Yu Aw Synagogue

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Yu Aw Synagogue
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
StatusAbandoned
Location
LocationMomanda
Afghanistan Herat, Afghanistan
Architecture
StylePersian
Specifications
Direction of façadeWest
MaterialsMud brick
Herat Jewish Cemetery

The Yu Aw Synagogue (Persian: کنیسای یوآو) is located in the Momanda neighbourhood of the old city of Herat, in western Afghanistan. The area was once known as Mahalla-yi Musahiya, or the "Neighbourhood of the Jews". It is the only synagogue in Herat that has been preserved with most of its original characteristics, although it is currently in a state of disrepair.[1] There is no definitive date of construction of the synagogue. When Israel was founded in 1948, the estimated 280 Jewish families that lived in Herat began leaving. Today, there are no Jews left in the city.[2]

In 2020, Al Jazeera reported that part of the complex was restored by the local government in 2009.[3] It is the only synagogue in Herat that has been preserved with most of its original features. Although badly damaged, it was recently converted into an infant school. There are 3 other synagogues in Herat,[4] in a more advanced state of disrepair, two had been converted to schools and one to a mosque.[5] Not far from the synagogue there is still a mikvah (ritual bath) formerly called Hamman-e Yahudiha, which has been converted into a hamman for Muslim men. There is also a Jewish cemetery that contains around 1,000 graves.[2]

Description[]

The remains of the building on the east, north and south sides of the courtyard are now used as family housing. A room in the basement of the structure on the west side of the courtyard is used for housing by one of the employees of the Herat Department of Historic Monuments Preservation. The remainder of the building is in a precarious condition. Annette Ittig's report does not date the synagogue.[6]

A preliminary survey carried out by Annette Ittig in 1998 notes that:

The main prayer hall still has much of its painted stucco decoration, which is primarily floral, with a strong Persianate influence, e.g. the flowering "trees of life" and the butas, or paisley motifs, set to either side of the Torah Ark on the western wall.... The ark is elevated and is reached by stairs. The room itself is octagonal in shape.... On the south side of prayer hall is an arcade with a partition with small decorative openings that served as the women's gallery. The low open bimah, which is placed below the central dome, remains intact.... There are three Hebrew inscriptions on the north wall above the stairway....[7]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The Yu Aw synagogue in Herat". International Survey of Jewish Monuments (ISJM). Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  2. ^ a b Golnar Motevalli (2009-06-24). "Relics of old Afghanistan reveal Jewish past". reuters.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  3. ^ Herat’s restored synagogues reveal Afghanistan’s Jewish past
  4. ^ "Muslim trust restores Jewish sites in Afghanistan". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  5. ^ http://www.isjm.org/jhr/IInos3-4/afghan.htm
  6. ^ "International Survey of Jewish Monuments: The Yu Aw synagogue in Herat, Afghanistan". Isjm.org. Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  7. ^ Ittig, Annette (April 5, 2005). "Documentation of Afghanistan Synagogues". International Survey of Jewish Monuments. Retrieved 2007-05-29.

External links[]

Photographs[]


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