Rah-e Danesh Synagogue
Summer 2009

Rah-e Danesh School and Synagogue

During the 1960s, Jewish residents of Tehran began relocating to the northern areas of the city, including North Amirabad, Vanak Square, and notably Yousef Abad. With the growing Jewish population in these neighborhoods, the necessity for a Jewish school, butcher shop, cultural center, and synagogue became a primary concern. In response, community philanthropists from the Yousef Abad area, along with Ozar Hatorah, came together to establish a boys’ and girls’ school at both primary and secondary levels on Jamaleddin Asad Abadi Street, Alley 12, in 1966.

Like many other Jewish educational institutions, a synagogue was constructed alongside the school, reflecting the belief that education and religious practices, such as Tefillah and prayer, complement each other.

The Rah-e Danesh School also housed a 240 square-meter synagogue on its third floor, accommodating up to 180 people. Various Torahs, religious books, and siddurim from a smaller, two-roomed synagogue were transferred to the newly constructed Rah-e Danesh synagogue, leading to the closure of the older, smaller one.

The school’s synagogue hosted great personalities as its Chief Rabbinite. The includes such figures as Rabbi Ben Haim, Rabbi Yehoshuaʿ Netan Elli, and Rabbi Negaran who taught the Torah and Halakha (i.e. Jewish religious rulings) as well. The migration of Jews after the Islamic revolution in Iran affected this synagogue as well, however, the synagogue still upholds religious ceremonies, especially Shabbats, Moadims, and special days appropriately.

Like many other synagogues, Rah-e Danesh synagogue’s architecture is influenced by the larger structure it is part of, namely, the school building. Supported by philanthropists and synagogue members, it underwent renovations in 2009 to adopt a new, modern look, reminiscent of the synagogues in Jerusalem.