Temple Beth-El (Casablanca)
| Beth-El Synagogue | |
|---|---|
The synagogue interior, in 2017 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Nusach Sefard |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi J. Azuelos |
| Status | Active |
| Notable artworks | Marc Chagall-inspired stained glass windows |
| Location | |
| Location | 67, Rue Jaber ben Hayane (ex. Verlet Hanus), Sidi Belyout, Casablanca |
| Country | Morocco |
Location of the synagogue in Greater Casablanca | |
| Coordinates | 33°35′48.54″N 7°37′46.74″W / 33.5968167°N 7.6296500°W |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1949 |
| Capacity | 500 worshippers |
The Temple Beth-El (Hebrew: בית הכנסת בית־אל, romanized: Béit hak'néset Bēṯ-ʾEl, lit. 'Synagogue of the House of God'; Arabic: معبد بيت إيل, romanized: Maʿbad bayt ʾĪl, lit. 'Temple of the House of El') also called Beit-El or the Algerian Temple,[a][1] is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 67 Rue Jaber ben Hayane, in the Sidi Belyout district of Casablanca, Morocco.
Overview
While Casablanca has more than 30 synagogues,[2][3][b] Beth-El is often considered the center piece of a once vibrant Jewish community. Its Marc Chagall-inspired stained glass windows[5] and other artistic elements, attract tourists to the synagogue.[6][7][1]
History
It was established in 1949 by Algerian Jewish immigrants.[8] Maurice Bengio led a mixed-gender choir that sang during weddings and certain holidays in the 1960s and 1970s, but it was cancelled after Eastern European rabbinic emissaries from a Hasidic community in Brooklyn pressured the leadership of the synagogue.[8]
The temple was completely refurbished in 1997.[9]
See also
- History of the Jews in Morocco
- List of synagogues in Morocco
- Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, the Chief Rabbi of Morocco
Notes
References
- ^ a b Soussi, Houssine. Jewish Heritage Tourism in Morocco: Memories and Visions (PDF). Value of heritage for tourism Dominique Vanneste & Wesley Gruijthuijsen (eds.) 261 Proceedings of the 6th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference 2019.
- ^ Erlich, Mark (2009). Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 485.
- ^ Karber, Phil (2012). Fear and Faith in Paradise. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 269.
- ^ Barnett, Sue (March 6, 2020). "After mass exodus, Morocco celebrates its Jewish heritage". The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ Harroch, Meyer (March 8, 2023). "Exploring Casablanca's Jewish Heritage". Times of Israel. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ Idrissi, Khaoula (October 9, 2019). "Beth-El… an architectural jewel". Morocco Jewish Times. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Casablanca Jewish Heritage". Morocco Friendly Travel. 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Elbaz, Vanessa Paloma. “Kol B’Isha Erva: The Silencing of Jewish Women’s Oral Traditions in Morocco.” Chapter. In Women and Social Change in North Africa: What Counts as Revolutionary?, edited by Doris H. Gray and Nadia Sonneveld, 263–88. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018.
- ^ Howe, Marvin (2005). Morocco: The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges. Oxford University Press. p. 185.
External links
Media related to Beth-El Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons
- "Morocco-Casablanca Beth-El Synagogue names found on memorial walls". Institute of Jewish Experience. American Sephardi Federation. Retrieved November 3, 2024.