فارسی
The front view of Khoshvod Synagogue in the 1370s
The Making of Khoshnoud Synagogue
Following the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty and the establishment of greater security and freedom for religious minorities, the Jewish community of Babol, with the cooperation of a number of philanthropists, took the initiative to establish a synagogue named Khoshnoud in the early 1920s.
The name Khoshnoud likely comes from the founder’s surname, and for many years, members of the Khoshnoud family personally managed the synagogue.
Architecture and Design
The Khoshnoud Synagogue, serving as the last place of worship for the Jews of Babol, was one of the most modern synagogues of its time compared to other Iranian synagogues. It stood as a beautiful and unparalleled structure with an architecture dating back to the late 19th century.
The building
The synagogue was built as a sub-complex of a fancy two-story cultural center. The first floor was dedicated to a six-classroom school, while the second floor housed a synagogue with a high ceiling and an area of 500 square meters.
Interior design
The interior design, inspired by European architecture, could accommodate over 150 people. In accordance with the overall shape of the building and the rules of the place of worship, it consisted of a large hall with an east-west orientation, in the middle of which a platform was raised higher than the main floor. Above this platform, the prayer leader’s stand was adorned with intricate woodcarvings and marquetry in a similar design and color to the platform opposite the Torah Ark (Hekhal).
On the western wall, opposite the prayer leader’s stand, was the Torah Ark (Hekhal), which housed a total of 9 old Baghdadi Torah scrolls. The four sides of this platform (prayer leader’s stand) were adorned with wooden benches in a harmonious color and design, giving this synagogue a special beauty.
Torah scrolls
Adjacent to the Khoshnoud Synagogue was another synagogue called Ezra which was no longer in use due to its worn-out condition. As a result, the Torah scrolls, considered ancestral heritage by the congregation, were transferred to the new Khoshnoud Synagogue.
Harmonious Interiors
The relatively complicated plasterwork and mirrorwork decorations, as well as the organization and arrangement of the interior elements, such as the seating areas, the prayer leader’s stand, and the Torah Ark (Hekhal), were all noteworthy features of this synagogue.
The Khoshnoud Synagogue was distinguished by its high two-story ceiling and rows of windows that allowed natural light to flood in. The stained glass windows and tall, elongated partitions with arches at the ends resembled the style of Russian churches. Inside, the architectural and structural design, especially around the Torah Ark (Hekhal), featured intricate plasterwork and mirrorwork. This design harmonized beautifully with the wooden doors of the Torah Ark and the prayer leader’s stand, creating a serene and spiritual atmosphere in this place of worship.
After the Iranian Revolution
Jewish migration to Tehran
After the Islamic Revolution, many Jewish families moved to Tehran to enjoy the facilities of the capital. As a result, the members of the Khoshnoud Synagogue also decreased. The school had ceased operation for several years before the revolution. Due to the absence of Jews in Babol, the Khoshnoud Synagogue ceased its religious activities in 1981, and its doors were closed forever. The synagogue’s caretaker, Shokrollah Dorshan, and other officials also gradually moved to Tehran.
Mrs. Hava
Only a handful of elderly Jews remained in Babol, due to their attachments. Among them was Mrs. Hava, who for many years lived as the synagogue caretaker in one of the rooms of this cultural complex. In late 2009, the officials of the Jewish Committee transferred Mrs. Hava to the Jewish nursing home in Tehran to take care of her.
The Fate of the Synagogue
The Khoshnoud Synagogue, which had been located in the Jewish Quarter (now the Shamshirgar Quarter) for ninety years, fell into ruin due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance. Consequently, the Jewish Committee handed over the abandoned building to a local resident of Babol.
In 2012, the building was demolished and a residential building was constructed in its place. Mrs. Hava, the loyal caretaker of the Khoshnoud Synagogue, passed away the same year.
Source
Notes by Vaera Naderi and Javad Bijani
Inside Khonshnoud Synagogue. 1990s.
The synagogue ceiling. 1990s.
The exterior of the Khoshnoud Synagogue. 1990s.
Inside Khonshnoud Synagogue. 1990s.
The synagogue ruin. 2000s
The western wing of the synagogue. 1990s.
Mrs. Hava, the Synagogue Caretaker
Muslims children of the Johud neighborhood feared the synagogue’s caretaker, who was also the last Jewish resident of Babol. This was because of her red hair. Adults, however, knew that she was a harmless and kind lady. In the past, she used to collect alcohol bottles and sell them. She tried to work even when she was old.
Her brother, Yaghoub, had a bar next to Yusefpouri Street. That plot is now the location of Saderat Bank. He made his business unique compared to his competitors by selling alcohol in cups as well. Other businesses only offered their alcohol in whole sealed-bottles or 5 ml bottles. Yaghoub’s selling method brought him many customers. This was before the 1979 revolution, when alcohol was not banned yet.