish Community Center is 2,500 m2 (27,000 sq ft).[9] There is a mikveh, the Municipal Kindergarten and the Museum of Mountain Jews.[2][9] The President of Dagestan, Magomedsalam Magomedov, and rabbi Berel Lazar attended the reopening of the synagogue on March 22, 2010.[5][2][12]

### 2024 terrorist attack

[edit]

On 23 June 2024, the synagogue was attacked and burned to the ground in a terrorist attack.[13][14][15][16][17] Days after the attack, it was reported that the congregation plans to rebuild the synagogue.[18]

## See also

[edit]

* Judaism portal
* Russia portal

* History of the Jews in Derbent
* History of the Jews in Russia
* List of synagogues in Russia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Hanukaev Synagogue in Derbent". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
2. ^ a b c d e "Synagogue of Mountain Jews "Kele-Numaz" in Derbent - the largest in the North Caucasus". stmegi.com.
3. ^ "Синагога "Келе-Нумаз"" [Derbent Synagogue "Kele-Numaz"]. geocaching.su (in Russian).
4. ^ a b "синагоги" (Searchable database). Сведения из Единого государственного реестра объектов культурного наследия (памятников истории и культуры) народов Российской Федерации (in Russian). Ministry of Culture (Russia). Retrieved September 8, 2024.
5. ^ a b "Jewish community of ancient Derbent". gorskie.ru.
6. ^ a b c "Synagogue "Kele-Numaz". Derbent". Ministry of Culture (Russia). Archived from the original on August 1, 2016.
7. ^ Karpenko, Ilya. "Gate of the East". Lechaim.ru.
8. ^ "Synagogue of Kele Numaz". Caspian Travel.
9. ^ a b c d e f "Synagogue "Kele-Numaz"". Izi.travel.
10. ^ a b c d e "Synagogue "Kele-Numaz" in the city of Derbent". Russia Travel.
11. ^ "Home page". Kele-Numaz.[self-published source?]
12. ^ "New synagogue and Jewish community center opened in Derbent". kavkaz-uzel.eu.
13. ^ "Terrorists burned the Jewish synagogue in Derbent". Channel 3 Now. June 23, 2024.
14. ^ "Nightmare in Dagestan". Glavnoe News. June 23, 2024.
15. ^ "Gunmen in Russia's Dagestan attack churches, synagogue and police post". France24. June 23, 2024.
16. ^ "Gunmen Kill at Least 6 at Synagogue and Churches in Russian Republic". New York Times. June 23, 2024.
17. ^ Tsvaygenbaum, Israel (July 3, 2024). "What is the meaning of the destruction of the Dagestan, Russia synagogues by terrorists?". Jewish World News.
18. ^ Bharath, Deepa (June 29, 2024). "Dagestani Jews determined to rebuild after deadly terror attacks in southern Russia". The Times of Israel. Retrieved September 8, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Derbent Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website
* Jewish community of ancient Derbent
* Opening of the synagogue in Derbent (streaming video). YouTube. March 22, 2010.

* v
* t
* e

Synagogues in Russia

Active|

* Beit T'shuva (Birobidzhan)
* Birobidzhan
* Irkutsk
* Kazan
* Makhachkala
* Mariinsk
* Moscow
* Bolshaya Bronnaya
* Choral
* Holocaust Memorial
* Maryina Roshcha
* Nizhny Novgorod
* Artisans' (Rostov)
* Soldier (Rostov)
* Grand Choral (Saint Petersburg)
* Choral (Samara)
* Tomsk Choral
* Vladivostok
* Volgograd
* Voronezh
* Yekaterinburg

Former|

| Destroyed
(no longer standing)|

* Derbent
* Grozny
* Königsberg

|

Abandoned or repurposed
(still standing)|

* Buynaksk
* Choral (Rostov)
* Choral (Smolensk)
* Choral (Volgograd)

* List of synagogues
* List of wooden synagogues

* v
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* e

Attacks on synagogues

19th century|

* 1834 Safed

20th century|

| World War II|

* Germany
* Kristallnacht
* France
* 1941 Paris
* Latvia
* 1941 Riga
* Great Choral
* 1941 Jelgava

|

Post-war|

* 1949 Menarsha
* 1957-58 USA
* 1958 Atlanta
* 1956 Shafrir
* 1980 Paris
* 1981 Vienna
* 1981 Antwerp
* 1982 Rome
* 1985 Copenhagen
* 1986 Istanbul
* 1991 Sydney
* Southern Sydney: '91, '93, '01, '03
* 1999 Sacramento
* 1999 Moscow

21st century|

* 2000 Edmonton
* 2000 Syracuse
* 2000 Riverdale
* 2002 Lyon
* 2002 Djerba
* 2006 Oslo
* 2006 Moscow
* 2008 Mumbai
* 2009 Caracas
* 2014 Jerusalem
* 2015 Copenhagen
* 2017 Gothenburg
* 2018 Pittsburgh
* 2019 Poway
* 2019 Halle
* 2021 Austin
* 2022 Colleyville
* 2023 Djerba
* 2024 La Grande-Motte
* 2024 Derbent
* 2024 Melbourne

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