The Sha'ar Hashayamim Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת שער השמים, romanized: Beit HaKnesset Sha'ar HaShayamim, lit. 'Gate of Heaven Synagogue')[a] is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Tondano, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The synagogue was previously known as the Ohel Yaakov Synagogue.[3]
| Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue (Ohel Yaakov Synagogue) | |
|---|---|
Hebrew: בית כנסת שער השמים | |
.jpg) The synagogue in 2011 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Nusach Sefard |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Yaakov Baruch |
| Year consecrated | 2019 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Manado, Tondano, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi |
| Country | Indonesia |
  Location of the synagogue in Sulawesi | |
| Administration | Dutch: Israelitische Gemeente Indonesie |
| Geographic coordinates | 1°18′29″N 124°54′27″E / 1.3081°N 124.9074°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Private residence |
| Date established | 2003 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
|
| Specifications | |
| Interior area | 7 m × 15 m (23 ft × 49 ft) |
| Site area | 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft) |
The Spanish and Portuguese Sephardic congregation was founded in 2003 by Rabbi Yaakov Baruch, who also leads the congregation.[4][5][6] A house was converted into a synagogue in 2004 and the synagogue was consecrated in September 2019.[7][8]
History
editInitially, Jews in Manado had to move around when they wanted to worship by renting a building in the city.
In 2003, the congregation acquired a two-story house that was built on the main street in 1996, by Leo Elias van Beugen.[9][b] The house was bought by J. P. van der Stoop and his family, from The Netherlands, and given to the Jewish community in Indonesia so that they would have a place to worship. The synagogue opened on September 17, 2004[1] and was initially called the Ohel Yaakov Synagogue (Hebrew: להוא. בקעי, lit. 'Jacob's Tent'; Indonesian: Sinagoge Ohel Yaakov).[3]
Once established, the synagogue was busy with guests from outside the city and abroad. The synagogue was renovated in 2009, to coincide with the World Ocean Conference which was held in Manado.[10] At the event, Jewish guests were directed to the synagogue in Tondano to worship.[11] In 2009, the regional governments of North Sulawesi and Minahasa helped renovate the building and pave the road in front of the synagogue.[12]
Site features
editThe synagogue stands on 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft) of land and the building area is 7 m × 15 m (23 ft × 49 ft).[11] The synagogue complex includes a mikveh , a guest room for visiting rabbis,[13] and a Holocaust museum.[14]
The Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue is the second synagogue in Indonesia after another synagogue in the city of Surabaya, which was built in 1939 by the Iraqi Jewish community,[15] and demolished in 2013.[16][17]
As of 2019[update], the Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue was the only active synagogue in Indonesia.[18]
Gallery
edit-
The mikveh (left), and the synagogue (right)
-
Synagogue interior
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Torah scroll, gift from Ben Judah's Jewish family
-
Synagogue inauguration by local government, 2019
-
Recitation of Sefer Torah by Congregation of Sha'ar Hashamayim
-
Recitation of Lamentations on the night of Tisha B'av
-
Hanukkah celebration
See also
edit
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Wisata Rohani Yahudi Ada di Manado". CBN Indonesia (in Indonesian). March 1, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ Anshar Jusuf, Isa (March 1, 2011). "Ini Alasan Pendirian Komunitas Yahudi Manado". National Tempo.co (in Indonesian). Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Maulana, A. M. R. (2024). "Multiple Religious Belonging among Congregation Members of the United Indonesian Jewish Community and Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue". Millah: Journal of Religious Studies. 23 (1): 381.
- ^ Eller, Sandy (March 22, 2011). "Manado – Indonesian Man Keeps Flame of Torah Burning [photos-video]". VIN news. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ Brieger, Peter; Buol, Ronny (March 5, 2019). "On remote island in Muslim-majority Indonesia, Jewish community lives in shadows". The Times of Israel. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ Barrett, Chris; Rompies, Karuni (February 7, 2022). "Keeping the faith, quietly: Inside Muslim Indonesia's hidden Jewish community". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ "Bupati Minahasa Royke Roring Resmikan Synagogue Shaar Hashamayim". BeritaManado.com: Berita Terkini Manado, Sulawesi Utara (in Indonesian). December 25, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Nugroho, Johannes (March 21, 2023). "Indonesia's Jews Come Out". Tablet magazine. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ Anshar Jusuf, Isa (March 1, 2011). "Jewish Community in Manado". Tempo.co. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ Negara, Kementerian Sekretariat. "World Ocean Conferensi Adalah Pertemuan Bersejarah di Abad XXI". Sekretariat Negara (in Indonesian). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "Komunitas Yahudi di Manado Kian Eksis". THE JASMINE TIMES (in Indonesian). March 17, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Sinagoge di Tondano, Komunitas Yudaisme Aman Beribadah, Dibeli dari Kerabat Keturunan Belanda". Mando Tribun News (in Indonesian). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "SHAAR HASHAMAYIM / TONDANO". S&P Central: Current S&P Communities. n.d. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ Strangio, Sebastian (February 4, 2022). "Opening of Indonesian Holocaust Museum Met With Islamist Backlash". The Diplomat. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ "The Synagogue of Surabaya, Indonesia". Museum of the Jewish People. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Times, I. D. N.; Folia, Rosa. "Mencari Jejak Keturunan Yahudi di Surabaya". IDN Times (in Indonesian). Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Witanto (April 17, 2018). "Sinagoge Surabaya Berubah Jadi Hotel Berlantai 17". Ngopibareng (in Indonesian). Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Rayda, Nivell (August 19, 2023). "In Indonesia's only synagogue, Jewish worshippers hide their faith fearing persecution, but change is afoot". Channel News Asia. Retrieved November 5, 2024.