Abuhav Synagogue
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− | The | + | The Abuhav Synagogue is located in [[Safed|Tzfat]], Northern Israel. It was originally created during the 16th Century and named after Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav. It is one of the oldest [[Tzfat Synagogues|synagogues in Safed]] and is currently a tourist attraction for the city's visitors. Minyonim take place daily in the Abuhav Synagogue as well as Shabbot services. |
== Origins== | == Origins== | ||
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=== Destruction and Relocation=== | === Destruction and Relocation=== | ||
− | [[File:00000156 earthquake ruins abuhov synagogue.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Ruins from original structure.]]The original Abuhav synagogue was built in 15th century [[Old City Safed|Jewish Quarter]], | + | [[File:00000156 earthquake ruins abuhov synagogue.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Ruins from original structure.]]The original Abuhav synagogue was built in the existing 15th century [[Old City Safed|Jewish Quarter]], near the cemetery. After it was destroyed in the [[Safed 1759 Earthquake|1759 earthquake]], survivors moved the Abuhav Torah scroll, which had remained intact, to a safer area and rebuilt the Abuhav synagogue further up the mountain. Others maintain the position that the Abuhav Shul never moved and it was rebuilt in its original location after the earthquake. |
The Abuhav synagogue was again almost completely destroyed in the [[Safed 1837 Earthquake|1837 earthquake]] that leveled the town. The wall holding the Ark and the synagogue’s Torah scrolls, including Rabbi Abuhav’s Torah scroll, remained standing. Several years after the earthquake an Italian philanthropist, Yitzhak Gueta, committed funds to rebuild the Abuhov synagogue. He brought in architects, builders and craftsmen to create a beautiful shul. Care was taken to reconstruct the Abuhav synagogue with similar design and dimensions of the original building. | The Abuhav synagogue was again almost completely destroyed in the [[Safed 1837 Earthquake|1837 earthquake]] that leveled the town. The wall holding the Ark and the synagogue’s Torah scrolls, including Rabbi Abuhav’s Torah scroll, remained standing. Several years after the earthquake an Italian philanthropist, Yitzhak Gueta, committed funds to rebuild the Abuhov synagogue. He brought in architects, builders and craftsmen to create a beautiful shul. Care was taken to reconstruct the Abuhav synagogue with similar design and dimensions of the original building. | ||
== Construction and Style== | == Construction and Style== | ||
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The Abuhav synagogue was constructed in the style of a Sepharadi synagogue and contains much Kabalistic symbolism in its design and structure. | The Abuhav synagogue was constructed in the style of a Sepharadi synagogue and contains much Kabalistic symbolism in its design and structure. | ||
=== Torah Scrolls and Arks=== | === Torah Scrolls and Arks=== | ||
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[[File:00000145 entering abuhav synagogue.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Entering the courtyard.]] There are three Torah Arks in the Abuhav synagogue standing along the southern wall facing Jerusalem. Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav’s Torah scroll, along with a scroll written by Rabbi Suliman Ochana, is still housed in the same Ark which survived the 1837 earthquake. Congregants only take out the Abuhav scroll on three specific Jewish holidays, [[Rosh Hashanah]], Yom Kippur and Shavouth. Two other Arks sit alongside the right Ark containing the Rabbi Abuhav scroll. In the left Ark, old manuscripts and books are stored while the center Ark holds the Torah scrolls used during the rest of the year. During the era when the Turks ruled Israel, Turkish law stated that any non-Islamic place of prayer must also hold a copy of the Koran. Therefore, during Turkish rule, one Ark held the Koran. | [[File:00000145 entering abuhav synagogue.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Entering the courtyard.]] There are three Torah Arks in the Abuhav synagogue standing along the southern wall facing Jerusalem. Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav’s Torah scroll, along with a scroll written by Rabbi Suliman Ochana, is still housed in the same Ark which survived the 1837 earthquake. Congregants only take out the Abuhav scroll on three specific Jewish holidays, [[Rosh Hashanah]], Yom Kippur and Shavouth. Two other Arks sit alongside the right Ark containing the Rabbi Abuhav scroll. In the left Ark, old manuscripts and books are stored while the center Ark holds the Torah scrolls used during the rest of the year. During the era when the Turks ruled Israel, Turkish law stated that any non-Islamic place of prayer must also hold a copy of the Koran. Therefore, during Turkish rule, one Ark held the Koran. | ||
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=== The Bima=== | === The Bima=== | ||
− | + | The “Bima” -- the area where the person leading the prayers stands -- is elevated in the center of the men’s section of the Abuhav synagogue. There are six steps leading up to the bima, representing the six days of the week which lead up to the week’s “crown”, the Sabbath. | |
=== Chair of Eliyaho=== | === Chair of Eliyaho=== | ||
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=== Women’s Section=== | === Women’s Section=== | ||
− | The women’s section is upstairs and women have a separate door | + | The women’s section is upstairs and women have a separate door that leads them to their area. |
=== Ceiling=== | === Ceiling=== | ||
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== Location and Services== | == Location and Services== | ||
− | The Abuhav synagogue is located on Abuhav Street. It has daily “minyans” -- prayer quorums -- including a “Netz” early morning minyan. The congregants at the Abuhav Shul follow Sepharadi | + | The Abuhav synagogue is located on Abuhav Street. It has daily “minyans” -- prayer quorums -- including a “Netz” early morning minyan. The congregants at the Abuhav Shul follow Sepharadi prayer traditions. During the month of “[[Elul]]” preceding [[Rosh Hashanah]] (the Jewish New Year) and in the [[Ten Days of Repentance|days between]] Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, many visitors come to Abuhav throughout the night to experience the moving “Slichot” penitence prayers. |
== Lebanon War== | == Lebanon War== | ||
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The Abuhav Synagogue experienced a modern-day miracle during the [[Safed Second Lebanon War|2006 Second Lebanon War]]. The Abuhav Shul is two doors away from the [[Alsheich Synagogue Safed|Alsheich Synagogue]]. A katyusha rocket landed in-between the two synagogues, alongside the Abuhav’s southern wall. The building where the rocket landed was completely destroyed but neither the Abuhav’s Torah scrolls nor the Alsheich, the oldest standing synagogue in Tzfat, were affected. | The Abuhav Synagogue experienced a modern-day miracle during the [[Safed Second Lebanon War|2006 Second Lebanon War]]. The Abuhav Shul is two doors away from the [[Alsheich Synagogue Safed|Alsheich Synagogue]]. A katyusha rocket landed in-between the two synagogues, alongside the Abuhav’s southern wall. The building where the rocket landed was completely destroyed but neither the Abuhav’s Torah scrolls nor the Alsheich, the oldest standing synagogue in Tzfat, were affected. | ||
+ | {{Navbox | ||
+ | |name = Tzfat Synagogues | ||
+ | |title = [[Safed]] [[Tzfat Synagogues|Synagogues]] | ||
+ | |state = uncollapsed | ||
+ | |listclass = hlist | ||
+ | |||
+ | |group1 = Old | ||
+ | |list1 = [[Abuhav-Synagogue|Abuhav]] · [[Alsheich-Synagogue-Safed|Alsheich]] · [[Ari-Ashkenazi-Synagogue|Ari Ashkenazi]] · [[Ari-Sephardi-Synagogue|Ari Sephardi]] · [[Avritch-Bat-Ayin-Synagogue|Avritch - Bat Ayin]] · [[Beirav-Synagogue-Safed|Beirav]] · [[Yosef-Caro-Synagogue-Safed|Yosef Caro]] · [[Yossi-Banaah-Synagogue|Yossi Banaah]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | |group2 = Hassidic | ||
+ | |list2 = Breslov (Koenig) · Breslov (NaNach) · [[Kosov-Synagogue-Safed|Kosov]] · [[Sanz-Synagogue-Safed|Sanz]] · [[Tzemach-Tzedek-Synagogue-Tzfat|Tzemach Tzedek]] | ||
− | + | |group3 = Modern | |
− | + | |list3 = [[House-of-Love-and-Prayer-Safed|House of Love and Prayer]] · [[Mekarav-Synagogue-of-Safed|Mekarav]] · [[Noam-Synagogue-Safed|Noam]] | |
− | + | }} | |
− | + | ||
[[Category:Old Synagogues]] | [[Category:Old Synagogues]] | ||
[[Category:Safed]] | [[Category:Safed]] | ||
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