Magen David Synagogue (Byculla)

18°58′01″N 72°49′55″E / 18.966961°N 72.832071°E / 18.966961; 72.832071

Magen David Synagogue
Magen David Synagogue end of the 19th century
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Rite	Sephardi
Leadership	Mr. Solomon Sopher
Status	Active
Location
Location	340, Sir J. J. Road Byculla, Mumbai  India
Architecture
Type	Synagogue
Style	Victorian [1]
Completed	1864
Specifications
Direction of façade	West
Capacity	Over 200
Minaret(s)	1 Clock Tower
Materials	Concrete, Steel, Glass
Website
http://www.jacobsassoon.com/synagogues/magen-david-synagogue

Magen David Synagogue is an Orthodox Sephardi synagogue located in Byculla, India.

History

Erected in 1864, the synagogue was constructed by David Sassoon in Victorian style for the growing population of Baghdadi Jews who had fled from persecution by the governor and Wali of Baghdad Dawud Pasha.^[1] By 1910, the Jewish community in the neighbourhood of Byculla had increased to the extent that the synagogue could no longer service all the devotees and the synagogue was extended with the help of Jacob, David Sassoon's grandson.^[2]

Legacy

The synagogue is one of the largest in Asia outside of Israel.

Within the extensive grounds of the Synagogue there are two Jewish Schools which are operated by the Sir Jacob Sassoon High School Trust and the E.E.E. Sassoon High School Trust, in which Jewish children were originally educated. Over time most of the Bagdadi Jews moved to the more affluent Colaba area or abroad to Israel, Australia, Britain and Canada. With the scarcity of Jewish students, the Schools have opened to all communities and currently provide for the population in the vicinity, which is 98% Muslim.^[3]

In 2011, for the celebration of the 150th anniversary, the Synagogue was restored.^[2][4]

Gallery

• 
  Exterior
• 
  Ark
• 
  Interior
• 
  Old photo of Magen David Synagogue, Mumbai
• 
  Interiors

See also

• David Sassoon

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magen David Synagogue (Byculla).

References