فارسیIsfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Please click to view 360-degree (panorama) images.
Agha Shokrollah or Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue
History
The inscription on one of the synagogue’s curtains dates back to 5569 in the Hebrew calendar, equivalent to 1809. According to Mr. Ebrahim Eshaghian, the current structure dates from the late Qajar era. The building’s appearance also suggests it is less than two centuries old. Initially, Mr. Ezra Harunian managed the synagogue, and later, his son-in-law, Mr. Ebrahim Eshaghian, took over. Today, the Babaian, Khakshoor, and Eshaghian families ensure that the synagogue remains active during Shabbat evenings and mornings.
An interesting artifact, a Persian-Jewish document from Afghan Jews, was recently discovered in the synagogue’s Torah Ark. This document mentions the apprenticeship of an Afghan rabbi and is now displayed in a frame hanging on the synagogue’s wall.
The reason behind the naming of this synagogue remains unknown.
Design
Exterior
From the outside, the synagogue appears to be a simple structure with a plain wall and a skylight extending into the open sky.
Inside
Once you step through the entrance door, you find yourself in a dark corridor, three steps below street level. One of the doors of Mr. Khakshoor’s house opens into this corridor. Strange? It’s not unusual. In the Jewish Quarter, house doors often opened directly into such corridors.
Prayer Hall
Entering the prayer hall from the eastern corner, you immediately face Jerusalem. The prayer hall itself is a straightforward rectangular space oriented east to west. The leader of the prayers stands in the center, surrounded by four columns that mark the area’s boundaries. Seating is arranged along continuous platforms on the north, east, and south sides. Uniquely, there is no designated section for women in this synagogue. On the western wall, where the Torah scrolls are kept, there is a recessed area.
Illumination
The main source of light for the hall is a skylight, which locals say was added recently. Originally, the synagogue was lit by high windows on the north and east walls, though the windows on the north side are now blocked.
Decorations
The synagogue’s decorations are minimal, limited to small sections of seven-colored tiles on the seating platforms.
Expansion
According to Menor Harunian, son of Ezra, there used to be a house adjacent to the synagogue. This house belonged to the synagogue and was typically used to accommodate travelers or guests. During the early Pahlavi era, the synagogue needed more space due to its small size. To solve this, the house was incorporated into the synagogue, becoming part of the building.
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
Isfahan, Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue, Summer 2013
An Overview of the Cultural Heritage of Isfahan’s Jews: Yaghoub Masjedi Synagogue