Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue

Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue
Interior of the Jewish museum, in 2022
Religion
AffiliationJudaism (former)
RiteNusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organizational status
Status
  • Inactive (as a synagogue);
  • Repurposed
Location
Location197 Rua do Bom Jesus (Rua dos Judeus), Recife Antigo, Recife, Pernambuco
CountryBrazil
Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue is located in Brazil
Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue
Location of the former synagogue, now museum, in Brazil
Geographic coordinates8°03′41″S 34°52′17″W / 8.06131°S 34.87132°W / -8.06131; -34.87132
Architecture
Completed
  • 1636 (as a synagogue);
  • Rebuilt (as a museum)
Destroyedc. early 20th century

The Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue (Hebrew: קהל צור ישראל, lit.'Congregation Rock of Israel'; Portuguese: Sinagoga Kahal Zur Israel; Dutch: Synagoge Kahal Zur Israel) was a former Jewish synagogue, located at 197 Rua do Bom Jesus (Rua dos Judeus), in the old city of Recife, in the state of Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil.

The synagogue was established in 1636 by Portuguese and Spanish Sephardic Jews who had taken refuge in Dutch Brazil, fleeing forced conversion, and were joined by New Christians, who possibly helped to build the structure and were already living in the colony. It was the first synagogue erected in the Americas.[1][2] The building was destroyed in the early part of the 20th century and a new building constructed on the same site, that now serves as a Jewish museum. The museum features a Torah and bema, as well as archeological excavations displaying various parts of the original synagogue, such as the mikveh.[1][a]

  1. ^ a b Colitt, Raymond (12 November 2007). Allen, Vicki (ed.). "Oldest synagogue in Americas draws tourists to Brazil". Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  2. ^ Walter (5 November 2017). "History of the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue in Recife". Tourism and travel guide to Salvador, Bahia and the Brazilian Northeast. Retrieved 12 January 2024.


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