Grand Synagogue of Aden

Grand Synagogue of Aden
Interior of synagogue
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Rite	Nusach Aden
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Destroyed in 1947 (1947 Aden pogrom)
Location
Location	Aden, Yemen
Architecture
Type	Synagogue
Completed	1858

The Grand synagogue of Aden (Arabic: كنيس عدن الكبير Al-Milama’l-kabira), also known as Shield of Avraham Synagogue or "Magen Avraham", was built in 1858. The synagogue was founded in 1860 by Menahem Messa.^[1] It was large enough to house over 2,000 worshipers. The pulpit was made of marble – pure, white and polished, with 7 marble steps leading up to it. The floor was made of marble sections, patterned black and white as on a chess board. The ark was built into the wall pile or stack, and covered by six curtains woven with silk and interwoven with gleaming sapphires, above them the crowns of the torah. The torah scrolls were adorned with crowns and pomegranates, some of them gold, and some of them pure refined silver.

The two tablets of the 10 commandments on both sides of the doors were made of polished silver. The huge ceiling was supported by eight wooden columns, four on each side. Each column had a radius of 80 inches and were 40 feet high. The ceiling and the numerous windows are replete with stained glass in blazing colour and dozens of lanterns. Along the Eastern wall was a women’s section with 200 places. The entrance to the synagogue was through a huge courtyard which also served as a place of worship on Sabbath and the high holy days. A mikvah was also built on the southern side of the synagogue.

See also

• History of the Jews in Aden
• Jews of Hadramaut
• Habbani Jews
• History of the Jews in the Arabian Peninsula
• Jewish exodus from Arab lands
• Yemenite Jews

References

• Professor Reuben Ahroni
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndbhdnwQFg
• https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~kraut/Family_Photos/pages/Aden/Aden.shtml
• "West of Aden", Yacov Tobi

• v
• t
• e

Tourist attractions in Yemen

World
Heritage
Sites

Listed	Historic Town of Zabid Old City of Sanaa Old Walled City of Shibam Socotra Archipelago Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba
Tentative list	Archaeological Site of Marib Historic City of Saada The Historic City of Thula The Madrasa Amiriya of Rada Jibla and its surroundings Jabal Haraz Jabal Bura Balhaf/Burum coastal area The Hawf Area Sharma/Jethmun coastal area

Archaeological sites	Al Hajjarah Awwam Baraqish Baynun Cisterns of Tawila Haram Kaminahu Ma'rib Marib Dam Maṣna'at Māriya Nahom Nashan Nashaq Sanaa Shabwa Shaharah Shibam Sirwah Timna Zabid Zafar
Museums	House of Folklore National Museum of Yemen Yemen Military Museum
Palaces Castles	Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi Ghumdan Palace Palace of Queen Arwa Sultan Al-Qu'aiti Palace Citadel of Rada'a Seiyun Palace Sheba Palace
Places of worship	Aidrus Mosque Al-Asha'ir Mosque Al-Bakiriyya Mosque Al-Hadi Mosque Al-Mahdi Mosque Al-Muhdhar Mosque Al-Qalis Church Al Shohada Mosque Al Tawheed Mosque Alansar Mosque Albolaily Mosque Alemaan Mosque Ashrafiya Mosque Barran Temple Great Mosque of Sanaa Grand Synagogue of Aden Hanthel Mosque Jennad Mosque Mudhaffar Mosque Qubbat Bayt Az-Zum Mosque Queen Arwa Mosque Saleh Mosque St. Francis of Assisi Church St. Mary Help of Christians Church Talha Mosque Temple of Awwam
Protected area	Bura Community Protected Area Dhamar Montane Plains Mahjur Traditional Reserve Jabal Bura Valley Forest National Park Ras Isa Marine Park Socotra Island Protected Area Zuqur Islands Marine National Park
Others	Amiriya Madrasa Yemen Gate Big Ben Aden Sanaa Turkish Memorial Cemetery Shaharah Bridge Sira Fortress