یوسف آباد

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad
Spring 2009

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad is the biggest Iranian Jewish religious and cultural establishment. The synagogue’s actual name is Sukkat Shalom (סוֹכַּת שָׁאלוֹם ‏, i.e. Tent of Peace), but since it is in the Yousef Abad neighborhood in Tehran it became known as the Synagogue of Yousef Abad.

The history of the synagogue dates back to the 1950s when the Jewish population in the Yousef Abad ‎neighborhood started to grow steadily. Due to the insufficient number of synagogues and the limited capacity and ‎equipment in the existing one, the board of directors began to contemplate expanding the synagogue.‎

In his final attendance, Ibrahim Yosiyan proposed a larger synagogue be built in the same place. He also offered to take the lead in this charitable endeavor by providing financial support and overseeing construction. Soon after, a piece of land was purchased adjacent to the small synagogue. In 1965, the synagogue was emptied and construction on the new synagogue began. After one year, on Rosh Hashanah 5726, the doors of the new synagogue were opened to the community.

With an area of 1,076 square meters, the Synagogue of Yousef Abad is one of the largest synagogues of in Tehran, located at Sayed Jamaleddin Asadabadi Street, 15th Alley, No. 22‎. It has two floors with a capacity of over 800 people, with the lower floor accommodating 500 men and the mezzanine level with a capacity of 300 women. The building’s facade is decorated in a modern style, with mosaics on a section of the wall facing the street.

On the south side of the building, there is a balcony and a small courtyard that is dedicated to the kitchen and bathroom. In another part, a mikvah was built, which was renovated again in 1999. The interior of the synagogue is decorated with several small and large chandeliers, with a beautiful and latticed ceiling on the west wall of the hall. The Torah ark with a relatively large four-leaf door is decorated with the art of inlay, which was ordered from Isfahan craftsmen in 1966 and was ready and installed in 1970.

The Torah ark is surrounded by beautiful marquetry tiles (Isfahan style), with a candlestick on each side at the bottom and the Ten Commandments on each side at the top, decorated with plasterwork, giving this place of worship a unique and special glory.

With the advent of the 1979 revolution in Iran, Ibrahim Yosiyan migrated to New York and built a synagogue for the Iranian Jewish population there. Unfortunately, he passed away in Adar 5756.

In 1996, a fire broke out at the Synagogue of Yousef Abad due to a short circuit. Although the fire was extinguished in a timely manner, significant damage was caused to the interior of the eastern side of the building, around the exit door.

As a result, the synagogue council decided to make some important changes. This included adding two closed shelves where holy books would be stored. In addition, they made modifications in the balcony that was next to the yard and made a hall for religious celebrations and ceremonies with a capacity of

250 people. This hall was also used to increase the capacity of the women’s side when needed during special nights or Shabbat ceremonies.

Due to the large size of the synagogue, in addition to the Dukhan, the main platform of the Shaliach Tzibur (i.e. prayer leader), in the northeastern section of the synagogue, another small Dukhan has been dedicated for the reading of the Torah.

Among the Shaliach Tziburs who have served in this synagogue, we can mention Rabbi Negaran, the late Nazarian, Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Ibrahim Norani, Sion Hakakiyan, Solomon Hakakiyan, and Dr. Hamami.

In addition, Mr. Shadi, a philanthropist of the community, has been active in the Synagogue of Yousef Abad Council as its chairman for 12 years, from 1988 to 2000.

Today, in addition to being an important place of worship for Jews, the doors of the Synagogue of Yousef Abad are also open to non-Jewish Iranians and foreigners for pilgrimage, prayer, study, and research.

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad
Spring 2009

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad

The top view of the side of the Yousef Abad Synagogue wall overlooking the street

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad
Spring 2009

The late Musa Leviim, also known as Musa Rastegar, and his wife Farzaneh-Sipora Leviim were among those who played a major role in the formation of the Synagogue of Yousef Abad. The Rastegar family moved to the newly built Yosefabad neighborhood in the early 1950s. As other Jews moved to the area and the Jewish population increased, the need for a synagogue became increasingly felt. The presence of a synagogue, school, and butcher shop in this area was inevitable.

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad

In mid-1956, as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur approached, Musa Rastegar took initiative to organize the ceremonies in the area. Personally hiring a few workers, he cleaned and tidied up the vacant land next to his house — with the landowner’s permission. He arranged numerous chairs and large fans with the assistance of his friends. Additionally, they borrowed two Torah scrolls from a synagogue in the Oudlajan neighborhood. Thus, they successfully established a temporary synagogue for the Tefilla ceremonies.

The Synagogue of Yousef Abad

The ceremonies continued in this manner for two to three years. Notably, numerous nights of Selichot and Yeshiva, along with frequent gatherings attended by Mr. Shalom, Yosiyian, and other philanthropic friends, took place at our (Musa Leviim’s) home. During one of these meetings, a decision was made to purchase a small house and make it a synagogue for the Yosefabad neighborhood. Following the synagogue’s inauguration, named “Sukkat Shalom”, Hebrew and English classes were held in the first summer for young men and women. I also recall the presence of a wall newspaper during that time.

From the notes of Pari Senehi-Leviim