The Ettefagh Synagogue
Summer 2009

North view of the Ettefagh Synagogue spring 2011

The north view of the Ettefagh Synagogue spring 2011

The Ettefagh Synagogue
Summer 2009

Ettefagh Synagogue

As the Second World War came to a closing and the world began rebuilding, Iraq was under the rule of the 13-year prince, Faisal II. The British-appointed Prime Minister and regent, Salih Jabr, however, assembled a cabinet that was hostile to Jews from its inception. This included pressure, restrictions, disrespect, detention, harassment, torture, arson, and the bombing of public Jewish places and synagogues. The pressure that the Jews were subjected to also included false accusations targeted at important Jewish figures who would be arrested and tortured for them. One such figure renowned for here cultural role was Mrs. Laura Khozouie. Another notable Jewish figure who underwent a show trial was the successful and influential businessman Shafiq Ades, whose execution by a firing squad caused an indescribable shock and a devastating blow to the Jewish community in Iraq.

Soon, life in Iraq became too restricted and dangerous for a Jew to bear. Most decided to leave their country, but the government responded by imposing specific conditions and laws on the exit of Jews – they could only leave if they abandon all their documented and undocumented wealth, all they could take with them was an engagement ring. Antisemitism became so hostile that some Jews had no choice but to leave their house and city and move to Israel, where they were settled in temporary tents (Ma’abarot). Others preferred to migrate to neighboring Iran, which they had been visiting for commercial purposes in the past and had some familiarity with Iranian customs. However, they all crossed the border illegally.

A group of migrants who went to Iran entered Khuzestan through Qasreshirin and Khanaqin with the help of Kurdish Jewish border residents, and then came to Khorramshahr. Harun Abdulnabi, one of the Iraqi Jews living in Khorramshahr, played a significant role in their temporary accommodation in synagogues and other Jewish homes. He provided significant assistance to his Iraqi compatriots in obtaining travel permits and completing the legal procedures for their immigration to Tehran.

Some remained with their Jewish counterparts in Kurdistan. The Jews that had migrated to Tehran were temporarily settled in the Jewish cemetery in Mazandaran Street, or in Haim Synagogue, or in the houses of the Jews of the Sarchal neighborhood by Tehrani Jewish philanthropists.

The migration of Iraqi Jews to Iran continued from 1948 to 1951. Although some could not adapt to the conditions in Iran and again chose to migrate to European countries or Israel, it was clear that a significant population had concentrated in Iran, especially in Tehran. Soon, the leaders of the Iraqi Jewish community, with the help of native Iraqis living in Tehran and the cooperation of the Tehran Jewish Committee, began to cooperate closely in order to organize the situation of Iraqi immigrants. They first decided to establish a center as a cultural complex.

In 1946, engineer Meir Abdullah Manson personally undertook the cost of purchasing a 5,000-square-meter plot of land adjacent to Tehran University on Shah Reza Street (now Enghelab Street) and Anatole France Street (now Qods Street) to create this cultural center. After a while, a portion of the north of this land was allocated to a synagogue with the cooperation of Mr. Saleh, Mr. Davoud Mashi, Mr. Hazkel Haim, and a few other Tehran philanthropists.

Once the school and synagogue was built in 1947, the Association of Iraqis Living in Tehran decided to name the complex after Meir Abdullah. However, since Meir Abdullah was considered a foreign national, the Ministry of Culture did not grant permission to this name. Therefore, they chose “Ettefaq” instead, which means “unity” in Persian and Arabic. From the very beginning, the Meir Abdullah or Ettefaq synagogue became the center where Iraqi Jews gathered, thus, it became commonly known as the Iraqi’s synagogue.

The Synagogue draws inspiration from Babylonian architecture, giving it special features worthy of consideration for registration as a cultural heritage site, an endeavor currently pursued by the Tehran Jewish Committee and has the backing of the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization. Engineer Meir Abdullah, who served in the British Army during World War II, personally supervised the design and construction of the synagogue building. Engineer Abdullah also participated in many other charitable works, such as the establishment of a new school called “Khozouie” and the Sukhonut building. Interestingly, after a group of Iraqi Jews moved to New York in the 1980s, a synagogue with the same design was built in the city.

The Ettefaq synagogue building stands independently on the north side of the Ettefaq school courtyard. Its main hall, reaching a height of over 10 meters on the ground floor, accommodates more than 350 men. Adjacent to the entrance, a mezzanine on the second floor, accessed by two staircases, provides space for up to 120 women. The synagogue is adorned with sizable windows along its walls, allowing natural light to illuminate the space, while intricate plaster and mirrorwork designs – particularly on the ceiling and around the Torah ark – contribute to its distinctive splendor and beauty.

One of the unique features of the synagogue is its advance heating system, something that was unavailable in any other synagogue in Tehran in that time.

Most of the Torahs in this synagogue were brought by Iraqi Jews who had migrated. In addition, a Babylonian Talmud in Aramaic script was donated by a citizen. Most of the chairs are named after members of the synagogue with a brass plaque. Mr. Firuz Saleh was the Chief Rabbinate of the synagogue.

From the very beginning, the synagogue was managed through a council consisting of five members, which included the board of directors, two auditors, and two alternate members. The council was officially registered as the Iraqi Cooperative Charity Association. An election was held every two years to choose the members of the board of directors. In addition to managing the affairs of the synagogue, the association was tasked with addressing and resolving the issues and problems of the immigrants. They also provided financial assistance to the needy if necessary.

Before the 1979 Iranian revolution, Mr. Rahmain Namverdi, Mr. Eliyahu Koko, Mr. Abdullah Meirson, Mr. Saleh Chityar, and Mr. Yosef Babaei were the synagogue and school’s treasurers and managers. When the revolution occurred, Iraqi Jews began to migrate, such that the 1991 synagogue council elections were dissolved due to insufficient quorum among council members. Eventually, with assistance from the Iranian Jewish Committee and a handful of Iraqi Jews, the council was reconstituted under the supervision of Mrs. Naji Lavi, a former board member.

At the moment there are three Jewish Iraqi families who live in Tehran. Iraqi families migrated after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, significantly lowering the number of worshipers in the Ettefaq synagogue. For this reason, the Tefilla ceremony in this synagogue is only held on Shabbats and Moedim (i.e. festive seasons) with other Tehrani compatriots.