Haim Synagogue

Synagogue in Tehran, Iran

Haim Synagogue

בית הכנסת חַיִּים
کنیسه حییم

Religion
Affiliation| Orthodox Judaism
District| 12 (Park-e Shahr)
Location
Location| 30 Tir Street
Tehran, Iran

Shown within Tehran

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Haim Synagogue (Iran)

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Geographic coordinates| 35°41′34.0″N 51°24′47.6″E﻿ / ﻿35.692778°N 51.413222°E﻿ / 35.692778; 51.413222
Architecture
Architect(s)| Azizollah Banayan[1]
Style| Qajar
Completed| 1913

The Haim Synagogue (Persian: کنیسه حییم, Kenisā-ye Hayim; Hebrew: בית הכנסת חַיִּים) is an Orthodox synagogue in Tehran, Iran.[2] It is located in 30 Tir Street, formerly known as Qavam-os-Saltane, in central Tehran.[3][4][5]

In recent years, the synagogue is only opened on the occasions of Shabbat and the High Holy Days, due mainly to emigration and decline in membership.[5]

## History

[edit]

The Haim Synagogue was built following the Iranian Constitutional Revolution in 1913, under the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar, by two Iranian Jewish residents Eshagh Sedgh and Eshagh Moradoff.[6] It has often been considered the first urban synagogue in Iran. Prior to its construction, most synagogues in Iran were built in ghettos.[6]

The building was designed by Azizollah Banayan, the only Jewish architect at the time.[1]

### World War II

[edit]

By the time of World War II, the Haim Synagogue hosted a number of Polish Jewish refugees.[7] After an increase in the number of Polish Jewish refugees, a new Ashkenazi synagogue by the name of Danial Synagogue was built near the Haim Synagogue in 1940.[6]

### Operation Ezra and Nehemiah

[edit]

In the 1950s, the Haim Synagogue was used as a refugee camp to host a number of Iraqi Jewish refugees, who immigrated to Israel via Iran as part of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah.[7][5]

## Gallery

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* A panel in the synagogue, reading "this is the God's gate; the righteous will enter it" (Psalm 118:20).

* Entrance of the yard.

* Haim Synagogue from the outside.

* Detail of the synagogue's bema.

## See also

[edit]

* List of synagogues in Iran
* History of the Jews in Iran

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haim Synagogue.

1. ^ a b Sohrabi, Narciss M. (2021). "Tehran synagogues: the socio-cultural topographies and architectural typologies". Journal of Modern Jewish Studies: 9. doi:10.1080/14725886.2021.1971934.
2. ^ Massil, Stephen W. (2002). The Jewish Year Book. Vallentine Mitchell. p. 158.
3. ^ "Different Dining Experience in Downtown Tehran". Financial Tribune. 21 August 2017.
4. ^ "قدم زدن در خيابان اديان". Hamshahri (in Persian). Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
5. ^ a b c "Take a virtual tour of Haim synagogue in Tehran, Iran". The Iran-Israel Observer. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
6. ^ a b c "خیابانی برای گفتگوی ادیان در تهران". Farda News (in Persian). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
7. ^ a b "Iran". Momentum Tours & Travel. Florida. Retrieved 23 July 2017.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Sohrabi, Narciss M. (2021). "Tehran synagogues: the socio-cultural topographies and architectural typologies". Journal of Modern Jewish Studies. doi:10.1080/14725886.2021.1971934.