Bahrain and the Gulf’s only synagogue is receiving a facelift as part of plans to turn it into a cultural centre open to visitors.
Nestled in the quiet Sasa’ah Avenue, in the old Manama Suq, the beige structure has been closed for decades and only used for occasional prayer services and special occasions.
Work has now started on the synagogue that is expected to be completed within six months to set up an information and cultural centre to educate the public about the tiny Jewish community in Bahrain.
Bahrain was once home to around 2,000 Jewish families, many having migrated here from Iraq and other countries, and now there are only 35 members remaining.
Among them is community leader Ebrahim Nonoo who said they were ‘excited’ to fully open the doors of the synagogue to the people of Bahrain and visitors from abroad.
“We are refurbishing the synagogue so that it’s part of the Pearl route in Manama and, eventually, it will be open for everyone,” Mr Nonoo exclusively told the GDN.
“Members of the public will be able to find out information about our Jewish culture, how we pray and hopefully gain a better understanding about the Jewish way of life.”
The businessman believes once the synagogue is refurbished it cannot only serve as a cultural or information centre, but also as a welcoming place of worship.
“For example, the synagogue in the Indian port city of Kochi is bi-functional as it’s a museum and also used for prayer services, we will be doing the same.
“We will be using it as a prayer hall on special ocasions, may be every Saturday, and the rest of the time it will be open to the general public.
“Many people from our community have moved on and settled all around the world. I know that children of former Bahrain residents would want to come back here and visit to see where their parents and grandparents lived.”
Speaking about the synagogue’s history, the community leader added that the land in Manama was understood to have been bought and offered as a gift to the community by the famous Cartier jewellery family, as the French businessman used to visit the country frequently for pearl trading.
“We went to France and even investigated but could not find any records to show the land was bought by the French businessman, but these are deeds done without seeking recognition,” he explained.
The original synagogue was ransacked in 1948 and the Torah scrolls – a ritual object made for worship in a synagogue that contains all five books of Moses – were stolen, but later returned to a synagogue in London by a man in the UK in the 1980s.
The structure was rebuilt during that decade and since then has not been fully operational.
All that could change shortly. “We plan to have someone full-time present at the synagogue to interact with visitors,” added Mr Nonoo.
Furthermore, he said future plans, once the Jewish cultural centre is operational by next year, could result in the community attracting a full-time Rabbi.
Mr Nonoo said the last time the synagogue in Manama was opened in December to celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, adding they even managed to muster a quorum (known as a minyan) of 10 Jewish adults required to carry out worship.
Mr Nonoo was the first Jewish representative in the Shura Council in 2001 and is among the successful Jewish families in Bahrain that include the Rouben, Murad and Yadgar.
The community leader said the Yadgar were the first family to arrive in Bahrain in the 1880s while Mr Nonoo’s grandfather arrived a few years later in the 1890s.
“We are a tiny community here that has always been part of the social fabric,” said Mr Nonoo, who is also a board member of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistance.
“I am a Bahraini first and have many good friends here,” he added.
“What makes me stand out is the religious aspect but there are so many similarities we have with our Muslim cousins.”
Mr Nonoo said Bahrain has always been a model of religious tolerance with different faiths living peacefully.
“We all know about the unity and diversity in Bahrain and I have been in touch with several religions about the idea of empathy, and we are making headway.”
The community also has a small Jewish cemetery in Manama.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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