Yu Aw Synagogue

The Yu Aw Synagogue (Persian: کنیسای یوآو‎) is located in the Momanda neighbourhood of the old city of Herat, 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]

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

In 2020, Al Jazeera reported that part of the complex had been restored by the local government.[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.

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....[3]

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See also

References
  1. "The Yu Aw synagogue in Herat". International Survey of Jewish Monuments (ISJM). Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  3. Ittig, Annette (April 5, 2005). "Documentation of Afghanistan Synagogues". International Survey of Jewish Monuments. Retrieved 2007-05-29.

Photographs


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