- Address: Libertad esquina Av. Cordoba, Buenos Aires
- Phone: +54 (0) 11 4123 0830
Argentina has the largest Jewish diaspora in Latin America, which is also the largest community on the planet. Today there are more than 200 thousand believers here. In Buenos Aires is the main synagogue of the country - Sinagoga de la Congregacion Israelita Argentina.
History of construction
In 1897, the first Jews, who moved to Europe from permanent residence in the capital of Argentina (organization CIRA, Congregation Israelita de la Argentina), laid the cornerstone of the temple. This ceremony was attended by the city administration, headed by the mayor Francisco Alcobendas. The number of Jews in the state was constantly growing, and in 1932 the synagogue had to be rebuilt. It was expanded, and the facade of the building acquired its modern look. Call it the Temple of Freedom.
The main architect for reconstruction in the project was Norman Foster, and the development engineers - Eugenio Gartner and Alejandro Enken. The company "Ricceri, Yaroslavsky and Tikhai" was engaged in construction work.
Description of the building
It is difficult to accurately determine the architectural image of the temple. During the construction of the synagogue the main reference was the samples of the sacred German buildings of the XIX century. Here there are elements that are characteristic of the Byzantine and Romanesque styles.
The Buenos Aires Synagogue is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and is a Jewish cultural center. From the sidewalk, it is fenced with a fence with 12 medallions, symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel.
The facade of the building is decorated with a Jewish symbol - a large 6-star of David. There are also biblical plaques made of bronze, on which there is a famous inscription: "This is a house of prayers for all peoples, perched on the front". The windows of the temple are stained with mosaic stained glass, and the acoustics inside are simply magnificent.
Features of visit
The temple is still valid and can accommodate up to a thousand people at the same time. Every day, prayer services are held in the synagogue, marriages are arranged, and bar-mitzvah ceremonies are also held. Nearby is the center of the Jewish Diaspora in Argentina, and on the other side of the building there is a museum named after Dr. Salvador Kibrik.
Here is a private collection of exhibits and relics that tell the story of local Jews. Visiting the museum is possible:
- from Tuesday to Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm;
- on Friday from 11:00 to 17:00.
The admission price is 100 pesos (about 6.5 dollars). On Wednesdays, the building hosts traditional concerts. In the synagogue tourists are allowed only upon presentation of a document confirming the identity, as well as after a thorough inspection of personal belongings. On the territory of the temple, travelers can travel with a local guide who will acquaint them not only with Jewish traditions and peculiarities, but also with the culture and religion of the Jews.
Those who want to get acquainted with Torah and Hebrew can register for special courses. In 2000, the Buenos Aires synagogue was declared a historical and national cultural monument.
How do I get to the place?
From the city center to the temple can be reached by bus no. D or by car through the streets: Av. de Mayo and Av. 9 de Julio or Av. Rivadavia and Av. 9 de Julio (the journey takes about 10 minutes), and also walk (distance is about 2 km).
If you want to get acquainted with Jewish culture, the Buenos Aires synagogue is the best place for this.