Shiek Mordechai Synagogue
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
StatusDestroyed
Location
LocationArmenia Yerevan, Armenia
Architecture
Completed1860
Demolished1924

Shiek Mordechai Synagogue (Armenian: Շեյք Մորդեխայ սինագոգ), was a Sephardic Jewish synagogue in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Up until 1924, Shiek Mordechai was a leading institution and center of communal Jewish life for Jews in Armenia.[1][2]

History

The Jewish community in Armenia has a history of 2,000 years, when first Jewish groups settled in Armenia after the destruction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.[1]

From 1840, two groups of Jews existed in Armenia, Ashkenazis from the Russian Empire and Sephardis from Persia. Both communities had their own separate houses of worship and community leaders.[3] The Shiek Mordechai Synagogue began operating in 1860 to serve the Persian Sephardic population of Yerevan. The Persian language was used along with Hebrew in prayer at the Synagogue.[4] The Synagogue remained in use until 1924 when it was destroyed during the anti-religious politices of the Soviet Union.[5]

Currently, the Jewish population in Armenia is around only around 500–1,000 with a single synagogue serving Yerevan.[1] The Mordechai Navi Synagogue is said to have gotten its name from the earlier Shiek Mordechai Synagogue.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Irena Vladimirsky (2009). "Jews in Armenia". In Mark Avrum Ehrlich (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture. Vol. 3. ABC-Clio. p. 1105. ISBN 9781851098736.
  2. ↑ Jeffrey Seidel (2000). Jewish Travelers' Resource Guide 2000. Feldheim Publishers. p. 21. ISBN 9781583304099.
  3. ↑ Hasmik Hovhannisyan (March 26, 2007). Edik Baghdasaryan (ed.). "There Have Always Been Jews in Armenia". Hetq Online. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  4. ↑ Ilya Karpenko (July 2008). "В СТРАНЕ МНОГОЦВЕТНОГО ТУФА [IN THE LAND OF MULTICOLORED TUFF]". No. 195. Lechaim Magazine. Retrieved October 19, 2021. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. ↑ Ariel Scheib. "Armenia Virtual Jewish History Tour". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved October 19, 2021.

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