Abuhav Synagogue

Abuhav Synagogue
Hebrew: בית הכנסת אבוהב
Religion
Affiliation	Judaism
Rite	Kabbalah Nusach Sefard
Status	Active
Location
Location	Abuhav Lane, Safed, Northern District
Country	Israel
Location of the synagogue in the northeast of the Northern District
Geographic coordinates	32°58′8.62″N 35°29′29.02″E
Architecture
Type	Synagogue architecture
Founder	Rabbi Isaac Abuhav
Completed	15th century

The Abuhav Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת אבוהב) is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Safed, in the Northern Director of Israel. The synagogue was completed in the 15th-century century and named in honor of the Spanish kabbalist of the era, Rabbi Isaac Abuhav. Its design is said to be based upon Kabbalah teachings.

History

According to tradition Rabbi Abuhav designed the synagogue and his disciples erected the building in Safed when they arrived in the 1490s after the expulsion from Spain.^[1][2][3] Another legend claims that the synagogue was transported miraculously from Spain to Safed.^[4] The synagogue was almost completely destroyed in the 1837 earthquake, only the southern wall containing the arks remained standing and exists today as a remnant of the original building.^[3][5]

The bimah has six steps representing the six working days of the week; the top level is seventh, representing the Shabbat. The Holy Ark has three sections and contain Torah scrolls traditionally written by Abuhav himself and Rabbi Suleiman Ohana of Fes, Morocco.^[6]

Gallery

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See also

• History of the Jews in Israel
• List of synagogues in Israel

References

1. Grishaver, Josh Barkin; Lurie, Joel (July 1, 2008). Artzeinu: An Israel Encounter. Torah Aura Productions. p. 133.
2. Humphreys, Andrew; Tilbury, Neil (November 30, 1996). Israel and the Palestinian territories. Lonely Planet Publications. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-86442-399-3. Retrieved December 29, 2011 – via Google Books.
3. "The Abuhav Synagogue". Jewish Virtual Library.
4. Davidson, Linda Kay; Gitlitz, David Martin (November 1, 2002). Pilgrimage: from the Ganges to Graceland: an encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 549. ISBN 978-1-57607-004-8. Retrieved December 29, 2011 – via Google Books.
5. "Abuhav Synagogue". Time Out Israel. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
6. "The Abuhav Shul". Ascent of Safed. n.d. Retrieved September 20, 2024.

External links

Media related to Abuhav synagogue at Wikimedia Commons

• Rappeport, Laurie (2018). Self guided tour Abuhav synagogue of Safed (streaming video). YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2024.