view of the sephardic synagogue of Amsterdam
anonymous painting, beginning of 18th century
portugese-israelite congregation Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Holland, beginning of 18th century
Around 1600 many Sephardic Jews fled to reformist Holland, where they were allowed to freely exercise their religion. Within 50 years a prosperous Jewish community had developed. The monumental Synagogue can be considered as a token of their prosperity as well as their belief in the future. It is by far the grandest synagogue of the Old World.
The synagogue was constructed 1671-1675 by the Dutch master-carpenter Elias Bouman. It is a very large and monumental building, measuring 36 x 28 meters, with a height of no less than 19,5 meters. The interior layout is equal to its predecessor, the 1639 Sephardic synagogue of the Talmoed Tora congregation. The Hechal is placed at the eastern wall, in the direction of Jerusalem, while the Teba is situated at the western wall. The seating is placed at both sides of the central axis between Hechal and Teba.
Press here for an interior view.The Amsterdam synagogue served as an inspiration for other Sephardic synagogues throughout the world. Its lay-out was used for the synagogues of Livorno (ca. 1700), the Bevis Marks synagogue of London (1701), Willemstad, Curacao (1732), Paramaribo, Suriname (1737), the Touro synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island (1759), and last but not least the Shearith Israel synagogue, New York (1897).
Sources:
Pictures and information regarding the Amsterdam synagogue from the book: "De Snoge, monument van Portugees Joodse cultuur", Judith C.E. Belinfante, David Ph. Cohen Paraira, e.a., 1991
