Abuhav synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Abuhav Synagogue is located in Safed
, Israel. Its architecture is much based on the Kabbalah
religion. Synagogues influenced by Kabbalah have the platform for reading of the Torah
, also the Bimah
in the middle. Synagogue was built in the 16th Century and was named after Rabbi Yitzchak (Isaac) Abuhav of Portugal.
The Synagogue has become very famous and is popular destination for religious Pilgrimage
.
Visitors may enter the Synagogue a few days in a week.
Usually Synagogues are only open during the morning- and evening prayer time
for the local people.
, Morocco
. The one in the middle is in weekly use.
.
A Rabbi
deliveres the religious message for the people,
which is the main purpose of the Bimah.
At the left side in the Synagogue is a shop where are Jewish religious items on sale. Forexample; candles, jewelry, Kippah
's, scarf's and other handmade things. Safed is also well known of Artisan
made items like ceramic bowls. All the chairs and benches are put around facing the Bimah from all directions. The dome inside the Synagogue is decorated with musical instruments used in the ancient Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The impressive south wall, facing Jerusalem, has three Torah Arks. The oldest Holy Ark has two bronze coloured Menorah
s at each side. In the middle of two Holy Arks is a painting of a Synagogue
. Elijah's chair faces the middle Ark. It is used for Circumcision/Brit milah
. A small chair attached to it is for babies. The Synagogue contains several Holy books and writings from the middle Century. Visitors can access some of the books. The main library is at the north part of the Synagogue. Permission from the Rabbinate
is usually needed. Ceiling has a few crystal chandeliers giving a nice add for the otherwise unique atmosphere. There are also other attractions in the town of Safed. Especially for those who have experienced Kabbalah the mystical side of the Jewish religion. Many people visit the unique shopping quarters with plenty of Judaica, the graves of the famous Rabbis at the south west side of the town, book- and candle shops.
Very close to the Abuhav Synagogue is Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue
, which was named after Isaac Luria
. Isaac Luria was born in Jerusalem. Because of the similarity in the name Isaac, the history of these two Synagogues has been sometimes mixed.
Safed
Safed , is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters...
, Israel. Its architecture is much based on the Kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
religion. Synagogues influenced by Kabbalah have the platform for reading of the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, also the Bimah
Bimah
A bimah A bimah A bimah (among Ashkenazim, derived from Hebrew בּמה , almemar (from Arabic al-minbar) or tebah (among Sephardim) is the elevated area or platform in a Jewish synagogue which is intended to serve the place where the person reading aloud from the Torah stands during the Torah reading...
in the middle. Synagogue was built in the 16th Century and was named after Rabbi Yitzchak (Isaac) Abuhav of Portugal.
The Synagogue has become very famous and is popular destination for religious Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
.
Visitors may enter the Synagogue a few days in a week.
Usually Synagogues are only open during the morning- and evening prayer time
for the local people.
Three Holy Arks/ Torah Arks
One can find three Torah arks instead of one. The oldest Ark is at the right side. It was written 500 years ago by Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav of Portugal. It is only used in special occasions and usually one of the Rabbis from Jerusalem is at present. The Ark at the left side is written by Rabbi Solomon Ohana from FesFes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. The one in the middle is in weekly use.
Bimah
The platform for reading of the Torah has a unique design compared to fellow Jewish Bimah's, which usually contain two or three steps. The bimah has six steps at both sides representing the six working days of the week, and the highest level, also the seventh, the receiving of the ShabbatShabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
.
A Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
deliveres the religious message for the people,
which is the main purpose of the Bimah.
Entering the Synagogue
The Synagogue is located at the west side of the Safed town, which is built on a tiny hill. At the entrance one will meet a great Courtyard where religious people can prepare themselves before entering the Synagogue. The most dominating color of the Synagogue is light blue. It represents heaven.At the left side in the Synagogue is a shop where are Jewish religious items on sale. Forexample; candles, jewelry, Kippah
Kippah
A kippah or kipa , also known as a yarmulke , kapele , is a hemispherical or platter-shaped head cover, usually made of cloth, often worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the customary requirement that their head be covered at all times, and sometimes worn by both men and, less frequently, women...
's, scarf's and other handmade things. Safed is also well known of Artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
made items like ceramic bowls. All the chairs and benches are put around facing the Bimah from all directions. The dome inside the Synagogue is decorated with musical instruments used in the ancient Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The impressive south wall, facing Jerusalem, has three Torah Arks. The oldest Holy Ark has two bronze coloured Menorah
Menorah
The menorah is described in the Bible as the seven-branched ancient lampstand made of gold and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Fresh olive oil of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps...
s at each side. In the middle of two Holy Arks is a painting of a Synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
. Elijah's chair faces the middle Ark. It is used for Circumcision/Brit milah
Brit milah
The brit milah is a Jewish religious circumcision ceremony performed on 8-day old male infants by a mohel. The brit milah is followed by a celebratory meal .-Biblical references:...
. A small chair attached to it is for babies. The Synagogue contains several Holy books and writings from the middle Century. Visitors can access some of the books. The main library is at the north part of the Synagogue. Permission from the Rabbinate
Rabbinate
The term rabbinate may refer to the office of a rabbi or rabbis as a group:*Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the supreme Jewish religious governing body in the state of Israel...
is usually needed. Ceiling has a few crystal chandeliers giving a nice add for the otherwise unique atmosphere. There are also other attractions in the town of Safed. Especially for those who have experienced Kabbalah the mystical side of the Jewish religion. Many people visit the unique shopping quarters with plenty of Judaica, the graves of the famous Rabbis at the south west side of the town, book- and candle shops.
Very close to the Abuhav Synagogue is Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue
Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue
The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue is located in Safed, Israel. Built in the sixteenth century, the synagogue is named after Rabbi Isaac Luria, , who was known as the Ari , an acronym for Adoneinu Rabbeinu Isaac . He was a great kabbalist who arrived in Safed in 1570...
, which was named after Isaac Luria
Isaac Luria
Isaac Luria , also called Yitzhak Ben Shlomo Ashkenazi acronym "The Ari" "Ari-Hakadosh", or "Arizal", meaning "The Lion", was a foremost rabbi and Jewish mystic in the community of Safed in the Galilee region of Ottoman Palestine...
. Isaac Luria was born in Jerusalem. Because of the similarity in the name Isaac, the history of these two Synagogues has been sometimes mixed.