Beit Rachel Synagogue, Astana
Its opening ceremony was attended by President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger. Its construction was funded by Kazakh-Israeli billionaire Alexander Mashkevitch. The synagogue is named after Rachel Joffe, mother of Alexander Mashkevich, leader of Kazakh Jewry and president of the EAJC. The Jakarta Post describes the synagogue, a rare example of its kind a Muslim-majority country, as "a symbol of how a Muslim country can build and sustain a peaceful relationship between Islam and Judaism."
Architectural design
The Beit Rachel Synagogue is 25 metres (82 ft) tall and approximately 5,600 square metres in area. The top of the roof is decorated with the star of David, which is a symbol of faith and community. Inside there are separate prayer halls for men and women. There are rooms for overnight accommodation during the holy day of Shabbat.
See also
References
- ^ "נחנך בית הכנסת המרכזי באסטנה בירת קזחסטאן". COL (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ^ חדשות. "חדשות בתי הכנסת". איגוד בתי הכנסת העולמי (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ^ Staff, J. (2004-09-10). "Largest synagogue in Central Asia opens in Kazakhstan". J. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
- ^ "Jewish and proud in provincial Kazakhstan". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
- ^ Jordan, Michael J. (2008-12-19). "A shared destiny among Jews, Kazakhs". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
- ^ "Beit Rachel Synagogue". Archived on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023
- ^ "Learning to tolerate Judaism in Kazakhstan - The Jakarta Post". www.thejakartapost.com. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
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