Ancient Synagogue of Shfaram

Ancient Synagogue of Shfaram
Hebrew: בית הכנסת בשפרעם; Arabic: شفا عمرو كنيس
The former synagogue, in 2010
Religion
Affiliation	Judaism (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue (17th century–1920s)
Status	Inactive
Location
Location	Shfaram, Haifa District, Northern Israel
Location of the former synagogue in the Haifa District
Geographic coordinates	32°48′22″N 35°10′14″E
Architecture
Type	Synagogue architecture
Completed	17th century

The Ancient Synagogue of Shfaram (Hebrew: בית הכנסת בשפרעם; Arabic: شفا عمرو كنيس) is a former ancient synagogue, located in the Israeli-Arab city of Shfaram,^[a] in Northern Israel.

History

The synagogue was built in the 17th century, atop the ruins of an ancient synagogue that had been built on a site where, according to tradition, the Sanhedrin had once sat. The synagogue fell into ruin, but during the mid-18th century, Bedouin chieftain Zahir al-Umar gave permission to the Jews to return and renovate the synagogue there.^[1][2] The synagogue was renovated by Rabbi Chaim Abulafia and his students.

Shfaram was noted in 1845 by Rabbi Joseph Schwarz in his book Descriptive Geography and Brief Historical Sketch of Palestine as having "about thirty Jewish families who have an old synagogue". Jews lived in Shfaram until the 1970s when the community disbanded. Subsequently, the building fell into disrepair and was only recently renovated. Although being abandoned, the keys to the former house of worship are held by a local Muslim and the synagogue is treated with respect by the local Arabs.^[3][b]

In November 2006 the building was rededicated after works to renovate the synagogue were carried out voluntarily by a group of newly qualified police officers. At the ceremony, Shfaram mayor Ursan Yassin retold how that during the October riots he had been forced to physically protect the location and had told local youngsters who wanted to burn it down that they could set him alight, but he would not allow them to harm the synagogue.^[4][5] There were however reports of damage to religious artifacts in the ancient synagogue on October 9, 2000;^[6] and desecration of the synagogue's exterior in 2013.^[1]

See also

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

Notes

1. Variously known as Shefa-Amr, Shefa-‘Amr, Shafa-Amar, or Shfar'am.
2. In Shfaram most of the 25,000 residents are Arab, and the town was signaled out by the Simon Wiesenthal Center as a living example of religious tolerance: Shfaram’s historic synagogue, long empty and without Torah scrolls and prayer books, is still treated by its Christian, Muslim, and Druze neighbors as a sacred communal trust. To this day, the keys to the former house of worship are held, by a local Muslim housewife.^[1][3]

References

1. Dónzis, Aron (May 4, 2014). "Arab, Jewish youth combat 'price tag' with paint". The Times of Israel. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
2. "Ancient Synagogue in Shfaram". Israel Ministry of Tourism. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013.
3. "News Releases: September 12, 2005" (Press release). Simon Wiesenthal Center. September 12, 2005. Retrieved July 4, 2007.^{[dead link]}
4. Ashkenasi, Dovid (November 16, 2006). "Shfaram shul renovated". Jewish Tribune. United Kingdom. p. 9.
5. Bedein, David (April 13, 2007). "Arab Resigns Knesset Post". The Bulletin. Philadelphia. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
6. Hedges, Chris (October 10, 2000). "Israeli vs. Israeli". New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2007.^{[permanent dead link]}

External links

Media related to Ancient synagogue in Shefa-'Amr at Wikimedia Commons